SECTION B I SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2016 Diamond days Area high school teams are in the swing, including a Ferris group that has rallied around assistant coach Danny Higgins. SPORTS STORIES, PAGE B8 M.SPOKESMAN.COM/SPORTS BROWSE STORIES, PHOTOS AND BLOGS ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE

MEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT 63 MIDWEST REGIONAL SEMIFINAL IN CHICAGO 60 CHI-TOWN MELTDOWN Orange outscore Zags 15-3 down stretch to secure Elite Eight spot

DAN PELLE [email protected] Domantas Sabonis is mugged by Syracuse defenders Tyler Roberson (21) and Tyler Lydon (20) in the second half of Zags’ 63-60 loss at the United Center.

By Jim Meehan [email protected], (208) 659-3791 Gonzaga passed CHICAGO – The loss was still way too fresh in Kyle Wiltjer’s mind. Several minutes every ordeal until later, he would praise his teammates and ex- press his pride in Gonzaga’s improbable run final six minutes to the Sweet 16. But in the moment, the thought of being de- HICAGO – So JOHN nied a second consecutive trip to the Elite Gonzaga’s off- BLANCHETTE Eight was all he could think about. Cseason begins “We let this one slip,” Wiltjer said. “This much as this was a winnable game and we lost. We should season did, in a cocoon have won the game.” of intrigue. The Zags had ample opportunities to do Or doesn’t anyone that, but they couldn’t keep Syracuse off the remember all the boards (six offensive boards in the final 2:18), mystery about how they gave up the ball (five turnovers in the fi- Mark Few was going to nal 5:18) and ultimately the game, 63-60, in get Przemek Karnowski, Domantas Sabonis front of 21,490 on Friday at the United Center. and Kyle Wiltjer on the floor at the same The 11th-seeded Zags let a 57-48 lead slip time? through their fingers in the final 6:20. No. 10 Such a quaint notion. Does that seem like Syracuse closed the game on a 15-3 run to end DAN PELLE [email protected] 18 years ago or what? GU’s season. Gonzaga's Eric McClellan and Josh Perkins console But then, this was the season the Bulldogs each other in the locker room after falling to Syracuse See GONZAGA, B5 in the Sweet 16 at the United Center in Chicago. See BLANCHETTE, B5

Royals’ star players guide Game 1 win over Spokane

Chiefs By Brian Drewry ROYALS 5 Chiefs 5-3 in Game 1 nominee for the WHL’s top defense- power plays late in the second when struggle Special to The Spokesman-Review CHIEFS 3 of their best-of-7 man award, scored once and added we didn’t do anything,” Chiefs head opening-round two assists as the Royals skated to coach Don Nachbaur said after with œ Tonight: VICTORIA, B.C. – The stars were Spokane at playoff series. victory in front of 6,211 fans at Save- watching his team go 1 for 4 with the power-play out in Victoria on Friday night, and Victoria, 7:05 Tyler Soy, fresh off on-Foods Memorial . man advantage. chances not just in the sky. Radio: 1510-AM being named the “Without a question, their top The Chiefs’ power play had a The Victoria Royals’ top guns pro- WHL’s player of the players were really impactful in the chance to swing the momentum in vided the offense as the Western week last week, scored two goals and game, more so than our top guys, and the second period when Royals de- Hockey League’s regular-season Royals , the re- credit to them because I thought it champions disposed of the Spokane cently named Western Conference was a pretty even game up until our See CHIEFS, B7

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