Connell graduate finishes Air Force women’s basketball career with honors

Connell High School graduate Madison Smith recently finished her college basketball career at the Air Force Academy.

Smith, a senior and team captain, was named first-team All-Mountain West Conference, and she was named to the MWC all-defensive team after leading the conference in steals with 78.

Averaging 16.1 points a game (ranked No. 6 in the MWC), Smith earned MWC Player of the Week twice this season. Her overall points average of 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 66 assists were No. 1 for the Falcons.

On Jan. 11, Smith surpassed the 1,000 career points mark at Air Force.

In the 2022-23 season Smith was an honorable mention selection for the MWC, as well as making the all-defensive team.

The Falcons finished with an 18-15 record.

At Connell, Smith averaged 23 points and 8 rebounds for the Eagles. She was a three-time South Central Athletic Conference East MVP, as well as Connell’s all-time leading scorer.

▪ Richland High grad Leon Rice led his Boise State University men’s basketball team to a 24-10 record this season.

The Broncos made it to the Mountain West Conference championship game, losing to Colorado State 69-56.

But head coach Rice and the Broncos had a chance to play a little more hoops, as they were invited to play in a new 16-team, single-elimination tournament in Las Vegas called the College Basketball Crown.

It started Monday, March 31, and BSU beat George Washington 89-59 in the first round.

Then the Broncos took down Butler 100-93 in the quarterfinals, before falling 79-69 to Nebraska in the semifinals last Saturday in T-Mobile Arena.

That ended the Broncos season with a 26-11 record.

Pro soccer

McKenna Martinez, who graduated from Tri-Cities Prep and played soccer for Richland High School, signed her first professional soccer contract in January with first-team division Valadares Gaia in Portugal.

The 22-year-old forward — who scored 33 goals in her career at Oregon State, No. 3 all-time for the Beavers — has played in 8 games and has scored 5 goals and 2 assists. In those games, she’s averaging 68 minutes a match.

Prep basketball

Columbia-Burbank seniors Quincy Scott and Tristan Frimodt were named co-Players of the Year in the 2B Eastern Washington Athletic Conference’s East Division team, as voted on by coaches.

The Coyotes’ Todd Schumacher, who led his team to the 2B state championship earlier this month, as named the conference’s Coach of the Year.

Joining Scott and Frimodt on the first team was their teammate, senior Caden Ross. Tri-Cities Prep junior Layne McClure, and Mabton seniors Marco Espinoza and Anthony Gutierrez completed the first team.

The EWAC East girls all-conference team is highlighted by Mabton senior Esmerelda Sanchez, who was named Player of the Year; and Columbia-Burbank’s Bailey Newell was named Coach of the Year.

Joining Sanchez on the first team was teammate and junior Alana Zavala, Columbia-Burbank seniors Azlyn Pariera and Hailey Jamison, and two players from Tri-Cities Prep: junior ClaraLee Ochweri and sophomore Macey Smith.

College lacrosse

Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky (Hermiston) scored three goals to help lead the Whitman women’s lacrosse team over Whitworth 13-8 on March 15.

College softball

Columbia Basin College’s softball team swept Pierce College 11-2 and 14-6 on March 1.

In the opener, Raquel Palmeira (Hawaii) had two hits, including a triple, scored two runs and had three RBIs to lead the Hawks.

Pitcher Peighton Fuhriman (Kennewick) picked up the win, pitching 5 innings, striking out 7 batters, and surrendering one run and two hits.

In the nightcap, Naomi Peterson (Arlington) had two hits with a home run, driving in five runs for CBC.

Leia Duropan (Hawaii) added two hits and scored three runs for CBC.

▪ Fuhriman picked up the pitching victory for CBC on March 21, as the Hawks beat Blue Mountain 16-0 in 5 innings.

Fuhriman tossed a 1-hitter, struck out 11 batter over 5 innings.

Kenadie Goudette (Montana) had three hits, a homer and 4 RBIs in the game.

CBC also won the nightcap, 9-5. Lauryn Krick (Puyallup) got the pitching win, striking out 12 batters over 6.1 innings. She also had two hits, two RBIs and a home run.

Duropan added two hits and three RBIs.

Tallulah Cubbage-Thorp (Hermiston) had a double and two RBIs for BMCC.

Signing

Kamiakin senior Landon Biglin was one of the best offensive linemen that the Braves football program has ever had.

Biglin was named to the Washington State Football Coaches Association’s Class 4A all-state team.

The three-year starter on the offensive line considered nine schools that either expressed interest in him, or that had already offered him a scholarship. They were Carleton University, Central Washington University, Eastern Oregon University, College of Idaho, Jamestown University, Madonna University, Pacific Lutheran University, Valley City State University, and Whitworth.

Biglin ended up choosing College of Idaho.