The Oregon Ducks grabbed a win over Utah 68-56 on Saturday. Jermain Couisnard spearheaded the Ducks offense with 18 points and 4 assists. The Beavers also earned a win, defeating Colorado 60-52 in Corvallis. Jordan Pope notched 19 points in the victory.

On the women’s ticket, the Lady Ducks fell to 3rd ranked Stanford 62-54 while OSU narrowly lost to Cal 64-62.

The Trail Blazers are welcoming Trae Young and the Hawks to town.  Portland hosts Atlanta tonight at the Moda Center.  The Blazers come off a 123-105 loss to the Raptors and have dropped four of their last six games.  Jusuf Nurkic and Josh Hart are both listed questionable for tonight's game due to injuries.  Justise Winslow remains sidelined with an ankle injury.  Portland comes in at 23-and-26.  Young is listed as questionable for the Hawks.  
 

The Portland Winterhawks earned three consecutive wins over the weekend beating Swift Current 6-3 on Friday, defeating Seattle 5-2 on Saturday, then edging Spokane 4-3 in overtime yesterday. Portland has won six straight and is the top team in the Western Conference.

The Kraken are getting some time off the ice for the NHL All-Star break.  Seattle returns on February 7th when it visits the Islanders in Elmont.  The Kraken currently sit first in the Pacific Division with 63 points and a 28-14-and-5 record.  Seattle had won three of its last five games.  Andre Burakovsky leads the team with 39 points this season.  The Kraken are represented by Matty Beniers in this year's All-Star game.  

The 49ers' season has come to an end.  San Francisco fell to the Eagles 31-7 in the NFC Championship game in Philadelphia.  Rookie quarterback Brock Purdy suffered an elbow injury early in the game and was replaced by Josh Johnson, who later exited the game after suffering a concussion.  Purdy re-entered the game and finished with just 23 passing yards.  Christian McCaffrey ran for the lone touchdown in the loss.  The Niners again had their season end one game short of making the Super Bowl.  

The Ducks bounced back with a conference win.  Oregon defeated Colorado 75-69 in Eugene to improve to 12-and-9.  Oregon State had less luck, losing to Utah 63-44 in Corvallis.  The Beavers dropped to 8-and-13.  Washington survived a late rally to beat Arizona State 69-66 in overtime in Seattle.  The Huskies improved to 13-and-9.  Washington State fell to Number-8 Arizona 63-58 in Pullman.  The Cougars slipped to 9-and-13.  Meanwhile, 14th-ranked Gonzaga returns tomorrow night when it visits Portland at the Chiles Center. 

The Trail Blazers are welcoming Pascal Siakam and the Raptors to town tomorrow night.  Portland hosts Toronto at the Moda Center.  The Blazers come off a 134-124 win over the Jazz and have won two straight games.  Damian Lillard recorded his fourth career 60-point game in the victory over Utah.  Only Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant have more career 60-point games in NBA history.  Portland comes in at 23-and-25.  

The A's are parting ways with one of their pitchers.  Oakland traded left-hander Cole Irvin to the Orioles on Thursday.  Irvin joined the A's after being acquired from the Phillies for 100-thousand-dollars.  The soon-to-be 29-year-old has a 4.11 earned run average in 359 and a third innings over the past two seasons.  The Orioles also received right-hander Kyle Virbitsky.  In return, Oakland is receiving 21-year-old infielder Darell Hernaiz.  

On the ice this weekend the Portland Winterhawks are back in action for three games. Tonight Portland welcomes the Swift Current Broncos before visiting Seattle tomorrow. Then on Sunday the Winterhawks welcome Spokane.
 

The 49ers are heading to the NFC Championship Game for the third time in the last four years.  San Francisco takes on the top-seeded Eagles on Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.  The second-seeded Niners advanced after beating the Cowboys 19-12 in the Divisional round.  Rookie Brock Purdy threw for 214 yards, while Christian McCaffrey ran for a touchdown in the victory over Dallas.  McCaffrey said there's "zero" chance he misses Sunday's game as he deals with a bruised calf.  Wide receiver Deebo Samuel was again limited at Thursday's team practice.  

The Portland Thorns fired their athletic trainer yesterday after an outside investigation found he illegally distributed a controlled substance to players, according to the National Women’s Soccer League.  The NWSL announced that the trainer, Pierre Soubrier, was fired along with Thorns assistant coach Sophie Clough.

The Seahawks could be losing a pair of coaches this offseason.  The Vikings announced on Tuesday that they completed an interview with Seattle defensive assistant and associate head coach Sean Desai.  Minnesota is searching for a new defensive coordinator after firing Ed Donatell.  Desai is also being pursued by the Dolphins, who requested to speak with him.  The Seahawks could also be losing quarterbacks coach Dave Canales after he was requested for an interview by the Ravens earlier this week. 

The Trail Blazers are welcoming Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz to town.  Portland hosts Utah tonight at the Moda Center.  The Blazers come off a 20-point win over the Spurs and snapped a three-game losing skid.  Damian Lillard scored 37 points and dished out 12 assists in the victory over San Antonio.  Justise Winslow remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is out for tonight's game.  Portland comes in at 22-25.  

The Kraken are returning to the ice.  Seattle hosts the Canucks tonight at Climate Pledge Arena.  The Kraken come off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Avalanche and have dropped three of their last four games.  Ryan Donato scored his 11th goal of the season in the loss to Colorado.  Seattle fell to 27-14-and-5 and is third in the Pacific Division with 59 points.  Andre Burakovsky leads the team with 38 points this season.  

The Oregon Athletic Officials Association and the Oregon School Activities Association are recruiting officials for the high school spring sports seasons.  There is an immediate need for umpires in baseball and softball. Becoming a high school official has several benefits including staying involved in athletics, maintaining good physical condition and earning money, according to OAOA Executive Director Jack Folliard. “Oregon has an urgent need for officials in all sports,” Folliard said.  “Officials provide valuable service to high schools and students, make a positive impact in the community and build relationships.”

Those interested in becoming a baseball or softball umpire should visit  www.newofficials.org.

Tonight Intermountain Conference play heats up. Mountain View hosts Redmond while Bend visits Caldera. Also, Summit welcomes Ridgeview. In 3A hoops, Sisters challenges La Pine.

The Trail Blazers couldn't hold on to a 25-point lead.  Portland fell 121-112 to the Lakers at the Moda Center.  The Blazers built a 71-46 lead at halftime, but were held to just 41 points in the second half.  Anfernee Simons paced Portland with 31 points in the losing effort.  Damian Lillard added 24 points and 10 assists.  The Blazers have dropped 8 of their last 10 to fall to 21-and-25.  Portland hosts the San Antonio Spurs tonight.  

The 49ers are heading to the NFC Championship Game for the third time in the last four years.  The Niners knocked off the Dallas Cowboys 19-12 in the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs in Santa Clara.  Rookie Brock Purdy threw for 214 yards, while Christian McCaffrey ran in for a touchdown for the Niners, who will meet the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game.  Dak Prescott threw for 206 yards, one TD and two interceptions for the Cowboys, who were eliminated by San Francisco for the second straight season.  The teams tied the NFL record with their ninth playoff meeting, with the Niners now 4-and-5 against the rival Cowboys.

The Portland Winterhawks earned a pair of home wins over the weekend. On Friday night Portland defeated Victoria 7-6 in overtime before blasting Lethbridge 5-2. The Winterhawks are back in action tonight as they get set to host the Spokane Chiefs.

 The Kraken are getting a few days off the ice.  Seattle returns on Wednesday night when it hosts the Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena.  The Kraken come off a 2-1 shootout loss to the Avalanche and have dropped three of their last four games.  Ryan Donato scored his 11th goal of the season in the loss to Colorado.  Seattle fell to 27-14-and-5 and is second in the Pacific Division with 59 points.  Andre Burakovsky leads the team with 38 points this season. 

The Winter Classic is back this weekend! Tonight at the Bend Pavilion the Oregon Ducks hockey squad battles Utah State. Tomorrow the Aggies take on Boise State, then on Sunday, the Broncos challenge Oregon. Ticket information can be found at oregonduckshockey.com

Last night Mountain View defeated Ridgeview 54-43. Bend edged Redmond 37-36 while Summit clobbered Caldera 70-26. For the girls, Ridgeview bested Mountain View 62-55 and Summit beat caldera 51-29. Also, Redmond thrashed Bend 72-29. There is more action tonight as Crook County visits Molalla and Madras hosts Gladstone. Sisters meets Creswell and Pleasant Hill challenges Harrisburg.

Last night Oregon State suffered a loss after falling to Stanford 67-46 at the Maples Pavilion.  The Beavers fell to 7-and-12. Also, Gonzaga had their 76-game home winning streak snapped. The sixth-ranked Bulldogs fell 68-67 to Loyola Marymount in Spokane. Oregon returns tomorrow night when it plays Stanford on the road.  The Ducks are 11-and-8 after beating Cal 87-58. On the women’s side the 23rd-ranked Lady Ducks visit Oregon State tonight at 8.

The Trail Blazers couldn't overcome a poor first quarter.  Portland fell 105-95 to the 76ers at the Moda Center.  The Blazers scored just 14 points in the opening quarter and trailed by 23 at halftime.  Damian Lillard racked up a double-double with 25 points and 11 assists.  Jerami Grant added 24 points and shot 8-of-14 from the floor.  Portland has lost seven of nine to drop to 21-and-24.  The Trail Blazers host the Lakers on Sunday night.  
 

Andre Burakovsky netted the game-winner in overtime as the Kraken edged the Devils 4-3 in Seattle.  Burakovsky scored his 13th goal of the season just over a minute into OT.  Ryan Donato added a pair of goals and Brandon Tanev also lit the lamp for Seattle.  The Kraken snapped a two-game losing skid as they improved to 27-14-and-4.  Seattle is tied for first place in the Pacific Division with 58 points.  The Kraken host the Avalanche tomorrow night. 

The Ducks are looking for another conference win.  Oregon takes on Cal tonight in Berkeley.  The Ducks are 10-and-8 after beating Arizona 87-68.  Meanwhile, sixth-ranked Gonzaga hosts Loyola Marymount tomorrow night in Spokane.  Oregon State hits the road to face Stanford tomorrow night.  Washington is also on the road as it visits Colorado tomorrow night in Boulder.  Washington State squares off with Utah tomorrow night in Salt Lake City.  
 

The Ducks are getting a few players back for next season.  Safeties Steve Stephens the Fourth and Jamal Hill are both returning to Oregon, according to The Oregonian.  Stephens is a sixth year senior and Hill will be a fifth year senior.  In other program news, wide receiver Caleb Chapman announced he entered the transfer portal.  Chapman caught one pass for 15 yards through nine games.  He's the 19th Ducks player to enter the portal.  
 

The Trail Blazers had their two-game winning streak snapped.  Portland fell 122-113 to the Nuggets in Denver.  Damian Lillard scored a game-high 44 points and dished out eight assists.  He was one of four players to score in double figures for the Blazers.  Jerami Grant tallied 18 points in the losing effort.  Portland has dropped six of its last eight to fall to 21-and-23.  The Trail Blazers host the Philadelphia 76ers tomorrow night.  
 

The Seahawks are making some offseason moves.  Seattle announced on Tuesday that it signed 10 players to reserve/future contracts.  Offensive lineman Greg Eiland, linebacker Chris Garrett, defensive tackle Jarrod Hewitt, center Joey Hunt and wide receiver Cade Johnson were among those signed from the team's practice squad.  They were joined by offensive tackle Jalen McKenzie, cornerback Chris Steele, running back Darwin Thompson, wide receiver Connor Wedington and wideout Easop Winston Jr.  

The Kraken suffered a second straight loss.  Seattle fell 5-2 to the Oilers in Edmonton.      Daniel Sprong and Vince Dunn each scored goals in the losing effort.  Sprong found the back of the net for the 15th time this season.  Martin Jones had a rough time in net, allowing five goals and making 28 saves.  Seattle dropped to 26-14-and-4 and is tied for second in the Pacific Division with 56 points.  The Kraken host the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night.  

On Friday night Crook County defeated Sweet Home 64-32 and La Pine scorched Siuslaw 51-38. Sisters lost to Harrisburg 50-38. On Saturday Madras downed Marshfield 57-46. For the girls, Ridgeview, Crook County, and La Pine were all winners. Intermountain Conference play resumes tonight as Caldera hosts Mountain View and Summit visits Bend. Also Ridgeview welcomes Redmond. All games tip off at 7.

On the college hardwood this weekend the Oregon Ducks earned an 85-68 win over #9 Arizona. Jermain Couisnard notched 27 points and N’Faly Dante scored 22 and snagged 10 boards in the win. Elsewhere the Oregon State Beavers lost to Arizona State 74-69. For the women, the Lady Ducks fell to Washington State yesterday 85-84 while OSU fell to the Huskies 79-67.

The Trail Blazers rolled to another win over the Mavericks.  Portland crushed Dallas 140-123 at the Moda Center.  Damian Lillard led the way with 40 points and dished out six assists.  Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic all tallied 20 points in the victory.  The Blazers made 37 of their 42 attempts at the free throw line.  Portland has won two straight to improve to 21-and-22.  The Trail Blazers visit the Nuggets tomorrow night.  

The Portland Winterhawks dropped a pair of road games during the weekend. Portland lost to moose jaw 4-2 and fell to Regina 4-3. Portland can lick its wounds this week before returning home on Friday to host Victoria.

Rookie Brock Purdy threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns as he led the 49ers to a 41-23 win over the Seahawks on Saturday in the NFC Wild Card round in Santa Clara.  Purdy also ran for a score in his NFL playoff debut and became the first rookie QB with four total touchdowns in a playoff game.  Deebo Samuel caught six passes for 133 yards and a touchdown in the victory.  Seattle led 17-16 going into halftime, but wouldn't score again until under two minutes left in the fourth quarter.  The 49ers will face either the Cowboys or Buccaneers in the Divisional round on Sunday night.  

Last night Summit thrashed Mountain View 63-36 while Bend beat Ridgeview 35-23. On the girl’s ticket, Summit downed Mountain View 57-51, and Caldera beat Redmond 50-44. Tonight on the hardwood Crook County hosts Sweet Home and Sisters visits Harrisburg. La Pine plays Siuslaw.

The Oregon Classic kicks off today at the Deschutes County Fair & Xxpo. Championship rounds begin at 12:30 tomorrow.

The Bulldogs escaped with a road win.  Number-8 Gonzaga edged BYU 75-74 in Provo.  Julian Strawther hit the game-winning three with nine seconds left as the Bulldogs improved to 15-and-3.  Oregon suffered a tough loss at home, falling 90-73 to Arizona State in Eugene.  The Ducks dropped to 9-and-8.  Oregon State lost to ninth-ranked Arizona 86-74 in Corvallis.  The Beavers fell to 7-and-10.  Washington had better luck with an 86-69 win over Stanford in Seattle.  The Huskies improved to 10-and-8.  Washington State returns tomorrow night when it hosts Stanford in Pullman.  The Cougars are 8-and-10 after beating Cal 66-51 on Wednesday.  

The Trail Blazers suffered a fifth straight loss.  Portland lost to the Cavaliers 119-113 at the Moda Center.  Damian Lillard exploded for 50 points in the losing effort and shot 16-of-28 from the floor.  The Blazers led by four entering the fourth quarter, but were outscored by Cleveland 32-to-22 in the final quarter.  Jerami Grant scored 22 points as Portland fell to 19-and-22.  The Trail Blazers host the Mavericks tomorrow night.  
 

The Kraken took down the top team in the NHL.  Seattle blanked the Bruins 3-0 in Boston.  Martin Jones got the shutout win after stopping all 27 shots he faced in net.  Brandon Tanev, Eeli Tolvanen and Jaden Schwartz each lit the lamp for the Kraken, who have rattled off seven straight victories.  Seattle improved to 25-12-and-4 and is third in the Pacific Division with 54 points.  The Kraken visit the Blackhawks tomorrow night.  

Pieces are moving around for the Oregon football program.  Yesterday, tight end Cam McCormick announced that he is entering the transfer portal.  McCormick had ten catches for 66 yards and three touchdowns last season.  Additionally, defensive lineman Casey Rogers announced that he is returning to the Ducks, and Oregon added transfer safety Evan Williams from Fresno State.

The Portland Trail Blazers missed three game-tying three-pointers on their final possession of a 109-106 loss to the Orlando Magic at Moda Center.  The Blazers trailed by as many as 19 points before making it interesting in the final minutes.  Damian Lillard poured in 30 points in the losing effort, while Jusuf Nurkic chipped in with 22 points and ten boards.  Portland falls to 19-and-21.  The Blazers host Cleveland tomorrow night.

Stephen Vogt is making the transition from Major League catcher to coach.  The longtime veteran has been named the new bullpen and quality control coach for the Seattle Mariners.  The 38-year-old played for six teams over ten years, including the A's, Giants, and Diamondbacks, before he retired after last season.  He was a two-time All-Star with the A's in 2015 and 2016.

The Seattle Seahawks are dealing with some injuries leading up to their NFC Wild Card game this weekend.  While the team only had walk-throughs yesterday, the Seattle estimated that five players would have missed practice, including tight end Noah Fant and defensive end Shelby Harris.  Additionally, three other players would have been limited.  Seattle visits San Francisco on Saturday.  In other team news, wide receiver Dee Eskridge was designated to return from injured reserve, and the Seahawks signed linebacker Chris Garrett to their practice squad.

The Seattle Kraken scored a pair of goals in the third period during a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center.  Matty Beniers started the period with a go-ahead goal, and Justin Schultz added some insurance with a score four minutes later.  Yanni Gourde and Jordan Eberle also lit the lamp in the victory.  Seattle is on a six-game winning streak, and the team is in third-place in the Pacific Division with 52 points and a 24-12-and-4 record.  The Kraken visit Boston tomorrow night.

Tonight Intermountain Conference play continues. Bend visits Mountain View while Caldera welcomes Ridgeview. Also, Summit hosts Redmond.

In college hoops, over the weekend the Oregon Ducks split a pair of games losing to Colorado 41-68 and bouncing back on Saturday to defeat Utah 70-60. Meantime the Beavers picked up two losses, falling to the Utes 79-60 and the Buffaloes 62-42. Last night for the Oregon Women it was a 79-71 loss while the Lady Beavers downed Arizona State 69-59.

The Trail Blazers suffered a third straight loss.  Portland fell 117-105 to the Raptors in Toronto.  Damian Lillard scored a game-high 34 points and dished out eight assists in the losing effort.  The Blazers trailed by seven after the first quarter and couldn't overcome the early deficit.  Portland's bench combined to score just three points as the team fell to 19-and-20.  The Trail Blazers host the Orlando Magic tomorrow night.

Jason Myers drilled a game-winning 32-yard field goal in overtime as the Seahawks knocked off the Rams 19-16 in Seattle.  Myers redeemed himself in OT after missing a potential game-winning 46-yard kick in the closing seconds of regulation.  Quandre Diggs set up the game-winner after intercepting Baker Mayfield on the Rams' second play of overtime.  Geno Smith threw for 213 yards, one touchdown and two picks as Seattle finished with a 9-and-8 record.  The Seahawks would end up the seventh seed in the NFC playoff field.  
 

On the ice, the Portland Winterhawks finally had their winning streak snapped with a pair of losses this weekend. Portland lost to Brandon 3-2 and fell to Winnipeg 6-3. Portland has a chance to begin a new streak tomorrow night against the Raiders.

Intermountain Conference play begins. Redmond hosts Mountain View while Bend welcomes Caldera and Summit visits Ridgeview. Tomorrow the Mountain Valley League kicks off conference play when La Pine challenges Creswell and Sisters plays Siuslaw.

 Oregon visits Colorado tonight, while Oregon State visits Utah tonight.  The Ducks are 8-and-6, while the Beavers sit at 7-and-7. The Bulldogs are seeking a ninth straight win.  10th-ranked Gonzaga returns tonight when it visits San Francisco.

The Trail Blazers failed to slow down Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.  Portland lost to Minnesota 113-106 in Minneapolis.  Damian Lillard led the way with 27 points and converted on 11-of-15 trips to the free throw line.  The team combined to miss 11 free throws in the loss.  Jerami Grant scored 26 points for the Blazers, who dropped to 19-and-18.  Portland has lost five of its last seven and visits the Pacers tomorrow night.  
 

The Kraken are continuing their Canadian road trip.  Seattle takes on the Maple Leafs tonight in Toronto.  The Kraken come off a 5-2 win over the Oilers and have won two straight games.  Seattle scored five unanswered goals after trailing 2-0 early in the second period against Edmonton.  The Kraken improved to 20-12-and-4 and sit third in the Pacific Division with 44 points.  Andre Burakovsky leads the team with 28 points this season.  

A two-year-old GoFundMe set up by Damar Hamlin to fund a toy drive has surpassed seven-million-dollars since the Buffalo Bills safety collapsed on the football field Monday night.  Hamlin remains hospitalized in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest.  The original goal of the funding drive, aimed at buying toys in Hamlin's hometown of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, was 25-hundred dollars.  Hamlin's family updated the page Wednesday noting they were awestruck at the generosity.