TOKYO - Josh Heytvelt, the former Clarkston High and Gonzaga basketball star who has been pursuing a pro career overseas, has been named Most Valuable Player of the National Basketball League season in Japan.
Heytvelt plays for the Hitachi SunRockers, who are top-seeded for postseason play and face the Chiba Jets in a first-round game today.
The SunRockers posted a 45-9 record in Heytvelt's first season with the club, which was also the first for coach Michael Olson and a number of other players. They had gone 18-36 last year.
The 6-foot-11 Heytvelt, who completed his Gonzaga career in 2009, has also played professionally in Turkey and Croatia. He signed with the SunRockers last August.
GOLF
WSU's Brown tied for second
ST. GEORGE, Utah - Washington State freshman Alivia Brown fired an even-par 71 and assumed a tie for second place in the opening round of the St. George Regional women's golf tournament.
Pauline Loulier of California leads the pack with a 68.
Brown's 71 ties for school record for the postseason.
"Alivia played solid today," WSU coach Kelli Kamimura said. "She stuck to her game plan and focused on hitting good quality shots. She went out there and was looking forward to competing. She played great and put herself in a good position for the next two rounds."
Brown was selected to compete as an individual in the field that features 18 teams and six individuals, becoming the first Cougar since 2007 to appear in the postseason.
VOLLEYBALL
L-C signs juco setter
Amber Hillestad, a transfer from Western Wyoming Community College, has signed with the Lewis-Clark State volleyball program, Warriors coach LaToya Harris announced.
A 5-foot-4 setter, Hillestad spent two seasons at Western Wyoming in Rock Springs, Wyo. She will be a junior when she begins competing for the Warriors this fall.
"I am very excited about Amber," Harris said. "Transferring from one of the top junior colleges in the nation that trained extremely hard, she will bring in athleticism, experience, leadership, maturity and a competitive work ethic."
Hillestad played in 34 of Western Wyoming's matches as a freshman in 2013, averaging 5.84 assists and 1.34 digs per set. She finished the season with 718 assists and 165 digs.
Hillestad prepped at Columbia High School in Nampa. She plans to major in psychology at LCSC.
