SPORT

Northampton: Pater; Sleightholme, Hutchinson, Thame, Hendy; Belleau, Mitchell; Fischetti, Smith, Kundiona, Lockett, van der Mescht, Kemeny, Taylor, Chick.

Replacements: Langdon, Els, Neculai, Prowse, Ulcoq, McParland, Smith, Dingwall.

Yellow card: Belleau 60.

Cardiff: Young; Grady, Millard, Emanuel, Bowen; Evans, Mulder; Southworth, D Hughes (capt), Wainwright, Manz, Thornton, Paea, D Thomas, Faletau.

Replacements: E Lloyd, Barratt, Cowell, McNally, De La Rua, S Davies, Sheedy, Adams.

Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)

Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France) & Cyrille Boulay (France)

TMO: Julien Castaignede (France)

Whenever a teammate needs a pep talk McKennah Iamaleava is quick to give it — a skill one learns growing up in a family full of accomplished athletes.

“Growing up my parents [Nic and Marlienna] would tell us family is No. 1 and whenever you’re in a hole or whatever the situation you can always come back to them,” Iamaleava said. “So, whether it be about sports or school we always have someone to go to.”

A 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter on the Long Beach Poly High girls’ volleyball team, McKennah is continuing the legacy of success of her four older siblings while simultaneously passing it on to her three younger ones.

“I’m one of eight so volleyball runs in the family,” the reigning Moore League player of the year said. “I started playing when I was 6 or 7.”

However, volleyball is not the only sport McKennah played as a child.

“I dabbled in basketball some too,” she confessed. “My aunt Janitah played at Carson High and the University of Oregon.”

Sisters McKennah, left, and Ellie Iamaleava are two of eight siblings who have played volleyball.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

McKennah is committed to UC Irvine and, not surprisingly, its proximity was a major factor in her choosing to join the Anteaters’ program.

“First of all, it’s close to home and secondly I love the coaching staff,” she said. “All of the girls are super nice, the campus is beautiful and competing in the Big West is going to be exciting.”

Her oldest brother Matt played volleyball at Long Beach State, her older sister Nicaylah played at Cypress College and her two closest brothers, Nico and Madden, also grew up playing the sport while excelling in football and both are now quarterbacks at nationally ranked UCLA.

“We see them [Nico and Madden] a few times a week,” McKennah said. “We have dinners together. Of course we go to all of their home games.

“We don’t talk for long right after, we’ll keep it short and then next day is usually the recap.”

Nico suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of UCLA’s 17-15 win at Oregon on Oct. 10 and is out indefinitely. McKennah was among the first people to offer him encouragement.

Long Beach Poly High senior McKennah Iamaleava celebrates after winning a point against Redondo Union.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

“I wasn’t there but I was watching,” she said. “It was a hard shot to take but Nico’s tough and he’ll come back strong. I was texting him right after the game and also in our group texts. I hope Madden gets some playing time. It would be good for him as well.”

Having such a strong support system makes McKennah well-equipped to handle the ups and downs of volleyball and life.

“I probably talk to Matt the most,” McKennah said. “He’s already gone to college and graduated and I went to a few of his matches, which was so fun. Nicaylah is the libero of our family. … I watched her passing and she would teach me a lot. I’m glad I have her.”

McKennah’s two youngest sisters, Mallory (15) and Nori (12), also play volleyball but her tightest bond is with her closest sibling Ellie, a junior opposite hitter at Poly.

Long Beach Poly High junior Ellie Iamaleava celebrates winning a point during a recent match.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

“Ellie and I are close,” McKennah added. “Our rooms are right next to each other so every time I want to annoy her I just go to her room. My sister is encouraging to me because she’s very hard on herself. She’ll get a great kill but won’t be satisfied, which motivates me even more to be better as a person and a player.”

“McKennah and I are always with each other,” Ellie agreed. “Her being an older sister kind of plays into that. She really pushes me. She helps me through all my hardships as a new player and I look up to her a lot.

“She’s always on top of everything and the game’s real natural to her. I want to play in college too — anywhere close to home.”

Poly (25-7) wrapped up its fourth straight league title last week under head coach Gerald Aquiningoc, who guided the Jackrabbits to theSouthern Section Division 3 championship in 2024 and the Division 2 semifinals last season.

Along with Madden (then a senior), McKennah (a sophomore) and Ellie (a freshman) transferred to Poly from Warren High in September 2024.

“Amazing family,” Aquiningoc said of the Iamaleavas. “McKennah and Ellie are super coachable and huge pieces of our program. When they transferred in even though they couldn’t play that whole first year they were still super involved. They helped us practice and to prepare for our matches. They were our best scout team.”

Aquiningoc cited McKennah’s leadership as a big reason the program has been on the rise.

“I think I lead more by example — I’m just always thinking,” McKennah said. “If I don’t say it I’m usually thinking it, no matter how it comes out and I have a close relationship with our setter [Mina Orbiso]. I’m super confident that I can put the ball away and I tell her.”

Iamaleava, who plays club for SC Rockstar, appreciates the trust that Aquiningoc has in her.

“Coach G gives me the space to grow as a person and a player,” she said. “I’m thankful because I know that on the court I can pick what I want and how I’m feeling and it means a lot to me. The confidence he has in his players is amazing.”

The Jackrabbits are seeded second in the Division 2 playoffs and host Gold Coast League champion Campbell Hall in the first round Tuesday night.

“I’d say this our best team, yes,” McKennah said. “We have so much talent at every position. It’s kind of fun because you can throw anyone out there and they’ll perform.”

What Iamaleava lacks in height she makes up for with her intelligence, placement and angles that keep opponents guessing whether she will hit it down the line or crosscourt. She is adept at receiving serve and what she does in the back row is as valuable as what she does in the front row.

“Being a short hitter you have to use the hand, hit off the block and find different kinds of shots,” she said. ”There’s a lot to think about.”

McKennah’s stats from Poly’s regular-season finale at Redondo Union on Wednesday reflect how complete a player she is. She had 22 kills, 14 digs, six blocks and did not miss a single serve in the Jackrabbits’ five-set victory.

Iamaleava is planning to major in business and is happy to the see the sport grow so much since she started playing.

“Women’s volleyball is getting so much attention and I love it because it encourages all of the younger players to keep doing it,” she said. “What do I want to do long-term? Something with a sport but I’m still deciding if I want to keep playing volleyball or just stay around it.”

In the short term, Iamaleava wants to conclude her high school career with a medal around her neck and make her family proud.

“That pressure turns into a motivation to keep pushing ourselves,” she said. “For Ellie and I there’s a really high ceiling with our older siblings and we try to live up to that.”

WEEK 9 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

MONDAY’S SCHEDULE

SOUTHERN SECTION

Ironwood league

Village Christian at Capistrano Valley Christian

THURSDAY’S SCHEDULE

SOUTHERN SECTION

Arroyo League

La Canada at Monrovia

Muir at Burbank

Big West League

Corona Santiago at Eastvale Roosevelt

Vista Murrieta at Norco

Bravo League

Tustin at La Habra

Citrus Belt League

Beaumont at Yucaipa

Redlands at Citrus Valley

Del Rey League

Harvard-Westlake at La Salle

Delta League

Troy at Huntington Beach

Desert Empire League

La Quinta at Xavier Prep

Desert Sky League

Victor Valley at Silverado

Epsilon League

Brea Olinda at Newport Harbor

Foxtrot League

Irvine at Orange

Gano League

Don Lugo at Nogales

Montclair at Chaffey

Walnut at Rowland

Golden League

Palmdale at Quartz Hill

Inland Valley League

Canyon Springs at Hemet

Kappa League

St. Margaret’s at Esperanza

Manzanita League

Temecula Prep at Nuview Bridge

Marmonte League

Simi Valley at Bishop Diego

Mid-Cities League

Gahr at Santa Fe

Mojave River League

Apple Valley at Serrano

Mountain Pass League

Elsinore at West Valley

Temescal Canyon at Tahquitz

Omicron League

Los Amigos at Santa Ana

Rio Vista League

Artesia at Whittier

River Valley League

Big Bear at Miller

Ramona at Patriot

San Andreas League

Rialto at Kaiser

Sigma League

Anaheim at Rancho Alamitos

Ocean View at Katella

Sunbelt League

Paloma Valley at Valley View

Tango League

Garden Grove Santiago at Magnolia

8-MAN

SOUTHERN SECTION

Agape League

PAL Academy at Lucerne Valley

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

CITY SECTION

Central League

Bernstein at Maywood CES

Contreras at Roybal

Hollywood at Mendez

Coliseum League

Crenshaw at Dorsey

Marquez at King/Drew

Eastern League

Huntington Park at Legacy

L.A. Roosevelt at Bell

South East at South Gate

East Valley League

Arroyo at North Hollywood

Fulton at Arleta

Grant at Monroe

Sun Valley Poly at Verdugo Hills

Exposition League

Manual Arts at Jefferson

Marine League

San Pedro at Carson

Wilmington Banning at Narbonne

Metro League

Hawkins at Locke

L.A. Jordan at Dymally, 4 p.m.

Northern League

Lincoln at Franklin

L.A. Wilson at L.A. Marshall

Southern League

Torres at Belmont

West Adams at Los Angeles, 3 p.m.

Valley Mission League

San Fernando at Granada Hills Kennedy

Sylmar at Reseda

Van Nuys at Panorama

Western League

L.A. Hamilton at Venice

L.A. University at Westchester

Palisades at Fairfax

West Valley League

Chatsworth at Birmingham

Cleveland at Granada Hills

Taft at Wells Camino Real

Nonleague

Eagle Rock at Garfield

Fremont at Angelou

Stella at Sotomayor

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alliance League

South El Monte at Montebello

Almont League

Alhambra at San Gabriel

Alpha League

Edison at Yorba Linda

Mission Viejo at Los Alamitos

San Clemente at San Juan Hills

Angelus League

Paraclete at Cathedral

St. Francis at Bishop Montgomery

St. Paul at St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy

Baseline League

Eitwanda at Chino Hills

Upland at Rancho Cucamonga

Bay League

Inglewood at Leuzinger

Palos Verdes at Redondo Union

Big West League

Corona Centennial at Chaparral

Temecula Valley at Corona

Murrieta Valley at Murrieta Mesa

Riverside King at Great Oak

Boulder League

Burbank Burroughs at Crescenta Valley

San Marino at Gabrielino

South Pasadena at Pasadena

Bravo League

Crean Lutheran at Corona Del Mar

Villa Park at Capistrano Valley

Camino Real League

St. Bernard at Mary Star of the Sea

St. Genevieve at St. Monica

Channel League

Thousand Oaks at Rio Mesa

Ventura at Moorpark

Westlake at Santa Barbara

Citrus Belt League

Redlands at Citrus Valley

Redlands East Valley at Cajon

Citrus Coast League

Channel Islands at Santa Clara

Del Sol at Carpinteria

Grace at Nordhoff

Coastal 101 League

Calabasas at Buena

Camarillo at Oak Park

Oxnard at Agoura

Conference 12 League

Keppel at Arroyo

Mountain View at Rosemead

Cottonwood League

Vasquez at Riverside Notre Dame

Whittier Christian at Riverside Prep

Crest League

Arcadia at Glendale

Temple City at Hoover

Del Rey League

Crespi at Alemany

Salesian at St. Anthony

Delta League

El Modena at Dana Hills

Western at Laguna Beach

Desert Empire League

Palm Desert at Palm Springs

Rancho Mirage at Shadow Hills

Desert Sky League

Barstow at Granite Hills

Desert Valley League

Coachella Valley at Yucca Valley

Epsilon League

Santa Ana Foothill at Tesoro

Trabuco Hills at Aliso Niguel

Foothill League

Castaic vs. West Ranch at College the Canyons

Golden Valley at Valencia

Hart at Canyon Country Canyon

Foxtrot League

El Dorado at Beckman

Segerstrom at El Toro

Gateway League

Downey at Cerritos

Mayfair at La Serna

Warren at La Mirada

Gold Coast League

Brentwood at Rio Hondo Prep

Golden League

Eastside at Knight

Highland at Lancaster

Littlerock at Antelope Valley

Hacienda League

Covina at Diamond Bar

Los Altos at Baldwin Park

West Covina at South Hills

Hub City League

Compton at Compton Centennial

Dominguez at Long Beach Cabrillo

Inland Valley League

Heritage at Citrus Hill

Lakeside at Arlington

Perris at Moreno Valley

Iota League

Garden Grove Pacifica at Marina

Laguna Hills at Cypress

La Palma Kennedy at Northwood

Ironwood League

Aquinas at Village Christian

Capistrano Valley Christian at Heritage Christian

Western Christian at Cerritos Valley Christian

Ivy League

Rancho Christian at Orange Vista

Rancho Verde at Liberty

Riverside Poly at Vista del Lago

Kappa League

Portola at Anaheim Canyon

Sunny Hills at Fullerton

Lambda League

Placentia Valencia at Fountain Valley

Westminster at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel

Woodbridge at Sonora

Manzanita League

Anza Hamilton at Silver Valley

Desert Chapel at San Jacinto Valley Academy

Marmonte League

Newbury Park at Oaks Christian

St. Bonaventure at Oxnard Pacifica

Mesquite League

Desert Christian Academy at Santa Rosa Academy

Ontario Christian at Linfield Christian

Metro League

Bell Gardens at El Rancho

El Monte at Schurr

Mid-Cities League

California at Paramount

Norwalk at Bellflower

Miramonte League

Ganesha at Workman

Pomona at Garey

Mission League

Gardena Serra at Chaminade

Loyola at Bishop Amat

Sherman Oaks Notre Damę at Sierra Canyon

Mission Valley League

Mountain View at Rosemead

Mojave River League

Oak Hills at Ridgecrest Burroughs

Sultana at Hesperia

Montview League

Azusa at Ontario

Duarte at Hacienda Heights Wilson

La Puente at Sierra Vista

Moore League

Long Beach Jordan at Lakewood

Long Beach Poly at Millikan

Mountain Valley League

Jurupa Valley at La Sierra

San Bernardino at Rubidoux

Ocean League

Hawthorne at South Torrance

Peninsula at Beverly Hills

Omicron League

Estancia at Garden Grove

Irvine University at Buena Park

Los Amigos at Santa Ana

Pioneer League

Culver City at Torrance

North Torrance at El Segundo

West Torrance at Santa Monica

Rio Vista League

Firebaugh at Pioneer

Lynwood at Glenn

River Valley League

Jurupa Valley at La Sierra

Norte Vista at Pacific

San Andreas League

Rim of the World at Colton

Sierra League

Bonita at Charter Oak

Colony at Glendora

Northview at Ayala

Sigma League

Saddleback at Costa Mesa

Skyline League

Arroyo Valley at Carter

Fontana at Indian Springs

San Gorgonio at Bloomington

Sunbelt League

Hillcrest at Riverside North

Sunkist League

Eisenhower at Summit

Grand Terrace at Jurupa Hills

Sun Valley League

Banning at Desert Hot Springs

Cathedral City at Indio

Desert Mirage at Twentynine Palms

Tango League

Bolsa Grande at Godinez

Savanna at Loara, 6:30 p.m.

Tri-County League

Fillmore at Dos Pueblos

Hueneme at Santa Paula

San Marcos at Royal

Trinity League

JSerra vs. Santa Margarita at Saddleback College

Orange Lutheran vs. Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium

St. John Bosco vs. Servite at Orange Coast College

Valle Vista League

Alta Loma at Chino

Claremont at San Dimas

Diamond Ranch at Los Osos

Nonleague

Maranatha at Viewpoint

INTERSECTIONAL

El Cajon Granite Hills at San Jacinto

St. Jeanne de Lestonnac at Diego Rivera

8-MAN

CITY SECTION

City League

New Designs University Park at Animo Robinson

USC Hybrid at New Designs Watts

Valley League

TEACH Tech at Valley Oaks CES

South LA College Prep at Sherman Oaks CES

SOUTHERN SECTION

Express League

Downey Calvary Chapel at Vista Meridian, 6 p.m.

Southlands Christian at Magnolia Science Academy, 3 p.m.

Freelance League

Malibu at Laguna Blanca, 3 p.m.

Majestic League

Public Safety Academy at Cornerstone Christian, 5 p.m.

Tri-Valley League

Pasadena Poly at Flintridge Prep, 6:30 p.m.

Nonleague

California School for the Deaf Riverside at Faith Baptist, 6:30 p.m.

Thacher at Sage Hill, 6 p.m.

Villanova Prep at Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian, 6 p.m.

INTERSECTIONAL

Bakersfield Legacy Christian Academy at Cuyama Valley

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

SOUTHERN SECTION

Cottonwood League

Arrowhead Christian at Webb, 1 p.m.

INTERSECTIONAL

Trinity Classical Academy at Orcutt Academy, 6 p.m.

8-MAN

SOUTHERN SECTION

Agape League

Hesperia Christian at Academy of Careers & Exploration

Coast Valley League

Valley Christian Academy at San Luis Obispo Classical Academy, 11 a.m.

Express League

Downey Calvary Chapel at Vista Meridian, 6 p.m.

Heritage League

Lancaster Baptist at Desert Christian, 3 p.m.

Tri-Valley League

Cate at Chadwick, 2 p.m.

Heritage League

Lancaster Baptist at Desert Christian, 6 p.m.

Freelance League

Highland Entrepreneur at California Lutheran, 6 p.m.

Tri-Valley League

Cate at Chadwick, 2 p.m.

John McLellan is not old enough to have a driver’s license at 13 years old, but the Redondo Beach teenager has been racing kart cars at speeds nearing 80 mph in Italy this month.

Last week, he had a breakthrough performance, finishing third among 117 drivers representing 33 countries at the FIA Karting World Cup OK-N Junior Final at Leopard Circuit Viterbo, Italy.

His father, John Sr., sent him to Italy for four weeks to compete for Sweden-based Ward Racing.

“Dad is on him all the time,” his father said. “Do your homework, brush your teeth.”

“Yes and yes,” John Jr. said this week after returning home.

John Jr. is enrolled in a Texas-based online middle school to help with his unpredictable traveling schedule. He had been a club soccer player until deciding racing is what he wants to do.

First he was into motocross at age 6. After an accident resulting in a broken hand and broken collarbone, kart racing became his specialty, with a dream of racing Formula 1 cars.

John McLellan, 13, in his Kart car.

(Matteo Segago)

His mother is from Australia and his father is a Torrance native who chose racing motorcycles over playing high school soccer. Like father, like son.

“He loves it,” John Sr. said. “What kid wouldn’t want to race cars?”

John said of the strangeness driving high speeds at 13: “Whenever you have a kid going 80 mph without a driver’s license and going to middle school, you would think that’s absolute carnage and crazy. Karting is just a very competitive sport.”

The average lap speeds are 56 mph. John wants to attend a regular high school when he enters ninth grade next year, so whether it’s Rolling Hills Prep or Redondo Union, new friends need to know they’re hanging out with a teenager who, as Tom Cruise said in “Top Gun,” “I feel the need … the need for speed.”

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Investec Champions Cup

Pau (17) 41

Tries: Marta 2, Zabala, Grandidier Nkanang, Brau-Boirie Cons: Desperes 5 Pens: Desperes 2

Leicester Tigers (10) 17

Tries: Chessum, Van der Flier Cons: Searle 2 Pen: Searle

Leicester Tigers began their Champions Cup campaign with a 41-17 defeat by French club Pau.

Portugal international Rodrigo Marta crossed for two of the home side’s five tries, with a late burst helping them earn a bonus point from their Pool One opener.

Despite falling behind to an early Pau penalty, Leicester did well in the early exchanges, their tactical kicking game keeping them camped in their opponents’ territory.

Billy Searle’s 50-22 put the Tigers in superb field position and they capitalised through captain Ollie Chessum, who was making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a foot injury.

Pau fought back well, however, showing their quality with three tries in a 20-minute spell either side of half-time.

They had already seen a Sacha Zegueur try ruled out for a knock-on before Marta, the leading try-scorer in this season’s Top 14 with six in five appearances, and prop Jon Zebala touched down late in the first half.

Centre Marta raced in again from 30 metres to extend Pau’s lead after the interval.

Archie van der Flier powered over in the corner to move Leicester back within seven points, but that would be the final time Leicester would be within range of a losing bonus point, as Pau scored 17 points without reply.

Fly-half Axel Desperes added a further penalty, Theo Attissogbe sent winger Aaron Grandidier Nkanang over unchallenged in the corner and Fabien Brau-Boirie intercepted a Leicester pass to complete the scoring.

Leicester’s remaining Pool One matches are against Clermont Auvergne, Glasgow Warriors and Leinster.

It was 41 years ago in April of 1987 as a 28-year-old sportswriter that I was given one of my favorite assignments.

From LAX, I flew to Indianapolis, rented a car and drove one hour to Bloomington, Ind., home of the NCAA basketball champion Indiana Hoosiers. My most vivid memory was nervously driving on Route 37 with no GPS guiding me and seeing the many varieties of basketball hoops hanging on farm houses and family homes, providing powerful evidence that all the stereotypes about the state’s love for basketball were true.

This was months after the best selling book, “A Season on the Brink,” was published. And a month after coach Bob Knight and Indiana won their fifth NCAA basketball championship.

My assignment was to check in with Glendale native Joe Hillman, a 1984 Hoover High graduate who was Knight’s first recruit from west of the Mississippi River. Hillman averaged 41.3 points his senior year at Hoover He ended up being a reserve guard behind Steve Alford and Keith Smart on the 1987 NCAA championship team, so it was perfect timing.

He also continued to play baseball and was a 25th-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics in 1986.

Fast forward to Tuesday at the YMCA in La Cañada Flintridge. The guest speaker for the Glendale Quarterback Club was Hillman. It was the first time seeing him since my trip to Indiana. Now 60 and living outside of Indianapolis, Hillman was asked tough questions.

1984 All-CIF basketball team.

(1984 Foundation)

Can you still hit?

“I can still do that.”

Can you still make free throws?

“I don’t know about that.”

How come you never went into coaching?

“I wouldn’t have been patient enough.”

How did Knight convince you to go to Indiana?

“We don’t have this in Indiana,” Knight told him during a visit to Santa Anita while looking out at the San Gabriel Mountains. “Why would a California kid come to Indiana?”

Hillman: “I want to play on a national championship team.”

Any Knight stories to tell?

“I don’t know if you can put them in a paper.”

Years later, when talking to other players, Hillman said, “There was a method to his madness. They all had the same stories with different names.”

Indiana’s Daryl Thomas (24) and Joe Hillman (44) victorious during interview with CBS announcers Billy Packer (L) and Brent Musberger (R) in 1987.

(Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated via Getty Imaages)

Among the Knight truths: Players who practiced best always got to play. The best players always got the most heat from him. Anyone who graduated from Indiana received his total loyalty.

Hillman remembers calling Knight eight years after graduation seeking a phone number to reach a Reebok executive to inquire about a job. Knight ended up telling the executive he’d drop Adidas shoe contract for Reebok if Hillman were hired. Hillman didn’t get the job but learned what Knight would do for any player who got his degree.

“He was the most honest, most blunt coach,” Hillman said.

Asked why he chose to be subjected to such harsh criticism for four years, Hillman said, “My father was on me from the time of T-ball. He said constructive criticism was good.”

Comparing today’s college sports environment of NIL deals with the 1980s, Hillman said, “It would have been scary what kind of money we could have gotten.”

Hillman expressed disappointment at the lack of multiple-sport athletes today in high school sports. He said even Knight appreciated and supported his option to keep playing baseball.

Looking back on that trip from 1987, I re-read my observations: “The four-lane highway that stretches from Indianapolis to Bloomington is virtually deserted as darkness begins to descend over the lush, green countryside. The temperature is in the 50s, and the sky is overcast after three straight days of damp weather. The picturesque Midwestern landscape is immaculate, but equally alluring are the distinctive basketball hoops found among the farms and family homes along Route 37. Hoops are everywhere — on barns, rooftops, telephone poles, even next to power transformers.”

I remember getting lost in a forest trying to find where Hillman was living in a townhouse.

I wrote: “After finding the correct street, the quickest way to locate an Indiana basketball player’s residence is to ask a young fan. Shooting baskets by himself on a court not far away was a 12-year-old.

“Do you know where Joe Hillman lives?”

“Sure,” the youngster says.

Those were the days.

Emma Finucane said she will “come back fighting” for gold medals after narrowly missing out on the top step of the podium for the third time at the Track Cycling World Championships, external in Shanghai.

Finucane, 23, was forced to settle for bronze in Sunday’s keirin after being pipped to the finish line by neutral athlete Alina Lysenko and Lea Friedrich of Germany after leading into the home straight.

She finished just 14 thousandths of a second off top spot, with her bronze adding to silver medals won in the team sprint and individual sprint – both won by Chinese cyclists.

Finucane was part of Great Britain’s team sprint gold medal-winning trio at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and Finucane says retaining that title in Los Angleles is the big aim.

She told BBC Sport: “To medal in all three races at the world champs, I’d never done that before.

“The confidence I have gained this week and the way I’ve been riding my bike, I can take that into the years to come.

“I’m actually really proud. I am frustrated not to be on the top step but I’ll come back fighting. You can beat yourself up about races but I am learning all the time.

“Ultimately we are learning for the Olympics, that’s a huge goal. I put myself in winning positions in every race and that’s something I am proud of.”

Finucane, who took bronze in both the individual sprint and keirin in Paris, won Britain’s first Olympic gold in the women’s team sprint alongside Katy Marchant and Sophie Capewell.

In Shanghai, Rhianna Parris-Smith replaced the newly-retired Marchant in the team which was beaten by Chinese trio Jiang Yulu, Tong Mengqi and Yuan Liying.

Finucane says the strength in depth inside the British team will drive them to success at the LA Games in 2028.

She said: “We won the team sprint in Paris which is one of the best moments of my life and there are 10 girls back at home fighting to be in the team. That’s how we progress, and we will build on the momentum of this silver medal.

“Internal competition is how we win bike races. World records keep falling, we are pushing each other and it’s really exciting.”

Great Britain topped the medal table overall at the championships with 12 medals, including a hat-trick of gold medals for Anna Morris.

Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez says he will be back “in a few weeks” after breaking his jaw in the 2-0 Premier League win at Everton on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Argentina international and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite clashed heads in the second half at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Martinez needed treatment for eight minutes before leaving the pitch on a stretcher. He was taken to hospital, where Chelsea said he had “successful” surgery.

Martinez posted a photo of himself wearing a hospital gown on social media, external on ‌Sunday.

“Thanks to everyone for the messages. The operation ‌went well,” he wrote.

“The most important thing is that we won, and kept a clean sheet. In a few weeks we’ll be back.”

Mike Penders, who replaced Martinez to make his Premier League debut, looks set to play in Chelsea‘s next three matches at least.

They face Tottenham and Manchester United in the Premier League, with a Carabao Cup tie at Liverpool in between.

Penders, 21, signed from Belgium club Genk for £17m in 2024.

Alonso said: “Mike has personality. He’s brave and we have full trust ‌with him. He did well when he came on.

“He played in the cup games and whenever he’s ⁠needed. Like the other players, whenever they are needed they can perform.

“It’s all about the squad – ‌that all the ​players feel important and can have ‌their moment whenever they are needed, ​and that’s very positive.”

American Jarrell Miller remains highly ranked, while compatriots Jared Anderson and Richard Torrez Jr, an Olympic silver medallist, are rebuilding.

New Zealand’s former world champion Joseph Parker is seeking a return after his provisional doping suspension was lifted in August.

Australia’s Teremoana Teremoana has stopped all 12 professional opponents within two rounds, while Uzbekistan’s two-time Olympic champion Bakhodir Jalolov extended his unbeaten record by beating Solomon Dacres on Saturday.

In Britain, Derek Chisora, 42, is considering another comeback and says he expects to face WBA ‘regular’ champion Gassiev in December.

British champion Richard Riakporhe is pursuing world honours after moving up from cruiserweight, while former cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie is targeting a return after reaching an agreement with the WBC over an adverse drugs test finding.

David Adeleye, Dave Allen, Johnny Fisher and Frazer Clarke remain on the domestic scene, while Leo Atang, 19, and Ireland’s Adam Olaniyan, 20, are emerging talents.

With Usyk, Fury and Joshua approaching the ends of their careers, the heavyweight division is entering a new era.

There is no shortage of potential big fights, but bringing the champions together before mandatory obligations, rematches and boxing politics get in the way could prove the greatest challenge.

CLEVELAND — Jonathan Aranda’s single led to two runs in the seventh inning when the ball got by right fielder Chase DeLauter, Nick Martinez pitched 5 1/3 innings for his first postseason win and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 Saturday night to even the AL Championship Series at 2-2.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven matchup is Sunday in Cleveland before the series shifts back to St. Petersburg, Fla. on Monday. There is no off day for travel after Friday’s game was postponed by rain.

“It means a lot because we know that we play well at home in front of our fans. We’ve got a huge game, another swing game tomorrow,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

Cleveland’s Travis Bazzana hit his first postseason home run but also had a fielding error at second on a tough night for the Guardians’ defense.

The first four hitters in the Rays order — Yandy Díaz, Aranda, Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero — had six of the Rays’ 11 hits and drove in six runs after they went seven for 41 with three RBIs the first three ALCS games.

Aranda had three hits and drove in two runs after going 0 for 10 in the first three games. Diaz had two hits and two RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth off Matt Festa, while Simpson and Caminero each drove in a run.

“A lot of really good at-bats. A lot of hard hits,” Cash said. “But overall, just happy that Junior squared some balls up, Aranda came through in a big way for us and then Yandy there at the end with a two-run, add-on homer.”

Pitching on a 46-degree night, Martinez (1-0) allowed one run and two hits in his second career postseason start and 10th appearance. After DeLauter’s RBI single put Cleveland up 1-0 in the first, Martinez retired 10 straight at one point before walking Bazzana leading off the fifth.

Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Caminero lined a double to the left-field wall off Daniel Espino (0-1), then broke open the game in a three-run seventh.

Richie Palacios and Taylor Walls got aboard on base hits and moved into scoring position on a double steal. After Díaz struck out, Aranda lined a single past a diving Bazzana, who was playing near the grass between first and second, and into right field. Palacios scored and when DeLauter allowed the ball under his glove, Walls came around from second. Aranda went to third and scored on Simpson’s sacrifice fly.

“It looked like it may have snaked on him or just skipped by him, took his eye off of it,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “A couple unfortunate plays for us tonight that we usually complete and just weren’t able to do it.”

Bazzana homered in the seventh against Ian Seymour and Brayan Rocchio added an RBI single as Cleveland closed to 5-3.

Shawn Armstrong opened and struck out one batter in the first inning before giving way to Foster Griffin.

Cleveland rookie Parker Messick (0-2, 3.09 ERA) will make his fourth start this postseason. He went five innings and was charged with three unearned runs in Tuesday’s 3-1 loss in Game 2. Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 1.29 ERA) gave up two runs over six innings in Game 1 and struck out seven before the Guardians rallied for a 7-3 victory.

Reedy writes for the Associated Press.

Marat Khusnutdinov scored in the third period and the Boston Bruins beat the Kings 4-1 on Saturday night for their fifth straight victory.

With the Philadelphia Flyers winning Saturday night, the Kings (0-4-2) are the last NHL team without a win this season.

David Pastrnak had a goal, Elias Lindholm and JJ Peterka scored empty-netters, and Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves. The Bruins swept the three California teams as part of a four-game trip that ends in Dallas on Tuesday.

Alex Laferriere scored for the Kings, and Anton Forsberg made 24 saves. The Kings were held to one goal for the fourth straight contest.

Khusnutdinov put the Bruins (7-2-0) ahead 2-1 with 6:24 remaining, scoring on a backhander after Forsberg failed to cover up Morgan Geekie’s shot and Matt Poitras kept the puck alive.

The Kings got off to a quick start, scoring 31 seconds into the game. Laferriere was at the top of the crease to put in Adrian Kempe’s pass for his second goal of the season, making the most of his promotion to first-line center.

But the Bruins responded early in the second period, with Pastrnak tying it at 2:43. He pounced on a loose puck in the neutral zone and took it the other way to beat Forsberg on a wrist shot from the right circle for his fourth goal.

It was Pastrnak’s 289th goal at even-strength, tying Phil Esposito for third-most in Boston history.

Bruins center Pavel Zacha did not play because of an upper-body injury he sustained in the third period against the Ducks on Friday. He is day to day, coach Marco Sturm said before the game.

Up next for the Kings: at Washington on Tuesday night.

Gabriel Pirani scored the equalizer in a four-goal first half to help the Galaxy earn a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC on Saturday night.

The Galaxy (10-11-10) jumped in front in the fourth minute when Sergi Roberto set up João Klauss for his ninth goal in 14 appearances this season.

Anders Dreyer pulled San Diego (8-12-10) even in the 10th minute when he scored on a penalty kick. Dreyer’s 13th goal of the season came after Cédric Bakambu was fouled by Galaxy goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski.

The Galaxy regained the lead seven minutes later when Erik Thommy used assists from Harbor Miller and Marco Reus to score for the second time this season.

Pirani netted the equalizer in the 39th minute to cap the scoring. It was the midfielder’s fourth goal in 10 matches this season.

Marcinkowski finished with five saves for the Galaxy, who have gone 4-2-2 since the start of September.

Pablo Sisniega saved seven shots in his second start this season for San Diego, which beat the Galaxy 3-1 at home to close out August but hasn’t won since — going 0-4-4.

Up next for the Galaxy: at LAFC on Oct. 26.

Ally Sentnor scored the go-ahead goal in the 43rd minute as Angel City rallied from an early deficit behind three unanswered goals in a 3-2 win on the road against the Denver Summit on Saturday.

Denver forward Melissa Kössler’s tap-in off a corner kick gave Denver (10-10-8) the lead in the second minute. Midfielder Lindsey Heaps’ volley doubled the lead in the 18th. It was her fourth goal in the last three games.

Angel City responded with Sveindís Jónsdóttir scoring in the 32nd minute. Seven minutes later, Taylor Suarez scored to make it 2-2 before Sentnor scored four minutes later.

Gisele Thompson had two assists.

Angel City (13-8-7) is unbeaten in its last eight games.

Behind a standout performance from quarterback Ty Dieffenbach in his first UCLA start, the No. 12 Bruins defeated Wisconsin 17-7 at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

Dieffenbach orchestrated a six-play, 89-yard drive in the fourth quarter to help seal the win for the Bruins, who clinched bowl eligibility by improving to 6-0 under coach Bob Chesney. UCLA is the only undefeated team in the Big Ten.

Although UCLA (6-0, 4-0) entered with one of the most potent ground attacks in the nation, the Badgers’ (4-2, 2-1) stalwart defense — a unit that ranked No. 15 in total defense and ninth in passing yards allowed heading into the game — held UCLA to just 3.2 yards per carry. Heisman Trophy contender Wayne Knight was limited to just 29 all-purpose yards, though he scored his 12th touchdown of the season.

With UCLA struggling to get a push at the point of attack and the Wisconsin defense sealing the edge, the Bruins put their trust in Dieffenbach, who started in his first Football Bowl Subdivision game following Nico Iamaleava sustaining a knee injury against Oregon last week that could keep the senior out for the remainder of the season.

The understudy shined in the spotlight.

Even though expectations were tempered for Dieffenbach, he largely did not miss a beat, completing 22 of 33 passes for 264 yards — better than any single-game passing yards total Iamaleava has produced at UCLA.

Dieffenbach set up UCLA’s first touchdown in the second quarter when he completed a 21-yard pass to Jalen Saint Paul one play before Knight scored on a one-yard carry.

UCLA running back Wayne Knight breaks a tackle from Wisconsin safety Marvin Burks Jr. during the second quarter Saturday.

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

UCLA’s second score — a touchdown that put the Bruins up 10 points in the fourth quarter — capped Dieffenbach’s most impressive drive. Starting at the UCLA 11, Dieffenbach connected on passes of 28 and 33 yards on a drive that culminated with Anthony Woods scoring on a three-yard run.

Dieffenbach looked poised in the pocket as he made passes under pressure. He excelled on third down, with UCLA converting on 13 of 20 tries. He threw one interception, which came on a Hail Mary as expired in the second quarter, and took just one sack.

Giving Dieffenbach some breathing room, UCLA’s defense dominated again, holding Wisconsin to 214 total yards. Even without UCLA starting outside cornerback Rodrick Pleasant, the Bruins’ secondary blanketed the Badgers in coverage, giving up just 66 passing yards, with Wisconsin’s top receiver Jaylon Domingeaux finishing with 26 yards.

Wisconsin running back Darrion Dupree is tackled by UCLA defensive lineman Sahir West during the second quarter.

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

And while the “Bruin Bullies” held up at the line of scrimmage against the Badgers’ tailbacks, Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph ran for 71 yards and one touchdown, using various formations and fakes to confuse the Bruins’ stacked box.

While UCLA failed to produce a takeaway for the first time this season — despite forcing two fumbles, both of which were recovered by Wisconsin — the Bruins made several key stops to help UCLA stay in control.

A 10-yard sack from fifth-year linebacker Jalen Woods on third down late in the second quarter led to an unsuccessful 46-yard field-goal attempt by Gavin Lahm, leaving Wisconsin scoreless at halftime.

UCLA wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. celebrates after making a catch in the second quarter Saturday against Wisconsin.

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

After Wisconsin scored its only touchdown and subsequently forced UCLA into a three-and-out late in the third quarter, the Badgers had the ball with a chance to take the lead. But the Bruins forced two incomplete passes and stuffed Joseph at the line to force a punt.

In the fourth quarter, UCLA stopped running back Darrion Dupree short of a first down on fourth-and-two at the Bruins’ 48 to all but end the Badgers’ hopes of a comeback.

Six weeks into the NFL season and Chargers versus the Kansas City Chiefs pits a winless team against an unbeaten one. Last season, when the Chargers swept the Chiefs, feels like a lifetime ago.

This game might not be as lopsided as it appears, considering these teams know each other so well. But these are rough times for the Chargers, who are still missing their two starting tackles and All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. What’s more, it has been a terrible start for Justin Herbert, who has five touchdowns, seven interceptions, an anemic passer rating of 70.2 and has been sacked 17 times.

Conversely, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is on a roll despite returning from last season’s devastating knee injury. He has nine touchdowns, two interceptions, a 106.2 rating and six sacks — almost two-thirds fewer than Herbert.

A big battle for Los Angeles will be on defense, as the Chargers have done a good job against the run and are facing Kansas City’s Kenneth Walker III, who has rushed for 537 yards at an average of 6.2 yards per carry.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gabby Williams converted two free throws with 1:18 left to put Golden State ahead, two more with 4.1 seconds to go and finished with 26 points facing constant pressure from Atlanta’s stingy defense, and the Valkyries held off the Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday.

Williams scored 16 of her points in the second quarter and no other Valkyries reached double figures as they shot 32.1% and seven of 33 from three-point range.

“We always knew we were going to find a way somehow,” Williams said on the microphone postgame as fans chanted “Gabby! Gabby!”

Rhyne Howard missed a three-point try with 1:09 left but Angel Reese made a steal moments later. Naz Hillmon missed from deep. Kiah Stokes missed the first of two free throws with 23.8 seconds left. Then Allisha Gray missed a three with nine seconds left.

Williams then hit the free throws a few seconds later to seal the victory.

Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night back at Chase Center, where the ear-piercing noise from a raucous “Ballhalla” crowd made for the exact hostile environment Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase requested from the home fans.

One of these two franchises will capture its first championship, and if the first game is any indication it’s going to be an all-out defensive fight.

Gray returned from injury to score 19 points, Reese added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Jordin Canada contributed eight points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Dream, hitting a timely 13-foot jumper with 4:23 remaining.

Williams’ driving layup with 3:22 to play pulled Golden State within 62-61. Canada banged awkwardly into Williams’ knee on a box out during her late free throws and the Valkyries’ star was being cared for by an athletic trainer on the bench in the waning moments.

Gray was in the starting lineup and had gone through a light practice Friday after missing the last two games of Atlanta’s sweep of the New York Liberty in the best-of-three semifinal series with an injured left ring finger — on her shooting hand.

Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes hit her face hard on the floor trying to make a steal in the closing minutes and was down with 2:38 remaining before walking off the court on her own to the locker room.

McCauley writes for the Associated Press.

As far as optimism goes, Rangers were blown full of positive energy as they made the Saturday-night trip to Dundee on the back of seven straight wins.

However, a Dan Neil error felt “like a balloon popping”, said manager Derek McInnes, resulting in the Ibrox side fluffing their chance to move back to the Scottish Premiership summit after a gripping 2-2 draw at Dens Park.

McInnes’ men were punished for a disjointed first half when the impressive hosts went ahead through Bradley Fink, but Badredine Bouanani fired in a leveller just before the break.

Rangers lifted their intensity and level of dominance after the interval and were heading for an eighth consecutive victory when Nicolas Raskin slammed in a long-range stunner.

But a mishit Neil backpass to goalkeeper Ivor Pandur was pounced on by Callum Jones to earn Dundee a deserved point, opening the door for Celtic to extend their lead at the top to four points when they welcome Hearts on Sunday (15:00 BST).

“We’ve made a mistake for Dundee’s equaliser and it was like a balloon popping,” McInnes told BBC Scotland. “We then had to dig deep and go again, and we never quite managed to get to the same levels.

“It does feel like a missed opportunity, but in fairness to Dundee they were good value in the first half – it shows you why they are where they are in the league.

“But we can’t come away from home and have to score three goals to win a game.”

Munster: O’Connor; McCarthy, Nankivell, Kelly, O’Brien; O’Shea, Casey; Loughman, Van der Merwe, Aungier; Ahern, Beirne (c), Edogbo, Hodnett, Gleeson.

Replacements: Clein, J Wycherley, Brookes, F Wycherley, G Coombes, O’Donovan, Hanrahan, O’Donoghue.

Racing 92: Prisciantelli, Hulleu, Habosi, Manu, Tupou; Gibert, Latrasse; Njocke, Escobar, Kharaishvili; Lainault, Joseph, Tagitagivalu, Martins, Baudonne (c).

Replacements: Basse, Leota, Bamba, Hughes, Camara, Machenaud, James, Roche.

Sin bin: Roche (70)

Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)

Julian Sayin threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Smith on fourth down early in the fourth quarter Saturday, and No. 4 Ohio State survived what appeared to be the go-ahead score when Nick Marsh’s left foot was ruled to be out of bounds as the visiting Buckeyes beat No. 5 Indiana 19-15.

The victory ended Indiana’s winning streak at 22 and home winning streak at 19. They were the two longest active streaks in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

But the victory could prove costly for Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 Big Ten). Sayin appeared to injure his right arm during the fourth quarter, left the game and watched the final minutes from the sideline wearing a sling.

“I don’t have a ton of details, but it looks like Julian will be out several weeks,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said.

Indiana sure didn’t go down easily in the rematch of last year’s Big Ten championship game. Trailing 19-7 after Smith’s touchdown catch, the injured Josh Hoover responded by finding Nick Marsh on a 19-yard touchdown pass and Turbo Richard on the two-point conversion to make it 19-15 with 10:30 to go.

It looked like he did it again on fourth and four from the Buckeyes 27-yard line when he hooked up with a wide open Marsh in the front corner of the end zone. The fireworks even went off, but Marsh’s left foot came down out of bounds. It was first home loss in coach Curt Cignetti’s three seasons and the first top-five matchup in Memorial Stadium history.

While the game lived up to the hype, the quarterbacks did not.

Sayin was 15-of-29 passing for 235 yards with two interceptions for the second straight week. Hoover appeared to hurt his right shoulder during the third quarter but returned for Indiana and finished 20 of 40 for 296 yards with one touchdown and one lost fumble, his first turnover of the year.

Florida 27, at No. 7 Texas 24: Quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. threw two touchdowns to Lacota Dippre in his first career start, Jadan Baugh scored a fourth-quarter touchdown and the Gators rallied to hand the Longhorns their second consecutive loss.

Florida (5-2, 3-2 SEC) had risen as high as No. 8 after a 4-0 start under first-year coach Jon Sumrall before consecutive blowout losses, but delivered what could be a season-saving victory.

The Gators defense, ranked last the Southeastern Conference, shut down Texas quarterback Arch Manning and the Longhorns offense, holding Texas (4-2, 1-2) under 300 yards of total offense.

at No. 22 Louisiana State 31, No. 16 Mississippi State 0: Sam Leavitt threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns without an interception, and the Tigers raced to a three-touchdown, first-half lead over the injury-depleted Bulldogs.

Jackson Harris had six catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns for LSU (5-2, 2-2 SEC) before leaving the game with an apparent lower left leg injury in the third quarter.

Playing without dynamic starting quarterback Kamario Taylor and top running back Fluff Bothwell, the Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 SEC) lost their second straight — each by more than 30 points.

at No. 24 Southern Methodist 23, Virginia 13: Kevin Jennings threw two touchdown passes while former SMU soccer player Brendan Baird boosted the struggling special teams with three field goals.

Kendrick Raphael ran for 124 yards as SMU (5-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast) improved to 10-0 at home in ACC games since rejoining a power conference league in 2024. The Mustangs are 17-3 overall in the ACC.

The Cavaliers (4-3, 2-2) were held to fewer than 300 total yards for a third consecutive game by an SMU defense that led a win over Boston College two weeks ago despite Jennings’ offense gaining only 218 yards. Virginia finished with 258 yards.

No. 25 Northwestern 24, at Michigan State 21: Jackson Kleather kicked three field goals, including the game-winning 34-yarder with two seconds left.

Aidan Chiles tied the score at 21 with 7:24 remaining on a one-yard run and threw to Alex Honig on a two-point conversion for Northwestern (5-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten). After Matthew Smith blocked Michigan State’s 33-yard field-goal attempt by Liam Boyd, Chiles drove the Wildcats 64 yards in eight plays to set up the winning kick.

Chiles, who started 20 games at Michigan State the past two seasons before transferring to Northwestern, completed 18 of 27 passes for 226 yards and also had 16 carries for 25 yards.

The Spartans (2-5, 0-4) had led 21-13 early in the fourth quarter when Alessio Milivojevic tossed a 53-yard touchdown pass to Chrishon McCray. He completed 19 of 30 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns.

Etc.

Joe Jackson ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Avery Johnson threw for 203 yards and another score, and host Kansas State overcame a multitude of mistakes to beat bitter rival Kansas for the 18th consecutive time, 35-24 on Saturday. … Elijah Brown threw for 302 yards and three touchdowns Friday night to help Washington break a three-game losing streak with a 38-26 victory over Purdue. …

Mike Hawkins Jr. threw for a career-high 464 yards and Jack Cassidy kicked a 35-yard field goal as time ran out to lift host West Virginia to a wild 45-42 win over Cincinnati. … Quarterback Cale Hellums ran for 195 yards and five touchdowns and Army raced past visiting Florida Atlantic 56-24.