basketball

During the early1980s, under coach Craig Raub and with the help of the DeCree sisters, Toya, Fonda and Diane, Granada Hills Kennedy was the best basketball program in the City Section and one of the best in Southern California. Toya, Fonda and Diane ended up playing for Arizona State, Oregon State and Texas A&M, respectively. Toya became a coach and the mother of the NBA Holiday boys, Justin, Jrue and Aaron.

Kennedy won a City Division II title in 2023, but the Golden Cougars are trying to return to relevancy this season having advanced to the City Section Division I final on Saturday against El Camino Real at 4 p.m. at Pasadena City College.

One of the standouts is Abbigail Gomez, a transfer from Highland who’s averaging 15 points. Her parents played football and soccer at San Fernando High. She also plays for Kennedy’s flag football team.

She made a game-clinching three in the fourth quarter on Saturday to help beat San Pedro. Afterward, she turned to the crowd and blew a kiss.

“That’s for my close friends and family,” she said.

She might be even more excited if the Golden Cougars can win a City title on Friday.

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

The UCLA women’s basketball team is closing in on an undefeated Big Ten season, clinched the outright regular season league title for the first time in school history, is riding a 21-win streak and is ranked No. 2 nationally.

Perhaps most remarkable, the Bruins firmly believe they can be better and have yet to peak as they push to win a national title.

How did UCLA go from being a team that got pushed around by UConn, LSU and South Carolina in the NCAA tournament the last three seasons to a loaded squad no one wants to face in March?

Bruins coach Cori Close solved the riddle by recruiting six senior leaders who accepted they had to continuously sacrifice and push to improve to achieve their goals. They echo their coach’s values, putting each other first in order to succeed.

“Me and Kiki [Rice] came here in our freshman year and it’s just been amazing to see the program grow since then,” UCLA senior Gabriela Jaquez said. “And I think that’s also a big credit to our coaches and to all the staff at UCLA to really get the fans out there and support us because we really couldn’t do it without them.”

UCLA honored Lauren Betts, Angela Dugalić, Jaquez, Gianna Kneepkens, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Rice during their final regular-season home game Sunday. The group will be back soon to host first- and second-round NCAA tournament games at Pauley Pavilion, but Close wanted them to take the time to celebrate all they had accomplished together.

Betts is in the national player of the year conversation, but the big award is likely to go to another player who carries a heavier workload for their team. Close said the seniors are all projected to be WNBA draft picks, but they have sacrificed better individual statistics and potentially some awards in exchange for a better shot at winning a national championship. She said the selfless approach is rare and should be cherished.

“One of them said the other day, like, ‘I might not ever play on a team like this again,’” Close said of her senior class. “I think the combination of the depth of the relationship, excellence on the court, their love of the work — they love to work and get better together — and their connection off the court.

”… I think these seniors actually do really understand that this is really special. They’ve set a bar for the culture of our program that we will be forever measuring it against.”

Baseball makes a statement

No. 1 UCLA baseball team turned heads with a weekend sweep of No. 7 TCU. The Bruins beat the Horned Frogs 10-2 on Friday, 5-1 on Saturday and 15-5 on Sunday. Roch Cholowsky and Will Gasparino have racked up six home runs apiece during UCLA’s first seven games this season.

Softball keeps rolling

The No. 9 UCLA softball team beat No. 11 Texas A&M 15-7 in five innings on Sunday to cap a 6-0 weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Bruins also beat No. 20 Duke and No. 13 South Carolina. Senior Megan Grant delivered a .545 batting average during the weekend with two home runs and nine walks.

Gymnastics knocks out Illini

No. 5 UCLA gymnastics defeated Illinois 197.675-195.475 Sunday in Champaign, Ill.

Jordan Chiles won the all-around (39.650), vault (9.950) and floor exercise (9.975), while Ciena Alipio won balance beam (9.950).

The Bruins host three top 25 programs — Iowa, Ohio State and Maryland — during the Big Fours meet Friday at Pauley Pavilion.

In case you missed it

UCLA women blitz Wisconsin on Senior Day, win 21st in a row

Donovan Dent channels Tyus Edney, lifts UCLA to stunning OT win over No. 10 Illinois

UCLA to play 2026 football season at Rose Bowl as lawsuit continues

UCLA’s Mick Cronin apologizes for ejecting player, says he’s still ‘a good fit’ as coach

No. 2 UCLA’s 20th win in a row clinches share of first conference crown in 27 years

Plaschke: UCLA must eject Mick Cronin if he can’t respect his players

UCLA men are no match for Michigan State

No. 2 UCLA wins its 19th straight game with thrashing of Indiana

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. I’m Eric Sondheimer. It’s championship week in high school basketball with some big-time semifinal matchups Tuesday in the Southern Section playoffs.

Championship week

Brandon McCoy of Sierra Canyon soars for a tomahawk dunk.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

The toughest divisions in high school basketball in the state have their semifinals Tuesday for boys and girls. Get ready for intense, crowd-pleasing matchups.

For boys in the Southern Section Open Division, it’s Sierra Canyon hosting Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and Harvard-Westlake hosting La Mirada.

Both games are rematches, so there will be no surprises for the coaches. Sierra Canyon and Harvard-Westlake won the first meetings, so they deserve the favorite’s role to reach Saturday’s championship game at Ontario Arena. But that doesn’t mean the favorites will win.

Notre Dame has athleticism to play with Sierra Canyon, especially if Zach White is rebounding and NaVorro Bowman is hitting threes. Sierra Canyon, though, is 25-1 and surging with its depth. Harvard-Westlake looked done after losing three of its last four regular season games, but has come on to beat Damien, Santa Margarita and Crespi in the Open Division playoffs.

La Mirada is the surprise team, seeded No. 12 and winning every game on the road. The Matadores eliminated Redondo Union in the quarterfinals behind Gene Roebuck. You have to admire La Mirada. Last season they desperately wanted to be in the Open Division, giving up a chance to be in the state playoffs. Now the Matadores are one win away from playing for a section title.

The girls’ competition should draw even bigger crowds than the boys Tuesday, with the featured matchup Etiwanda hosting Sierra Canyon. The two powerhouses have been preparing for this game all season. Jerzy Robinson of Sierra Canyon will try to make sure Etiwanda doesn’t serve as a roadblock to winning the Open Division or state championship. The other semifinal has top-seeded Ontario Christian hosting Sage Hill. If Etiwanda and Ontario Christian win, they’ll get to play in front of lots of fans Saturday night in Ontario.

Boys basketball

Freshman Phillip Reed was in dominant form for Palisades in the City Section Open Division semifinals.

(Steve Galluzzo)

It comes as no surprise that No. 1-seeded Palisades will play No. 2 Cleveland in Friday’s 8 p.m. City Section Open Division final at L.A. Southwest College. They’ve been the top two teams all season. Palisades is the heavy favorite. Here’s a report from the semifinals.

Jack Levey celebrates a big win in the Dolphins’ return to their home court against Western League rival Fairfax.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

One of the unsung standouts for Palisades is junior guard Jack Levey, who has made 103 threes this season. Here’s a look at his journey to become a three-point specialist.

Sylmar coach Bort Escoto has his team in the City Division II finals. Two of his ex-players at Sylmar, Jeff Bryant and Sam Harris, have their teams in finals. Bryant for Palisades and Harris for Chatsworth in the Division I final.

The Southern Section Division 1 championship game has two surging Orange County schools meeting: JSerra vs. Crean Lutheran.

Division 2 has two surprise finalists in Hesperia taking on Bishop Amat. Hesperia eliminated Mater Dei and Bishop Amat took out defending Open Division and state champion Eastvale Roosevelt.

Here’s the scores from last week’s Southern Section semifinals.

Girls basketball

Etiwanda is ready to take on Sierra Canyon at home on Tuesday night in an Open Division semifinal.

(Nick Koza)

Etiwanda continues to rely on a balanced attack, which should help the Eagles in their showdown semifinal game against Sierra Canyon. Here’s a report from the quarterfinals.

Valencia’s girls basketball team has reached the Southern Section Division 1 semifinals under coach Jared Honig.

(John Duncan)

Valencia has reached the Division 1 final behind coach Jared Honig, who had previous success at Granada Hills. Here’s the report.

In the City Section, top-seeded Westchester and No. 2 Birmingham will play Saturday night at Pasadena City College in the Open Division final. Westchester has the top player in the City in Savannah Myles. Birmingham has used a young team to get better and better.

Baseball

The approaching storm from last week caused South Hills to come up with the novel idea of playing its season opener against Covina early Monday morning before rain came. So the teams began at 12:40 a.m. and finished at 3:34 a.m. in a new way to pull off Midnight Madness. Here’s the report.

Harvard-Westlake unveiled freshman Louis Lappe of El Segundo Little League fame. Here’s the report.

With darkness coming, Huntington Beach took a 7-5 lead over Loyola in the top of the ninth inning. Coach Benji Medure confirmed that he tried to have his players on base get into a triple play to end the inning immediately to try to win the game before the umpires called the game. Two players were tagged out at home plate, but the home-plate umpire stopped everything before a third runner one could be tagged out. It ended up as a 5-5 tie because of darkness.

The first runner tagged out at home was Jared Grindlinger, who responded to Medure’s instructions to get tagged out by saying, “What?” The creativity wasn’t approved by the umpires.

No. 1 St. John Bosco and No. 2 Orange Lutheran begin their seasons this week.

Here’s a look at The Times’ top 25 baseball rankings after the opening week of the season.

Softball

Norco pitcher Coral Williams was the Southern Section Division 1 player of the year last season.

(Steve Galluzzo)

If you want to win a softball championship, you have to beat Norco and its top pitcher, Coral Williams, a UCLA commit.

Here’s a preview of the season ahead.

Volleyball

Mike Boehle is entering his 28th season as volleyball coach at Loyola.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

The boys volleyball season has begun, and Loyola figures to be one of the title contenders in Division 1 after a rough season last year in which players lost homes to the Palisades fire, their coach had prostate cancer and a classmate was tragically killed.

Here’s a look at how the Cubs intend to come back this season.

Soccer

It’s championship week in high school soccer. Once again, the top two boys teams in the City Section all season face off. El Camino Real will take on South East. Both teams won their semifinal games by scores of 1-0.

In girls, No. 1 Cleveland will face No. 7 Granada Hills in a rematch from their West Valley League battles.

Trinity League rivals Orange Lutheran and Mater Dei have advanced to Saturday’s Southern Section Open Division boys final after beating Placentia Valencia and JSerra, respectively.

The girls final will have Santa Margarita taking on Mater Dei in another Trinity League rematch.

Wrestling

The state wrestling championships are set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield.

The Southern Section held its Masters Meet last weekend, and here’s the results of players headed to Bakersfield.

Notes . . .

Oaks Christian won its second consecutive Southern Section Open Division girls’ water polo championship with an 11-8 victory over Mater Dei. . . .

Senior Jaslene Massey of Aliso Niguel, one of the top girls discus and shotputters in the nation, began her outdoor season with a discus mark of 179-6 to set an Orange County record. . . .

Aaron Riekenberg has resigned after nine years as boys basketball coach at La Habra. . . .

Junior defensive lineman Isaia Vandermade from Division 1 champion Santa Margarita has committed to USC, where his father, Lenny, was a lineman. . . .

Pat Harlow, a former head football coach at JSerra, is returning to serve as an assistant coach under new coach Hardy Nickerson. Harlow is well known for his ability to coach the offensive line. This is the second time he’s come out of retirement. “I really believe in the school,” he said. Also added to the staff is former Servite, Notre Dame and NFL quarterback Steve Beuerlein. . .

Former Gardena Serra and USC star Robert Woods has retired from football. . . .

Former Garfield football coach Lorenzo Hernandez has come out of retirement to become football coach at Whittier. Here’s the report. . . .

Former St. Margaret’s and Long Beach Poly coach Stephen Barbee is the new football coach at Irvine Northwood. . . .

Standout pitcher Jared Grindlinger of Huntington Beach has reclassified from junior to class of 2026, making him eligible for this year’s amateur draft. Here’s the report . . .

Chad Rolison from Oaks Christian baseball has committed to Loyola Marymount. . . .

Twins James and Miles Clark from St. John Bosco baseball have committed to Duke. . . .

For the fifth straight year, NFL receiver Trenton Irwin is holding a camp on March 8 at his alma mater, Hart, for grades four through eight. . . . .

Quentin Hale, a junior receiver who transferred from Cathedral to Corona Centennial, has committed to USC. . . .

Patrick Goodpaster is the new football coach at Narbonne. He’s a Narbonne grad, member of the Gardena Police Department and former football player at Colorado State. He’s been a youth football coach in the area. . . .

From the archives: Russell White

Former Crespi, Cal and Rams running back Russell White, who led Crespi to the 1986 Division 1 football championship.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Russell White was one of the greatest running backs in Southern California history, leading Crespi to the 1986 Big Five Conference championship as a sophomore when the Celts routed St. John Bosco in the final.

He’d go on to star at Cal and get drafted by the Rams. He has been at Flintridge Prep the last 10 years coaching eight-man football but is stepping down to perhaps coach 11-man football. His son, Zach, is a standout basketball player at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.

Here’s a story from 2008 when he was coaching in Northern California

Here’s a story from 1993 detailing White’s emotion obtaining his college degree.

Recommendations

From USA Today, a story on South Carolina legislators moving to replace its high school athletic association over transfers and other disagreements.

From CBS, a story on a Florida proposal to allow high school coaches to spend up to $15,000 on player needs known as the Teddy Bridgewater Act.

From KTLA, a story on how AI cameras are helping youth sports parents capture videos.

From the Los Angeles Times, a story on the controversy surrounding trans high school athletes in California.

Tweets you might have missed

Until next time….

Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.

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JSerra High has an athlete, Godschoice Eboigbodin, whose size and athleticism are earning rave reviews in two sports. People are calling him a “beast.”

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound junior played football for the first time last fall and was so impressive that college recruiters immediately became enamored with his potential.

Now in basketball, which he has much more experience playing, he continues to rise. He had 19 points and 15 rebounds Friday night when JSerra defeated Inglewood 103-91 to advance to the Southern Section Division 1 championship game.

There’s also his outgoing personality.

Early in the season, he was so aggressive he got into foul trouble. Now he’s in “basketball shape,” coach Keith Wilkinson said, and the Lions are surging with him and 6-9 Ryan Doane combining their talents inside.

Eboigbodin also can make free throws, so when opponents foul him, he can take advantage.

Football still looks like his future sport in college, but he’s sure having fun playing basketball.

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

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

BOYS

SEMIFINALS

At Southwest College

OPEN DIVISION

#2 Cleveland 68, #6 Fairfax 62 (OT)

#1 Palisades 71, #5 San Pedro 56

Note: Finals Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. at Southwest College.

GIRLS

SEMIFINALS

At Pasadena City College

OPEN DIVISION

#2 Birmingham 73, #3 LA Hamilton 28

#1 Westchester 79, #5 Venice 45

Note: Finals Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Pasadena City College.

At Southwest College

DIVISION I

#1 El Camino Real 37, #4 Eagle Rock 36

#2 Granada Hills Kennedy 63, #3 San Pedro 52

At Pasadena City College

DIVISION II

#2 North Hollywood 56, #3 Santee 31

#1 Harbor Teacher 49, #5 West Adams 29

DIVISION III

#4 LA Marshall at #1 Washington Prep

#2 Gardena 41, #3 San Fernando 25

DIVISION IV

#12 Wilmington Banning 39, #1 Maywood CES 15

#11 Bravo 51, #10 Panorama 28

DIVISION V

#20 Sotomayor at #9 Los Angeles

#2 Legacy 43, #3 Vaughn 33

Note: Finals Feb. 27-28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS

QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

Ontario Christian 114, Fairmont Prep 50

Sage Hill 59, Oak Park 56

Etiwanda 87, Rancho Christian 36

Sierra Canyon 79, Mater Dei 38

Note: Semifinals Tuesday; Finals Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. at Toyota Arena.

STATE PLAY-IN GAMES

JSerra 50, Redondo Union 43

Corona Centennial 66, Lakewood St. Joseph 55

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1

Valencia 59, Windward 46

La Salle 48, Moreno Valley 40

DIVISION 2

Saugus 48, Camarillo 46

Crescenta Valley 45, Rosary Academy 44

DIVISION 3

Murrieta Valley 59, Oxnard 56

St. Margaret’s 54, Leuzinger 50

DIVISION 4

La Canada 47, Anaheim Canyon 33

El Dorado 44, Marina 34

DIVISION 5

Bishop Diego 48, Godinez 42

Burbank Burroughs 44, Oakwood 35

DIVISION 6

Savanna 52, San Jacinto 43

Warren 33, Hillcrest 32

DIVISION 7

Laguna Hills 53, Patriot 50

La Palma Kennedy 49, Ridgecrest Burroughs 32

DIVISION 8

Orange 49, University Prep 36

Schurr 44, Chadwick 32

DIVISION 9

Desert Hot Springs 47, Vista del Lago 35

Sierra Vista 62, La Sierra 34

Note: Finals Feb. 27 or 28.

A season of frustratingly unfortunate events for USC had led here, to this nightmarish crescendo at the one-minute mark Saturday, in a must-win matchup.

Through a roller-coaster afternoon, the Trojans had navigated one wave after another, riding several hot streaks and surviving the cold ones, knowing full well that their NCAA tournament hopes hinged on a win over Oregon, one of the Big Ten’s worst teams.

All that stress seemed to subside as USC took a six-point lead with 70 seconds remaining. Any rational onlooker would assume that the Trojans had held on for good, dispatching of the Ducks.

But then Oregon scored on a layup. It stole the ball back. And it hit a three-pointer.

USC coach Eric Musselman reacts after a play during the Trojans’ loss to Oregon Saturday at the Galen Center.

(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

USC clung to a one-point lead as freshman Alijah Arenas stepped back for a jumper that clanged away. Kam Woods missed a tip. Then, Oregon got the ball back and drew a foul.

Two free throws from Oregon’s Nate Bittle dealt USC one final, unbelievable blow to their Saturday — and perhaps their season — handing the Trojans a devastating 71-70 loss.

Their hopes of making the NCAA tournament aren’t necessarily dead as of Saturday. Four games still remain for the Trojans to build their case before the Big Ten tournament. But two of those come against UCLA and another against Nebraska, one of the best teams in the Big Ten this season.

USC had hoped Chad Baker-Mazara‘s return from injury would help lift them to a victory Saturday. Baker-Mazara led all scorers with 21, but he also fouled out late, during that final possession.

Arenas struggled most of the afternoon, before scoring 11 in the second half. But it was his turnover in the final seconds that ultimately handed Oregon the win

Baker-Mazara hadn’t played since the beginning of February, and in back-to-back losses to Illinois and Ohio State, the Trojans undoubtedly missed his spark. If not for a late game winner in State College from Arenas, they would’ve dropped all three games played without Baker-Mazara.

The circumstances ultimately left USC in a must-win scenario Saturday, if it hoped to continue clinging to the edge of the NCAA tournament bubble. Oregon had, on the other hand, spent most of the season in the Big Ten cellar. It entered Saturday’s matinee with losses in 11 of its last 12 games.

There was no such urgency in Baker-Mazara upon his return. The sixth-year senior sang and danced his way through warm-ups, before opening the game on a stationary bike in the corner of the arena.

But upon checking in, he jolted the Trojans offense to life with 13 straight points.

The boost Baker-Mazara provided eventually ran out of gas. USC hit just three of its final 14 shots before halftime, and Oregon stormed out in front.

The Ducks did the same in the second half, albeit in much more devastating fashion, leaving USC with a much harder road ahead.

With a lineup that goes nine deep, Sierra Canyon’s boys’ basketball team has won 25 of 26 games this season, and about the only way the Trailblazers are going to be a denied Southern Section Open Division and state championships is if a fellow Mission League team can beat them.

At least one thing is certain about the playoffs — the Mission League is tops. Three of the four teams that reached the Open Division semifinals are from the Mission League, setting up semifinals Tuesday that will feature Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at Sierra Canyon and surprising La Mirada at Harvard-Westlake.

“It continues to show that the Mission League is one of the toughest leagues in the country,” Harvard-Westlake coach David Rebibo said. “It pays to be in a quality league.”

First up for everyone is figuring out Sierra Canyon.

“I love the options,” Sierra Canyon coach Andre Chevalier said of his team’s depth after a 70-47 blowout of Santa Margarita on Friday night in a quarterfinal between the top-seeded Trailblazers and the No. 2-seeded Eagles (27-5), according to the Southern Section’s computer power rankings.

Santa Margarita never had a chance. The Eagles missed numerous three-point attempts, while Sierra Canyon was finding different players to contribute. Nine players scored for Sierra Canyon, with Brandon McCoy getting 17 points and nine rebounds, Brannon Martinsen scoring 13 points and Maxi Adams 11. McCoy and Adams are McDonald’s All-Americans, but it’s the Trailblazers’ depth that is coming through during a long season that still has three weeks left.

Sophomore guard JJ Sati-Grier, a transfer from North Carolina, suddenly has earned playing time and had four baskets. Sophomore guard Josh Lowery had seven points.

During the second half when a Sierra Canyon player took an ill-advised shot, Chevalier shouted out, “What are you doing?” The player found himself immediately on the bench. Another player came in to contribute. If the Trailblazers keep finding so many players to deliver baskets, that’s tough to overcome.

“Our depth is going to get us over the top,” Chevalier said.

Notre Dame and Sierra Canyon finally will get to play their Mission League title game that was supposed to tip off two weeks ago but canceled because of a student’s death.

The biggest upset was La Mirada taking down No. 3-seeded Redondo Union on the road, 73-70. Gene Roebuck fouled out early in the fourth quarter but still scored 19 points. Cisco Munoz had 17 points, Tristan Partida 15 and King-Riley Owens 10. The Matadores made the Open Division playoffs last season but didn’t qualify for the state playoffs. Now they are one win away from playing for a section title.

Harvard-Westlake built a 10-point halftime lead but had to hold on against Mission League rival Crespi at home, 49-46. Joe Sterling finished with 15 points and Pierce Thompson 13.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame defeated Corona Centennial 59-56. NaVorro Bowman Jr. scored 23 points, and Zach White had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

“It’s testament to the quality of the coaching, the quality of the players,” Notre Dame coach Matt Sargeant said of the league’s success.

JSerra 105, Inglewood 91: The Lions made it to the Southern Section Division 1 final. Jaden Bailes scored 33 points, and Ryan Doane had 32 points and 18 rebounds. Jason Crowe Jr. finished with 37 points for Inglewood. JSerra will face top-seeded Crean Lutheran, a 67-55 winner over Rancho Christian.

Hesperia 54, Mater Dei 49: Hesperia moved on to the Division 2 final.

Sylmar 93, Marquez 75: Aiden Garcia scored 26 point as the Spartans advanced to the City Section Division II championship game, where they will play King/Drew, which defeated Bravo 72-44. Wayne Chamberlain had 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks.

Chatsworth 53, Venice 51 (OT): The Chancellors made it to the City Section Division I final with an overtime win in the semifinals. They will face top-seeded and fellow West Valley League rival Granada Hills, a 48-30 winner over L.A. Jordan.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

BOYS

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION I

#2 Chatsworth 53, #3 Venice 51 (OT)

#1 Granada Hills 48, LA Jordan 30

DIVISION II

#3 Sylmar 93, #10 Marquez 75

#4 King/Drew 72, #1 Bravo 44

DIVISION III

#1 RFK Community 55, #5 Huntington Park 28

#10 Verdugo Hills 70 #3 SOCES 57

DIVISION IV

#5 San Fernando 85, #8 Hawkins 68

#2 Franklin 64, #6 Angelou 47

DIVISION V

#1 Van Nuys 48, #21 Camino Nuevo 46

#2 Canoga Park 56, #19 Santee 38

Note: Finals Feb. 27-28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION

BOYS

QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

Sierra Canyon 70, Santa Margarita 47

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 59, Corona Centennial 56

Harvard-Westlake 49, Crespi 46

La Mirada 73, Redondo Union 70

Note: Semifinals Tuesday; Finals Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Toyota Arena.

STATE PLAY-IN GAMES

St. John Bosco 70, Corona del Mar 42

Damien 59, Etiwanda 46

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1

Crean Lutheran 67, Rancho Christian 55

JSerra 103, Inglewood 91

DIVISION 2

Bishop Amat 65, Eastvale Roosevelt 51

Hesperia 57, Mater Dei 52

DIVISION 3

Murrieta Mesa 63, Warren 56

Aliso Niguel 66, Gahr 59

DIVISION 4

Norte Vista 69, Trabuco Hills 62

Colony at Shalhevet, Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

DIVISION 5

Gardena Serra 89, Vasquez 80

Pilibos 59, San Juan Hills 42

DIVISION 6

Ramona 60, Placentia Valencia 57

Laguna Hills 62, Moreno Valley 51

DIVISION 7

Salesian 61, Canyon Country Canyon 58

Rialto 52, Rowland 44

DIVISION 8

Redlands Adventist at Victor Valley, Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

South El Monte 45, Edgewood 43

DIVISION 9

Colton 58, Santa Maria Valley Christian 45

Pacific 62, Samueli Academy 41

Note: Finals Feb. 27 or 28.

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(All games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

CITY SECTION

BOYS

SEMIFINALS

At Southwest College

OPEN DIVISION

#6 Fairfax vs. #2 Cleveland

#5 San Pedro vs. #1 Palisades, 6 p.m.

Note: Finals Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. at Southwest College.

GIRLS

SEMIFINALS

At Pasadena City College

OPEN DIVISION

#3 LA Hamilton at #2 Birmingham, 4 p.m.

#5 Venice vs. #1 Westchester, 6 p.m.

Note: Finals Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at Pasadena City College.

At Southwest College

DIVISION I

#4 Eagle Rock at #1 El Camino Real, 12 p.m.

#3 San Pedro at #2 Granada Hills Kennedy, 2 p.m.

At Pasadena City College

DIVISION II

#3 Santee vs. #2 North Hollywood, 12 p.m.

#5 West Adams vs. #1 Harbor Teacher, 2 p.m.

DIVISION III

#4 LA Marshall at #1 Washington Prep

#3 San Fernando at #2 Gardena

DIVISION IV

#12 Wilmington Banning at #1 Maywood CES

#11 Bravo at #10 Panorama

DIVISION V

#20 Sotomayor at #9 Los Angeles

#3 Vaughn vs. #10 Port of LA / #2 Legacy

Note: Finals Feb. 27-28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS

QUARTERFINALS

OPEN DIVISION

Fairmont Prep at Ontario Christian

Oak Park at Sage Hill

Rancho Christian at Etiwanda

Mater Dei at Sierra Canyon

Note: Semifinals Tuesday; Finals Feb. 28 at 8 p.m. at Toyota Arena.

SEMIFINALS

DIVISION 1

Windward at Valencia

La Salle at Moreno Valley

DIVISION 2

Saugus at Camarillo

Crescenta Valley at Rosary Academy

DIVISION 3

Oxnard at Murrieta Valley

St. Margaret’s at Leuzinger

DIVISION 4

La Canada at Anaheim Canyon

Marina at El Dorado

DIVISION 5

Bishop Diego at Godinez

Burbank Burroughs at Oakwood

DIVISION 6

Savanna at San Jacinto

Hillcrest at Warren

DIVISION 7

Laguna Hills at Patriot

Ridgecrest Burroughs at La Palma Kennedy, 6 p.m.

DIVISION 8

University Prep at Orange

Chadwick at Schurr

DIVISION 9

Desert Hot Springs at Vista del Lago, 6 p.m.

Sierra Vista at La Sierra

Note: Finals Feb. 27 or 28.

One of the toughest decisions for Jared Honig came three years ago. He’s a Granada Hills High graduate and was a teacher and girls’ basketball coach at his alma mater “forever.”

But he and his wife lived in Santa Clarita and just had a third child.

So when the Valencia High girls’ basketball coaching job opened, the decision was made to leave Granada Hills to be closer to home. Three years later, Honig has Valencia in the Southern Section Division 1 semifinals with a playoff game on Saturday night at home against Windward.

The team is rising. The Vikings knocked off Troy and the winningest coach in California history, Kevin Kiernan, in the quarterfinals.

“That’s my first time coaching against him,” Honig said. “That was pretty cool.”

Leading the Vikings has been sophomore Kamilla Basyrova, who made a school-record 94 three-pointers last season and has already broken that record this season while averaging 19.8 points.

“Kamilla is an amazing three-point shooter,” Honig said.

Senior Cara McKell is averaging 17.8 points. The Vikings face an improving Windward team that struggled early but has caught fire, led by Charis Rainey.

Honig is starting to prepare his two girls and one boy for future basketball competitions. They’re 8, 6 and 3. He’s found a new home at Valencia High.

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

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION
BOYS
QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION IV
#8 Hawkins 76, #1 East Valley 67
#5 San Fernando 65, #4 Gardena 57
#6 Angelou 69, #3 Bell 55
#2 Franklin 76, #7 Conteras 37

DIVISION V
#1 Van Nuys 69, #8 Legacy 52
#21 Camino Nuevo 67, #13 Magnolia Science Academy 40
#19 Santee 61, #11 Torres 57
#2 Canoga Park 71, #7 Monroe 58

Note: Semifinals Friday; Finals Feb. 27 or 28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION
GIRLS

OPEN DIVISION
Pool A
#1 Ontario Christian 84, #8 JSerra 61

Pool B
#2 Etiwanda 81, #7 Lakewood St. Joseph 59

Pool C
#3 Sierra Canyon 59, #6 Corona Centennial 54

Pool D
#4 Sage Hill 56, #5 Mater Dei 45

Note: Quarterfinals Saturday; Semifinals Feb. 24; Finals 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Toyota Arena.

QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION 1
Windward 48, Ventura 45
Valencia 52, Troy 48
Moreno Valley 63, Orange Lutheran 41
La Salle 50, Villa Park 45

DIVISION 2
Saugus 54, Portola 44
Camarillo 42, Summit 38
Crescenta Valley 57, San Clemente 42
Rosary Academy 53, Dos Pueblos 33

DIVISION 3
Murrieta Valley 66, St. Monica 65
Oxnard 64, Trabuco Hills 53
Leuzinger 53, Mark Keppel 46
St. Margaret’s 50, Canyon Country Canyon 47

DIVISION 4
La Canada 65, Long Beach Jordan 37
Anaheim Canyon 47, Eastside 22
El Dorado 42, Long Beach Wilson 20
Marina 51, Pasadena Poly 47

DIVISION 5
Bishop Diego 47, Sunny Hills 45
Godinez 48, Torrance 46
Oakwood 55, Whitney 38
Burbank Burroughs 70, Carter 30

DIVISION 6
San Jacinto 41, Immaculate Heart 32
Savanna 45, Palm Desert 37
Hillcrest 53, Rowland 36
Warren 39, Santa Fe 35

DIVISION 7
Laguna Hills 46, Foothill Tech 33
Patriot 38, Rosemead 34
Ridgecrest Burroughs 52, AGBU 31
La Palma Kennedy 53, Cajon 20

DIVISION 8
University Prep 45, Yucca Valley 41
Orange 48, Riverside Notre Dame 20
Schurr 52, CAMS 34
Chadwick 53, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 48

DIVISION 9
Vista del Lago 41, Santa Clarita Christian 39
Desert Hot Springs 50, Channel Islands 39
La Sierra 30, Redlands Adventist 20
Sierra Vista 71, Western 34

Note: Semifinals Saturday; Finals 8 p.m. Feb. 27 or 28.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
SOUTHERN SECTION
BOYS

OPEN DIVISION
Pool A
#1 Sierra Canyon 95, #8 Corona del Mar 65

Pool B
#7 Harvard-Westlake 83, #2 Santa Margarita 62

Pool C
#3 Redondo Union 69, #6 Corona Centennial 57

Pool D
#4 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 69, #5 St. John Bosco 60

Note: Quarterfinals Friday; Semifinals Feb. 24; Finals 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Toyota Arena.

QUARTERFINALS
DIVISION 1
Crean Lutheran 83, Village Christian 58
Rancho Christian 71, Millikan 62
Inglewood 82, Fairmont Prep 69
JSerra 66, Rolling Hills Prep 49

DIVISION 2
Bishop Amat 74, Anaheim Canyon 70
Eastvale Roosevelt 74, Edison 65
Mater Dei 82, El Dorado 72
Hesperia 55, Rancho Verde 53

DIVISION 3
Murrieta Mesa 64, Ontario Christian 50
Warren 56, Golden Valley 53
Aliso Niguel 78, Alta Loma 58
Gahr 65, Woodbridge 55

DIVISION 4
Trabuco Hills 99, Blair 92
Norte Vista 70, Cathedral 63
Shalhevet 46, Long Beach Jordan 45
Colony 63, Walnut 60

DIVISION 5
Gardena Serra 65, Rancho Mirage 49
Vasquez 80, Oakwood 71
Pilibos 55, Temple City 33
San Juan Hills 70, Verbum Dei Jesuit 63

DIVISION 6
Placentia Valencia 57, St. Bonaventure 39
Ramona 66, Montclair 52
Laguna Hills 73, Orange Vista 62
Moreno Valley 49, Buckley 45

DIVISION 7
Canyon Country Canyon 60, Vista del Lago 55
Salesian 52, Webb 32
Rowland 48, Riverside Notre Dame 47
Rialto 63, Rosemead 32

DIVISION 8
Redlands Adventist 58, Twentynine Palms 48
Victor Valley at Barstow
South El Monte 65, Coastal Christian 50
Edgewood 58, Dunn 56

DIVISION 9
Colton 54, Sherman Indian 47
Santa Maria Valley Christian 53, Loma Linda Academy 51
Samueli Academy at Santa Barbara Providence
Pacific 68, Mesrobian 56

Note: Semifinals Friday; Finals Feb. 27 or 28.

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

CITY SECTION
BOYS
QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION IV
#8 Hawkins at #1 East Valley
#5 San Fernando at #4 Gardena
#6 Angelou at #3 Bell
#7 Conteras at #2 Franklin

DIVISION V
#8 Legacy at #1 Van Nuys
#21 Camino Nuevo at #13 Magnolia Science Academy, 2 p.m.
#19 Santee at #11 Torres
#7 Monroe at #2 Canoga Park

Note: Semifinals Friday; Finals Feb. 27 or 28 at TBA.

SOUTHERN SECTION
GIRLS

OPEN DIVISION
Pool A
#8 JSerra at #1 Ontario Christian

Pool B
#7 Lakewood St. Joseph at #2 Etiwanda

Pool C
#6 Corona Centennial at #3 Sierra Canyon

Pool D
#5 Mater Dei at #4 Sage Hill

Note: Quarterfinals Saturday; Semifinals Feb. 24; Finals 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Toyota Arena.

QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION 1
Windward at Ventura
Valencia at Troy, 6 p.m.
Moreno Valley at Orange Lutheran
Villa Park at La Salle

DIVISION 2
Portola at Saugus
Camarillo at Summit
San Clemente at Crescenta Valley
Rosary Academy at Dos Pueblos

DIVISION 3
Murrieta Valley at St. Monica
Oxnard at Trabuco Hills
Leuzinger at Mark Keppel
St. Margaret’s at Canyon Country Canyon

DIVISION 4
Long Beach Jordan at La Canada
Anaheim Canyon at Eastside
El Dorado at Long Beach Wilson
Pasadena Poly at Marina

DIVISION 5
Sunny Hills at Bishop Diego, 6 p.m.
Godinez at Torrance
Whitney at Oakwood
Burbank Burroughs at Carter

DIVISION 6
San Jacinto vs. Immaculate Heart at LA City College
Palm Desert at Savanna
Rowland at Hillcrest
Santa Fe at Warren

DIVISION 7
Laguna Hills vs. Foothill Tech at Rio Mesa
Patriot at Rosemead
Ridgecrest Burroughs at AGBU
Cajon at La Palma Kennedy

DIVISION 8
Yucca Valley at University Prep, 5 p.m.
Riverside Notre Dame at Orange
Schurr vs. CAMS at Cabrillo
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian at Chadwick, 5 p.m.

DIVISION 9
Vista del Lago at Santa Clarita Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Channel Islands at Desert Hot Springs
Redlands Adventist at La Sierra
Sierra Vista at Western

Note: Quarterfinals Saturday; Semifinals Feb. 24; Finals 8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Toyota Arena.

Jaden Bailes, JSerra’s leading scorer, was being patient. He had just eight points going into the fourth quarter Tuesday night in a Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinal playoff game against Rolling Hills Prep at North Torrance. The Lions were clinging to a seven-point lead.

That’s when Bailes decided to go into Stephen Curry mode. He made three consecutive threes to ignite a 15-0 surge that left Rolling Hills Prep helpless. The Lions pulled away for a 66-49 victory that only took 71 minutes to complete. The Lions (22-12) are a 12-loss team that’s looking pretty good with no fellow Trinity League teams left in Division 1. They do have to figure out a way to contain high-scoring Jason Crowe Jr. of Inglewood in Friday’s semifinals at JSerra.

Bailes certainly can make shots with Crowe if given the opportunity.

“They were doubling him on everything and I told him to be a playmaker,” JSerra coach Keith Wilkinson said.

Said Bailes: “I was confident the ball was going to come back to me. It’s a collective team effort. Lanes started opening up and I took advantage.”

Bailes finished with 19 points, Earl Bryson had 18 points and Godschoice Eboigbodin had 11 points and 12 rebounds. Kawika Suter scored 16 points for Rolling Hills Prep, which trailed by five points at halftime and 41-34 after three quarters.

Harvard-Westlake 83, Santa Margarita 62: After losing three of their last four games, the Wolverines have come back big time in the Open Division playoffs, winning their pool with an impressive road win. Joe Sterling and Pierce Thompson each scored 22 points and Amir Jones 21.

Redondo Union 69, Corona Centennial 57: Chris Sanders scored 22 points to help Redondo Union win its pool and move on to a quarterfinal home game Friday against La Mirada.

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 69, St. John Bosco 60: The Knights won their Open Division pool and will host Corona Centennial on Friday. NaVorro Bowman Jr. scored 20 points and Zach White had 14 points.

Sierra Canyon 95, Corona del Mar 65: Maxi Adams had 25 points and Brandon McCoy 23 for the 24-1 Trailblazers, who won their pool and will play host to Santa Margarita on Friday.

Inglewood 82, Fairmont Prep 69: Jason Crowe Jr. finished with 45 points to help Inglewood reach the Division 1 semifinals and assure Crowe will be in the state playoffs.

Mater Dei 82, El Dorado 72: Luke Barnett led the way with five threes and 26 points and Zain Majeed added 25 points to advance the Monarchs into the Division 2 semifinals.

Crean Lutheran 83, Village Christian 58: The top-seeded Saints routed Village Christian to move into the Division 1 semifinals, where it will face Rancho Christian, a 71-62 winner over Long Beach Millikan.

Welcome back to the Times of Troy newsletter, where I have emerged from my Hawaiian vacation and probably should be stopped before I buy a Maui timeshare. Please send help.

All jokes (and future debt) aside, we’re ready to roll after a weeklong break on the beach, just in time for the home stretch of the college basketball regular season. Both USC teams are still on the bubble midway through February, albeit one much more comfortably than the other.

The Trojan men’s March hopes are the more tenuous of the two. The sudden ascent to stardom of freshman Alijah Arenas has injected new hope into a hard-luck season. There’s still a ways to go: USC must face Illinois and Nebraska, not to mention UCLA twice, and could still use a couple more Quad 1 wins to bolster its resume. But the talent is there for USC to do some damage in the tournament … if it can make it to March.

The Trojan women are on much steadier ground, slotted at 22nd in the NCAA’s NET rankings. They’ve yet to lose a non-Quad 1 game this season and haven’t lost a game at all since Jan. 25. If the tournament started today, they’d be firmly in the field.

Lindsay Gottlieb has found a means to make it work over the last month, in spite of some shortcomings in a lineup that lost not just JuJu Watkins, but also all the other stars who might’ve lined up to play with her this season. Still, USC has weathered 25 games with a Watkins-sized hole in its lineup, a limited frontcourt and inconsistent play at point guard.

Gottlieb, as coach, deserves a lot of credit for that. As does Kara Dunn, the Trojans’ sharp-shooting grad transfer, who is shooting 51% and averaging 21 points, six rebounds and three assists over her past 11 games.

But USC could not have come this far this season if not for the best freshman in college basketball.

Jazzy Davidson has been every bit the difference-maker in her debut season that she was advertised to be as the top recruit in the 2025 class. She has been an elite defender, a dynamic and varied scorer, a poised and determined leader. She’s delivered in the clutch. She’s dragged USC out of deficits. She leads the Trojans in every statistical category: points (17.2), rebounds (6.3), assists (4.4), steals (1.9) and blocks (2.2).

The numbers only really tell part of the story. When Davidson signed with USC, she expected to play her first season with Watkins. Instead, Watkins injured her knee. The rest of USC’s Elite Eight lineup left. And Davidson suddenly found herself the centerpiece of the team’s hopes. As a freshman.

Those expectations would have weighed heavily on most first-year players, even before considering Watkins’ shadow looming over all the proceedings. But in this case, they haven’t seemed to faze the star freshman in the slightest. She’s been a picture of poise through a season that asked her to be just that. It’s an impossible thing to ask of most 18-year-olds.

And yet, in Davidson’s case, it’s working.

“You talk about overdelivering, to be a freshman and carry the load for us,” Gottlieb said, “she’s just capable of doing almost anything on a basketball court. She’s unique. I know there are several good freshmen in the country. We know how good she is. We see it every day, and we think there’s no one better.”

Someone in SEC country will surely make the case that Vanderbilt point guard Aubrey Galvan has been the nation’s top freshman. Advanced metrics, for one, will tell you that Galvan is worth 3.3 win shares compared to 3.1 for Davidson. She’s certainly been special on the offensive end, pairing up with national player of the year candidate Mikayla Blakes to make the most lethal 1-2 punch in women’s college basketball.

But Galvan is the No. 2 in that attack. That’s the role Davidson was supposed to play as a freshman. Instead, Davidson has been the focal point of opposing team’s game plans from the start, and yet still managed to adjust to the college game on the fly. Her usage rate (28.8%), which measures how often a possession ends with the ball in one’s hands, is higher than any freshman in the country. And she’s only getting better with the ball in her hands.

USC’s hopes this March hinge on Davidson continuing that ascent. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. But here we are. And in some strange, roundabout way, the experience might wind up making USC and its star freshman much better in the long run.

Because next year, USC will welcome not only Watkins back from injury, but also the No. 1 recruit in the nation, Saniyah Hall, as well as 6-foot-4 Aussie forward Sitaya Fagan, who’s redshirting this season. That lineup might be the most talented in USC history.

How it fits together will be the story of next season. But in this one, Davidson has proven she can be whatever USC needs her to be.

Not only the best freshman in college basketball, but the glue that’s kept this Trojans season together.

Mater Dei wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt pulls in a long reception to score against St John Bosco.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

—One last thing about Jazzy. She could stand to be more efficient from the three-point line, where she has made just nine of her last 52 attempts (17%). USC, as a team, has really struggled from behind the arc, which is not something you want in March.

—Chad Baker-Mazara should be back this week. It’s not clear if he’ll be ready for Wednesday’s big matchup. When USC welcomes No. 8 Illinois to Galen Center, it will have been more than two weeks since Baker-Mazara sprained his medial collateral ligament against Indiana. A Grade I sprain usually requires sitting out a week or two, so the timeline is pretty normal. USC is going to need its full arsenal, Baker-Mazara included, to hold its own against the Illini. But if not Wednesday, the sixth-year senior will definitely be back by Saturday against Oregon.

—Chad Bowden wasn’t subtle about his expectations for next season. USC’s general manager told reporters that he was “on a warpath” heading into 2026. He made clear that success next season is “black and white. You’re either in the playoffs or you’re not,” he said. He added that fans “should be unhappy” with a nine-win season and that he was “sick to his stomach” about it. Strong words from someone whose opinion matters a lot within Heritage Hall. Chalk it up as more evidence that a Playoff appearance is the baseline of expectations for Lincoln Riley next season.

—Blue-chip pass-catching prospects Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and Mark Bowman both took less money to sign with USC. That’s a good sign. Bowden said USC hadn’t talked to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt in three or four months while the top-50 receiver recruit was committed to Ohio State. But Dixon-Wyatt decided out of the blue that he was coming to USC, to stay home and play in front of family, even if it meant taking less money than he would’ve gotten in Columbus. He wasn’t the only one. On signing day, Lane Kiffin and LSU swooped in to offer Dixon-Wyatt’s Mater Dei teammate, tight end Mark Bowman, “significantly more” than the deal he had with USC, Bowden said. Bowman made Bowden wait most of the day before reassuring he was always bound for USC. We might look back on that decision as a pretty consequential one, if Bowman lives up to his billing from Bowden as “one of the best players in the country.”

—USC is putting a lot of faith in its linebacker room for 2026. Bowden says he thinks the room will “take the biggest leap” of any position next season, but for the moment, that would require quite a bit of projection. Riley pointed to the progress from Desman Stephens down the stretch of last season, as well as the late emergence of Jadyn Walker, as reasons why USC didn’t feel the need to add more in the transfer portal. USC did add Deven Bryant, who the front office viewed as a quality run defender, and welcomes a freshman in Talanoa Ili who could be involved right away.

—The Big Ten is still pushing the 24-team Playoff – *shakes head* – but its plan isn’t all bad. I am not a fan in the slightest of doubling the size of the Playoff. That would significantly devalue the regular season, while lining the coffers of college football’s ruling class. The Big Ten has dominated the last three years of the 12-team Playoff, and yet it wants to open the field up more? It doesn’t make sense. What does sound logical to me, amid an otherwise insane plan, is the elimination of the conference championship games. Not only would that cut a full week out of the calendar, which needs to happen, it would do away with any questions about whether teams can hurt their resume just by playing another game. Go to 16 teams, do away with conference championship games and please — I beg you — stop tweaking the system.

—USC baseball’s season opened with a combined no-hitter. After beating Pepperdine in its season opener, the Trojans went one step further in their Saturday matchup, serving up the school’s first no-hitter in eight years. Sophomore right-hander Grant Govel went seven innings and struck out 10 batters while walking just one, and freshman Cameron Fausset closed the door with another hitless inning before Andrew Lamb hit a two-run homer to invoke the 10-run rule. Hard to imagine a better start to USC’s first season back on campus.

Olympic sports spotlight

After winning its first indoor NCAA title in 53 years last season, the future of USC men’s track has looked strong this indoor season.

Jack Stadlman, a Temecula native, set the indoor 400-meter freshman record at USC, finishing in second with a 45.51 on Day 1 of the Don Kirby Elite Invite on Friday. Stadlman actually didn’t start running track until his junior year at Temecula Valley High and didn’t start running the 400 until last spring. Now already he’s run the fastest indoor time ever for a freshman at USC and the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA in the event this season. That should set Stadlman up nicely for next month’s NCAA indoor championships.

Freshman Cordial Vann also made a strong impression, tying the indoor freshman record at USC with a 6.60 in the 60-meter sprint. The NCAA best so far this year is a 6.49.

In case you missed it

USC coach Lincoln Riley completes staff featuring new defensive blood, continuity

‘She’s unique.’ Jazzy Davidson helps USC climb out of early hole and win fifth in a row

USC men come up a bit short against Ohio State

What I’m watching this week

Timothée Chalamet in “Marty Supreme.”

I finally had the chance this past weekend to watch “Marty Supreme,” the best picture nominee starring Timothée Chalamet and directed by Josh Safdie. And boy was it worth the wait.

Let me start by saying that I generally dislike sports movies. There are exceptions to this rule, of course. But as someone who spends a lot of time thinking about the beauty and romance and drama inherent to sports, I am a documented hater of the genre.

“Marty Supreme,” though, was no ordinary sports movie. This was a propulsive, anxiety-inducing roller coaster ride as we follow Marty Mauser, played by Chalamet, as he tries to become the face of the emerging sport of table tennis in a post-World War II America. Those plans, as you might imagine, unravel along the way, and in the process, Chalamet gives one of the best performances of the year.

I’m still partial to “One Battle After Another” if we’re talking best picture in next month’s Academy Awards, but “Marty Supreme” is no doubt one of the best movies of the last year.

Until next time …

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at ryan.kartje@latimes.com, and follow me on X at @Ryan_Kartje. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

CITY SECTION

GIRLS

QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION I

#1 El Camino Real 45, #9 Garfield 28

#4 Eagle Rock 50, #5 Arleta 34

#3 San Pedro 47, #6 Grant 38

#2 Granada Hills Kennedy 53, #7 Verdugo Hills 41

DIVISION II

#1 Harbor Teacher 58, #8 Larchmont Charter 19

#5 West Adams 30, #4 Triumph Charter 27

#3 Santee 43, #11 South East 38

#2 North Hollywood 51, #7 New West Charter 49

DIVISION III

#8 Diego Rivera at #1 Washington Prep

#4 LA Marshall 47, #5 Sun Valley Poly 20

#3 San Fernando 44, #11 Animo Robinson 30

#2 Gardena 40, #7 Crenshaw 24

Note: Semifinals Feb. 21; Finals Feb. 27-28.

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION IV

#1 Maywood CES 36, #16 Huntington Park 33

#9 Smidt Tech 31, #8 Magnolia Science Academy 25

#12 Wilmington Banning 52, #5 Foshay 20

#13 Lincoln 42, #4 LA Wilson 37

#19 Franklin at #3 WISH Academy

#11 Bravo 39, #6 Marquez 35

#10 Panorama 61, #7 Contreras 31

#18 South Gate 48, #2 Sun Valley Magnet 38

DIVISION V

#1 LA Roosevelt 33, #17 Horace Mann UCLA 19

#9 Los Angeles at #8 Camino Nuevo

#12 Discovery at #5 Torres

#20 Sotomayor 39, #4 Chavez 25

#3 Vaughn 40, #14 Animo Bunche 19

#11 Monroe 57, #6 Lake Balboa College Prep 26

#10 Port of LA 54, #7 Aspire Ollin 33

#18 East College Prep at #2 Legacy

Note: Quarterfinals Feb. 19; Semifinals Feb. 21; Finals Feb. 27-28.

SOUTHERN SECTION

GIRLS

SECOND ROUND

OPEN DIVISION

Pool A

#9 Rancho Christian 73, #8 JSerra 71

Pool B

#10 Fairmont Prep 63, #7 Lakewood St. Joseph 51

Pool C

#11 Oak Park 67, #6 Corona Centennial 44

Pool D

#4 Mater Dei 52, #12 Redondo Union 45

Note: Third round pool play games Feb. 18 at higher seeds; Quarterfinals Feb. 21; Semifinals Feb. 24; Finals Feb. 28 at Toyota Arena.

DIVISION 1

#1 Ventura 50, Bishop Montgomery 40

Windward 64, #8 Flintridge Prep 49

#5 Valencia 81, Mira Costa 56

Troy 61, #4 Brentwood 48

#3 Moreno Valley 69, St. Bonaventure 39

#6 Orange Lutheran 55, Marlborough 48

#7 Villa Park 58, Santa Margarita 45

#2 La Salle 48, St. Anthony 42

DIVISION 2

Portola 44, #1 Glendora 34

#9 Saugus 57, Heritage 50

312 Summit 47, #5 Yucaipa 34

Camarillo 54, #4 Rancho Cucamonga 42

#3 Crescenta Valley 56, #14 Chino Hills 34

#11 San Clemente 72, Rolling Hills Prep 59

Dos Pueblos 52, #7 San Juan Hills 45

#2 Rosary Academy 63, Riverside King 50

DIVISION 3

Murrieta Valley 64, #1 Lynwood 61

#8 St. Monica 78, Arcadia 57

#12 Trabuco Hills 58, #5 Segerstrom 45

#4 Oxnard 37, #13 Aliso Niguel 34

#14 Mark Keppel 54, El Modena 31

#6 Leuzinger 72, #11 Shadow Hills 66

#7 St. Margaret’s 65, #10 Riverside Poly 34

Canyon Country Canyon 54, #2 Wiseburn-Da Vinci 39

DIVISION 4

#1 Long Beach Jordan 36, Lancaster 32

#9 La Canada 41, #8 Yorba Linda 27

#5 Eastside 42, Gabrielino 23

Anaheim Canyon 39, Knight 26

#3 El Dorado 64, #14 Ontario 29

#6 Long Beach Wilson 56, Westlake 49

#7 Pasadena Poly 66, Shalhevet 44

#2 Marina 54, #15 Holy Martyrs 47

DIVISION 5

#16 Sunny Hills 48, #1 Tesoro 19

#9 Bishop Diego 55, Fullerton 44

Torrance 53, #5 Fountain Valley 26

#13 Godinez 50, Heritage Christian 41

Whitney 40, #3 Santa Ana Foothill 33

Oakwood at YULA

#7 Burbank Burroughs 51, #10 Culver City 23

Carter 45, #2 Western Christian 42

DIVISION 6

#16 San Jacinto 65, #1 Carpinteria 43

Immaculate Heart 44, #9 Costa Mesa 39

Savanna 41, #5 Redlands 28

#4 Palm Desert 45, #13 Santa Monica 29

Hillcrest 52, #14 Notre Dame Academy 20

Rowland 57, #11 Liberty 41

#10 Sante Fe 48, #7 Hart 23

Warren 41, Silver Valley 39

DIVISION 7

#16 Foothill Tech 55, #1 Fillmore 35

Laguna Hills 45, Capistrano Valley Christian 40

#12 Rosemead 54, Desert Christian Academy 42

Patriot 74, Villanova Prep 40

#3 Canoga Park AGBU 45, #14 Nogales 44

Ridgecrest Burroughs 45, #6 Barstow 21

La Palma Kennedy 47, Long Beach Poly 46

Cajon 42, Garden Grove 25

DIVISION 8

Yucca Valley 61, #1 Cobalt 44

University Prep 45, #8 Norwalk 39

Orange 44, #12 Coachella Valley 40

#13 Riverside Notre Dame 51, #4 Santa Ana Valley 45

#14 Schurr 49, Mesa Grande Academy 23

#6 CAMS 49, #11 South El Monte 42

#10 Chadwick 47, #7 Victor Valley 44

#15 Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 57, #2 Riverside North 35

DIVISION 9

#16 Vista del Lago 44, #1 NOVA Academy Early College 18

#8 Santa Clarita Christian 53, #9 Victor Valley Christian 34

#5 Channel Islands 37, #12 Jurupa Hills 31

Desert Hot Springs 48, #4 Temple City 37

La Sierra 46, Faith Baptist 38

#6 Redlands Adventist 55, #11 Newport Christian 32

#10 Sierra Vista 48, #7 San Gabriel 32

Western 48, Santa Maria Valley Christian 38

(Quarterfinals Feb. 18; Semifinals Feb. 21; Finals Feb. 27 or 28)

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

CITY SECTION
QUARTERFINALS
DIVISION I

#1 Granada Hills 82, #9 LA Marshall 50

#5 LA Jordan at #4 Crenshaw, 1 p.m. Saturday

#3 Venice 58, #6 Sun Valley Poly 40

at #2 Chatsworth 67, #10 Rancho Dominguez 64

DIVISION II

#1 Bravo d. #8 MSCP, forfeit

#4 King/Drew 52, #12 Downtown Magnets 50

#6 Carson at #3 Sylmar

#10 Marquez 57, #2 Eagle Rock 50

DIVISION III

#1 RFK Community 49, #9 Orthopaedic 46

#5 Huntington Park 45, #4 Hollywood 36

#3 SOCES 84, #6 Foshay 64

#10 Verdugo Hills 59, #2 Los Angeles 58

Note: Semifinals Feb. 21-22; Finals Feb. 27-28.

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION IV

#1 East Valley 73, #16 Jefferson 47

#8 Hawkins 73, #9 Mendez 18

#5 San Fernando 71, #12 Animo Robinson 65

#4 Gardena 65, #20 USC-MAE 60

#3 Bell 53, #14 West Adams 41

#6 Angelou 56, #11 Alliance Marine-Innovation 27

#7 Contreras 64, #10 Animo Watts 50

#2 Franklin 74, #15 New West Charter 37

DIVISION V

#17 Central City Value at #1 Van Nuys

#8 Legacy 58, #9 Sotomayor 43

#21 Camino Nuevo 56, #5 Stella 29

#13 Magnolia Science Academy 55, #4 Sun Valley Magnet 47

#19 Santee 78, #3 Vaughn 56

#11 Torres 69, #6 Animo Venice 39

#7 Monroe 61, #10 East College Prep 39

#2 Canoga Park 57, #18 Chavez 45

Note: Quarterfinals Feb. 18; Semifinals Feb. 20; Finals Feb. 27-28.

SOUTHERN SECTION

SECOND ROUND

OPEN DIVISION

Pool A

#9 Crespi 82, #8 Corona del Mar 70

Pool B

#7 Harvard-Westlake 67, #10 Damien 62

Pool C

#6 Corona Centennial 74, #11 Etiwanda 48

Pool D

#12 La Mirada 56, #5 St. John Bosco 53

Note: Third round pool play games Tuesday at higher seeds; Quarterfinals Feb. 20; Semifinals Feb. 24; Finals Feb. 28 at Toyota Arena.

DIVISION 1

#1 Crean Lutheran 87, Corona Santiago 80

#9 Village Christian 67, #8 Mira Costa 66

#12 Millikan 79, Windward 75

Rancho Christian 94, Cypress 82

#3 Inglewood 103, St. Bernard 92

Fairmont Prep 60, #6 Brentwood 57

#7 Rolling Hills Prep 63, Orange Lutheran 52

#2 JSerra 75, Loyola 46

DIVISION 2

#1 Bishop Amat 81, Chino Hills 74

#8 Anaheim Canyon 70, Oxnard 67

#12 Servite at #5 Eastvale Roosevelt, Saturday

Edison 58, Valencia 56

#3 Mater Dei 85, #14 Westlake 59

#11 El Dorado 66, Leuzinger 61

#7 Rancho Verde 84, #10 San Marcos 69

#2 Hesperia 77, #15 Elsinore 62

DIVISION 3

#16 Ontario Christian 54, San Marino 52

#8 Murrieta Mesa 88, #9 Temecula Valley 67

Warren 64, Long Beach Wilson 61

Golden Valley 61, Los Altos 54

#3 Alta Loma 65, Ayala 56

Aliso Niguel 87, #11 Glendora 73

#10 Gahr 56, #7 Aquinas 42

#15 Woodbridge 44, Eastside 39

DIVISION 4

#16 Blair 79, #1 Bonita 71

#9 Trabuco Hills 60, #8 Saugus 54

#12 Norte Vista 71, #5 Moorpark 69

Cathedral 56, #4 Summit 51

#3 Shalhevet 42, #14 Palm Springs 41

Long Beach Jordan 71, #6 Torrance 66

#7 Colony 57, #10 South Torrance 48

#2 Walnut 71, #15 Corona 70

DIVISION 5

#1 Gardena Serra 55, #16 Northwood 47

Rancho Mirage 87, #9 California 73

Oakwood 77, Beaumont 52

Vasquez 45, Adelanto 41

Pilibos 53, #14 Quartz Hill 47

Temple City 56, #6 Brea Olinda 50

#10 Verbum Dei 42, Rio Mesa 35

#15 San Juan Hills 75, Irvine 63

DIVISION 6

Placentia Valencia 65, #1 Hemet 63

#9 St. Bonaventure 54, Highland 43

#12 Ramona 52, #5 Pasadena Poly 35

#4 Montclair 64, #13 Fontana 63

Laguna Hills 88, #14 Carter 50

#11 Orange Vista 67, Valley View 63

#10 Buckley 72, Eisenhower 57

#15 Moreno Valley 49, #2 Troy 42

DIVISION 7

#16 Vista del Lago 50, #1 Tahquitz 45

#8 Canyon Country Canyon 60, Anaheim 52

#5 Salesian 58, Westminster La Quinta 51

Webb 74, #13 YULA 71

Riverside Notre Dame 59, Faith Baptist 48

#6 Rowland 45, #11 Norwalk 44

Rosemead 65, Santa Rosa Academy 47

#2 Rialto 67, #15 Segerstrom 53

DIVISION 8

#1 Excelsior Charter at Redlands Adventist, 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Twentynine Palms 51, #9 Bolsa Grande 45

#5 Victor Valley 88, #12 Trinity Classical Academy 54

#14 South El Monte 45, #3 Desert Christian Academy 41

#4 Barstow 58, Loara 55

#6 Coastal Christian 69, #11 Silver Valley 63

#10 Edgewood 63, #7 Big Bear 48

Dunn 64, #2 San Gabriel 56

DIVISION 9

Sherman Indian 48, #1 Bassett 36

#8 Colton 63, #9 Newbury Park Adventist 29

#5 Santa Maria Valley Christian 76, #12 Long Beach First Baptist 56

#13 Loma Linda Academy 65, #4 San Jacinto Valley 63

Samueli Academy 84, Grove School 49

#6 Santa Barbara Providence 49, #11 Santa Ana Valley 48

Pacific 58, #7 California Lutheran 50

#15 Mesrobian 80, #2 ACE 62

(Quarterfinals Feb. 17; Semifinals Feb. 20; Finals Feb. 27 or 28)

SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

(All games at 7 p.m. unless noted)

GIRLS

CITY SECTION
QUARTERFINALS
DIVISION I

#9 Garfield at #1 El Camino Real, 2 p.m.

#5 Arleta at #4 Eagle Rock

#6 Grant at #3 San Pedro

#7 Verdugo Hills at #2 Granada Hills Kennedy

DIVISION II

#8 Larchmont Charter at #1 Harbor Teacher

#5 West Adams at #4 Triumph Charter

#11 South East at #3 Santee, 1 p.m.

#7 New West Charter at #2 North Hollywood

DIVISION III

#8 Diego Rivera at #1 Washington Prep

#5 Sun Valley Poly at #4 LA Marshall

#11 Animo Robinson at #3 San Fernando

#7 Crenshaw at #2 Gardena

Note: Semifinals Feb. 21; Finals Feb. 27-28.

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION IV

#16 Huntington Park at #1 Maywood CES

#9 Smidt Tech at #8 Magnolia Science Academy

#12 Wilmington Banning at #5 Foshay

#13 Lincoln at #4 LA Wilson

#19 Franklin at #3 WISH Academy

#11 Bravo at #6 Marquez

#10 Panorama at #7 Contreras

#18 South Gate vs. #2 Sun Valley Magnet at East Valley

DIVISION V

#17 Horace Mann UCLA at #1 LA Roosevelt

#9 Los Angeles at #8 Camino Nuevo

#12 Discovery at #5 Torres

#20 Sotomayor at #4 Chavez

#14 Animo Bunche at #3 Vaughn

#11 Monroe at #6 Lake Balboa College Prep

#23 Alliance Bloomfield / #10 Port of LA at #7 Aspire Ollin

#18 East College Prep at #2 Legacy

Note: Quarterfinals Feb. 19; Semifinals Feb. 21; Finals Feb. 27-28.

SOUTHERN SECTION

SECOND ROUND

OPEN DIVISION

Pool A

#9 Rancho Christian at #8 JSerra

Pool B

#10 Fairmont Prep at #7 Lakewood St. Joseph

Pool C

#11 Oak Park at #6 Corona Centennial

Pool D

#12 Redondo Union at #4 Mater Dei

Note: Third round pool play games Wednesday at higher seeds; Quarterfinals Feb. 21; Semifinals Feb. 24; Finals Feb. 28 at Toyota Arena.

DIVISION 1

#1 Ventura at Bishop Montgomery

#8 Flintridge Prep at Windward

#5 Valencia at Mira Costa

#4 Brentwood at Troy

#3 Moreno Valley at St. Bonaventure

#6 Orange Lutheran at Marlborough

#7 Villa Park at Santa Margarita

#2 La Salle at St. Anthony

DIVISION 2

#1 Glendora at Portola

#9 Saugus at Heritage

312 Summit at #5 Yucaipa

Camarillo at #13 South Torrance

#4 Rancho Cucamonga at Camarillo

#3 Crescenta Valley at #14 Chino Hills

Rolling Hills Prep vs. #11 San Clemente

#7 San Juan Hills at Dos Pueblos

#2 Rosary Academy at Riverside King

DIVISION 3

#1 Lynwood at Murrieta Valley

#8 St. Monica at Arcadia

#12 Trabuco Hills at #5 Segerstrom

#4 Oxnard at #13 Aliso Niguel

#14 Mark Keppel at El Modena

#6 Leuzinger at #11 Shadow Hills

#10 Riverside Poly at #7 St. Margaret’s

#2 Wiseburn-Da Vinci at Canyon Country Canyon

DIVISION 4

#1 Long Beach Jordan at Lancaster

#9 La Canada at #8 Yorba Linda

#5 Eastside at Gabrielino

Knight at Anaheim Canyon

#14 Ontario at #3 El Dorado

#6 Long Beach Wilson at Westlake

#7 Pasadena Poly at Shalhevet

#2 Marina at #15 Holy Martyrs

DIVISION 5

#1 Tesoro at #16 Sunny Hills

#9 Bishop Diego at Fullerton

#5 Fountain Valley at Torrance

#13 Godinez at Heritage Christian

#3 Santa Ana Foothill at Whitney

Oakwood at YULA

#10 Culver City at #7 Burbank Burroughs

#2 Western Christian at Carter

DIVISION 6

#16 San Jacinto at #1 Carpinteria

#9 Costa Mesa at Immaculate Heart

#5 Redlands at Savanna

#4 Palm Desert at #13 Santa Monica

#14 Notre Dame Academy at Hillcrest

#11 Liberty at Rowland

#7 Hart at #10 Sante Fe

Warren at Silver Valley

DIVISION 7

#16 Foothill Tech at #1 Fillmore

Capistrano Valley Christian vs. Laguna Hills

Desert Christian Academy at #5 Dominguez

#12 Rosemead at Desert Christian

Villanova Prep at Patriot

#14 Nogales at #3 Canoga Park AGBU

#6 Barstow at Ridgecrest Burroughs

La Palma Kennedy at Long Beach Poly

Garden Grove at Cajon

DIVISION 8

#1 Cobalt at Yucca Valley

University Prep vs. #8 Norwalk

#12 Coachella Valley at Orange

#4 Santa Ana Valley at #13 Riverside Notre Dame

Mesa Grande vs. #14 Schurr

#6 CAMS at #11 South El Monte

#7 Victor Valley vs. #10 Chadwick

#2 Riverside North at #15 Santa Monica Pacifica Christian

DIVISION 9

#1 NOVA Academy Early College at #16 Vista del Lago

#8 Santa Clarita Christian at #9 Victor Valley Christian

#12 Jurupa Hills at #5 Channel Islands

Desert Hot Springs vs. #4 Temple City

La Sierra at Faith Baptist

#6 Redlands Adventist at #11 Newport Christian

#10 Sierra Vista at #7 San Gabriel

Western at Santa Maria Valley Christian

(Quarterfinals Feb. 18; Semifinals Feb. 21; Finals Feb. 27 or 28)

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
THURSDAY’S RESULTS

GIRLS
CITY SECTION
OPEN DIVISION
Quarterfinals
#1 Westchester 43, #8 King/Drew 38
#5 Venice 55, #4 Granada Hills 42
#3 LA Hamilton 70, #6 Cleveland 65
#2 Birmingham 75, #7 Palisades 39

DIVISION I
First Round
#1 El Camino Real 58, #16 RFK Community 39
#9 Garfield 48, #8 Taft 35
#5 Arleta 38, #12 Narbonne 22
#4 Eagle Rock 50, #13 Bernstein 26
#3 San Pedro 63, #14 Fairfax 29
#6 Grant 53, #11 LACES 27
#7 Verdugo Hills 66, #10 Carson 32
#2 Granada Hills Kennedy 77, #15 Chatsworth 29

DIVISION II
First Round
#1 Harbor Teacher 43, #16 Bell 36
#9 Larchmont Charter 37, #8 Gertz-Ressler 27
#5 West Adams 38, #12 Hollywood 31
#4 Triumph Charter 43, #13 MSCP 21
#3 Santee 77, #14 Sylmar 39
#11 South East 48, #6 Northridge Academy 42
#7 New West Charter 53, #10 Hawkins 28
#2 North Hollywood 70, #15 Animo Watts 19

DIVISION III
First Round
#1 Washington Pep 65, #16 AMIT 11
#8 Diego Rivera 51, #9 Central City Value 24
#5 Sun Valley Poly 45, #12 USC Hybrid 35
#4 LA Marshall 45, #13 Van Nuys 31
#3 San Fernando 47, #14 SOCES 40
#11 Animo Robinson 26, #6 USC-MAE 22
#7 Crenshaw 60, #10 Stern 18
#2 Gardena 51, #15 Mendez 21

DIVISION IV
First Round
#16 Huntington Park 18, #17 Angelou 15
#13 Lincoln 49, #20 Roybal 27
#19 Franklin 32, #14 Lakeview Charter 13
#18 South Gate 56, #15 Community Charter 30

DIVISION V
First Round
#17 Horace Mann UCLA 25, #16 VAAS 17
#9 Los Angeles 22, #24 Rancho Dominguez 18
#12 Discovery 11, #21 Stella 7
#20 Sotomayor 38, #13 Orthopaedic 21
#14 Animo Bunche 51, #19 Valor Academy 25
#11 Monroe 50, #23 Animo de La Hoya 15
#23 Alliance Bloomfield at #10 Port of LA
#18 East College Prep 47, #15 Annenberg 39

SOUTHERN SECTION
OPEN DIVISION
Pool Play
#1 Ontario Christian 122, #9 Rancho Christian 72
#2 Etiwanda 79, #10 Fairmont Prep 49
#3 Sierra Canyon 77, #11 Oak Park 51
#4 Sage Hill 74, #12 Redondo Union 47

DIVISION 1
First Round
#1 Ventura 59, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 41
Bishop Montgomery 41, #16 Harvard-Westlake 38
Windward 56, #9 North Torrance 50
#8 Flintridge Prep 59, Rialto 44
#5 Valencia 76, Chino 44
Mira Costa 45, #12 Oak Hills 39
Troy 69, #13 Los Osos 57
#4 Brentwood 81, Alemany 56
#3 Moreno Valley 65, Village Christian 27
St. Bonaventure 43, #14 Thousand Oaks 37
Marlborough 55, #11 Beckman 46
#6 Orange Lutheran 56, West Torrance 35
#7 Villa Park 71, Palos Verdes 50
Santa Margarita 65, #10 Esperanza 54
St. Anthony 62, #15 Oaks Christian 37
#2 La Salle 62, Buena Park 39

DIVISION 2
First Round
#1 Glendora 60, Los Altos 45
Portola 64, #16 Paramount 41
#9 Saugus 64, Claremont 47
Heritage 58, #8 Chaparral 56
#5 Yucaipa 46, Bonita 39
#12 Summit 63, Campbell Hall 59
Camarillo 54, #13 South Torrance 32
#4 Rancho Cucamonga 45, Crossroads 42
#3 Crescenta Valley 70, Hacienda Heights Wilson 46
#14 Chino Hills 42, Gardena Serra 37
#11 San Clemente 52, San Marcos 39
Sonora at #6 Rolling Hills Prep
#7 San Juan Hills 53, Orange County Pacifica Christian 47
Dos Pueblos 53, #10 Los Alamitos 43
Riverside King 49, #15 Murrieta Mesa 41
#2 Rosary Academy 65, Trinity Classical Academy 36

DIVISION 3
First Round
#1 Lynwood 71, El Toro 31
Murrieta Valley 58, #16 Cerritos 42
Arcadia 62, #9 Bishop Amat 57
#8 St. Monica 66, CSDR 59
#5 Segerstrom 50, South Hills 30
#12 Trabuco Hills 70, La Serna 46
#13 Aliso Niguel 49, Rio Mesa 46
#4 Oxnard 62, Cypress 53
El Modena 53, #3 Aquinas 33
#14 Mark Keppel 48, Downey 30
#11 Shadow Hills 60, Ramona 41
#6 Leuzinger 61, Lawndale 52
#7 St. Margaret’s 46, San Dimas 29
#10 Riverside Poly 56, Arrowhead Christian 36
Canyon Country Canyon 75, #15 Vista Murrieta 52
#2 Wiseburn-Da Vinci 52, Huntington Beach 44

DIVISION 4
First Round
#1 Long Beach Jordan 47, Eastvale Roosevelt 32
Lancaster 71, #16 South Pasadena 33
#9 La Canada 62, Viewpoint 38
#8 Yorba Linda 43, Quartz Hill 38
#5 Eastside 43, Xavier Prep 39
Gabrielino 58, #12 Beaumont 53
Anaheim Canyon 55, #13 Moorpark 22
Knight 56, #4 Burbank 42
#3 El Dorado 67, Loma Linda Academy 34
#14 Ontario 50, Whittier Christian 45
Westlake 65, #11 Hesperia Christian 35
#6 Long Beach Wilson 43, Hesperia 35
#7 Pasadena Poly 60, Walnut 39
Shalhevet 51, #10 Bolsa Grande 30
#15 Holy Martyrs 67, Silverado 43
#2 Marina 40, St. Genevieve 36

DIVISION 5
First Round
#1 Tesoro 52, St. Paul 41
#16 Sunny Hills 40, Lakewood 25
#9 Bishop Diego 62, Milken 54
Fullerton 43, #8 Twentynine Palms 32
#5 Fountain Valley 75, Temescal Canyon 35
Torrance 78, #12 St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 45
#13 Godinez 64, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 38
Heritage Christian 46, #4 Colony 44
#3 Santa Ana Foothill 34, Temecula Prep 22
Whitney 73, #14 Calvary Baptist 39
YULA 60, #11 San Bernardino 24
Oakwood 55, #6 Rio Hondo Prep 31
#7 Burbank Burroughs 54, Sacred Heart LA 39
#10 Culver City 44, Santa Paula 40
Carter 61, #15 West Covina 50
#2 Western Christian 38, La Quinta 24

DIVISION 6
First Round
#1 Carpinteria 69, San Gabriel Academy 39
#16 San Jacinto 52, Pioneer 37
#9 Costa Mesa 63, Newbury Park Adventist 23
Immaculate Heart 42, #8 El Rancho 35
#5 Redlands 29, Loara 26
Savanna 48, #12 Pilibos 40
#13 Santa Monica 49, Sherman Indian 15
#4 Palm Desert 67, Colton 22
Hillcrest 55, #3 Glendale 42
#14 Notre Dame Academy 42, Citrus Valley 35
#11 Liberty 48, Irvine 46
Rowland 60, #6 Whittier 50
#7 Hart 49, San Jacinto Valley 44
#10 Sante Fe 49, Woodbridge 21
Warren 50, #15 Fontana 37
Silver Valley 54, #2 Cerritos Valley Christian 51

DIVISION 7
First Round
#1 Fillmore 31, Hawthorne MSA 29
#16 Foothill Tech 50, Lucerne Valley 24
Capistrano Valley Christian 58, #9 Monrovia 42
Laguna Hills 46, #8 Mary Star of the Sea 44
Desert Christian Academy 44, #5 Dominguez 26
#12 Rosemead 29, Lancaster Desert Christian 23
Patriot 48, #13 Arlington 42
Villanova Prep 56, #4 St. Monica Academy 45
#3 Canoga Park AGBU 49, Vistamar 24
#14 Nogales 50, Indian Springs 44
Ridgecrest Burroughs 40, #11 Chaffey 32
#6 Barstow 47, Coastal Christian 45
La Palma Kennedy 65, #7 San Jacinto Leadership Academy 35
Long Beach Poly 63, #10 St. Mary’s Academy 22
Garden Grove 52, #15 Kaiser 41
Cajon 39, #2 Paloma Valley 30

DIVISION 8
First Round
#1 Cobalt 58, Excelsior Charter 39
Yucca Valley 61, #16 Laguna Blanca 20
University Prep 40, #9 Anaheim 38
#8 Norwalk 44, Elsinore 36
Orange 50, #5 California Military 32
#12 Coachella Valley 53, Banning 31
#13 Riverside Notre Dame 54, Duarte 42
#4 Santa Ana Valley 54, Santa Barbara Providence 10
Mesa Grande 35, #3 EF Academy 17
#14 Schurr 75, Compton Early College 5
#11 South El Monte 53, Packinghouse Christian 21
#6 CAMS 40, Edgewood 30
Anza Hamilton at #7 Victor Valley
#10 Chadwick 48, Samueli Academy 30
#15 Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 55, Westminster 46
#2 Riverside North 50, Desert Chapel 25

DIVISION 9
First Round
#1 NOVA Academy 71, Southwestern Academy 12
#16 Vista del Lago 25, Eisenhower 19
#9 Victor Valley Christian 28, Saddleback 26
#8 Santa Clarita Christian 38, Webb 32
#5 Channel Islands 65, Riverside Bethel Christian 12
#12 Jurupa Hills 60, La Puente 21
Desert Hot Springs at #13 Glendale Adventist
34 Temple City 52, San Luis Obispo Classical 16
La Sierra 37, #3 Cate 35
Faith Baptist 30, #14 Arroyo 20
#11 Newport Christian 39, Miller 32
#6 Redlands Adventist 42, Ganesha 19
#7 San Gabriel 55, Lakeview Academy 6
#10 Sierra Vista 68, Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian 7
Santa Maria Valley Christian 39, #15 Rancho Alamitos 37
Western 35, #2 Avalon 21

We’ve seen animated animals belt out tunes in the “Sing” movies. We’ve learned about “The Secret Life of Pets” (twice). And we’ve visited them in “Zootopia” (also on two occasions). Now we get to see them play basketball. “Goat,” produced by Golden State Warriors prodigy Stephen Curry, is yet another underdog story about following your dreams wrapped in a by-the-numbers sports movie. It feels utterly unoriginal on multiple fronts.

Taking the popular acronym GOAT (Greatest of All Time) to its most literal form, the first feature by TV animation veteran Tyree Dillihay — from a screenplay by Aaron Buchsbaum and Teddy Riley — follows an anthropomorphic young goat who aspires to become the GOAT.

A lifelong fan of roarball (this film’s version of basketball), Will, who is voiced by Caleb McLaughlin, dreams of playing for his hometown team, Vineland. His admiration for the sport is embodied by Jett Fillmore (Gabrielle Union), Vineland’s most accomplished player, who carries the entire team on her back — she wants all the glory of victory for herself.

The world of “Goat” is divided between “smalls” and “bigs” (unlike “Zootopia” where the separation is between predators and prey). Will considers himself a “medium” but in the eyes of professional roarball players, he’s tiny. Still, after going viral for bravely challenging Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), one of the sport’s major stars who is double his size, Will lands a chance to play in the big leagues.

To the credit of the writers, roarball is a rather inclusive sport. There are no gendered teams, nor any discrimination based on species. Will might be the first “small” to make it big, but that stems from the public’s prejudice, not from rules that ban animals like him from playing.

Desperate for instant relevancy (like plenty of animated features these days), “Goat” is steeped in vapid internet references, from crypto to online memes. Sports fans, however, will find specific allusions, like contentious press conferences and even the kiss cam. Rowdy and kinetic from start to finish, “Goat” does in fact reflect the fast-paced dynamism of basketball, but it soon reveals itself a sugar rush without much substance.

Once Will joins the team, a “never meet your heroes” lesson ensues, since Jett feels like he’s usurping her position. Animosity on her part creates tension until Will opens up about his personal reason for playing. The emotions are not complex here, but they are heartfelt, thanks to how McLaughlin and Union conjure up larger-than-life personalities via their voice performances.

Meanwhile, Will’s other teammates — a rhinoceros, a giraffe (played by Curry himself), an ostrich and a Komodo dragon — don’t feel distinct enough from the ensemble casts of other animated projects like “Sing.” Each member of the assortment has their quirks, some of which occasionally yield a chuckle: Archie (David Harbour), the rhino, has two comically violent kid daughters.

There’s no denying “Goat” has a vibrant aesthetic, but that alone can’t overwrite its defects. Back in 2018, Sony Pictures Animation dazzled the industry when “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” introduced an approach that mixed 3D CGI with traditional hand-drawn animation. This combination of techniques doesn’t make “Goat” particularly unique anymore.

What’s most impressive, visually, about “Goat” is the way the natural world blends with the urban settings. Vineland, Will’s neighborhood, is indeed covered in vines and yet the vegetation appears organically integrated into the infrastructure. Each game takes place in a different ecosystem. The finale, for example, unfolds amid cracked volcanic rocks and lava. There’s visible handcraft and care in creating these backdrops for the action.

A mixed bag of eye-catching imagery and formulaic writing, “Goat” disappoints because it follows every expected path toward a triumphant conclusion. Its premise could have offered up a kid-friendly reading on failure that doesn’t simplify a way out of adversity. If talking animals will continue to be used as surrogates for human experiences — especially for young viewers — some nuance would be appreciated.

Tyran who?

Remember when people were wondering what might happen to the Sherman Oaks Notre Dame basketball team after All-American Tyran Stokes left for a new high school in Washington?

What’s happened is that the Knights (20-6) went into the weight room, got stronger to make up for losing Stokes’ rebounding prowess and are very much alive in the Southern Section Open Division playoffs after defeating La Mirada 76-60 on Wednesday night in their opening game of Pool D. Next up is St. John Bosco at home Tuesday night.

Players such as Zach White, Josiah Nance, Ilan Niklov and Zion Lanier are showing off their muscles. Even guard NaVorro Bowman, who scored 25 points, is using his strength to draw fouls and head to the free-throw line.

Andrew Castro scored 17 points for La Mirada, which had won 14 consecutive games.

Santa Margarita 81, Damien 71: The Eagles won their pool play opener at home. Kaiden Bailey finished with 21 points.

Sierra Canyon 71, Crespi 64: Jordan Mize scored 16 points, Brandon McCoy and Brannon Martinsen 15 and Maxi Adams 14 to power top-seeded Sierra Canyon to an Open Division win.

Redondo Union 74, Etiwanda 31: SJ Madison led the way with 20 points for Redondo Union.

Windward 77, Bishop Montgomery 61: Davey Harris finished with 26 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Windward.

JSerra 72, Pasadena 66: The Lions won in overtime. Jaden Bailes had 21 points.

Orange Lutheran 79, Arcadia 74: Josh King scored 22 points for Orange Lutheran.

Inglewood 102, Tesoro 70: Jason Crowe Jr. finished with 34 points for Inglewood.

St. Bernard 63, La Habra 51: Chris Rupert led St. Bernard with 14 points.

Saugus 65, Culver City 64: Braydon Harmon came through with 44 points and 14 rebounds for Saugus. The Centurions came back from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Brentwood 61, Long Beach Poly 55: AJ Okoh delivered a 31-point performance for the Eagles, who will face Fairmont Prep on the road Friday. Fairmont Prep eiminated Crossroads.

Loyola 72, Los Alamitos 64: Deuce Newt had 24 points for the Cubs.

Eastside 65, Redlands East Valley 61: Christian Duran led Eastside with 18 points.

Rolling Hills Prep 50, St. Monica 47: Kawika Suter had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Rolling Hills Prep.

Oakwood 72, San Bernardino 69: Dylan Williams had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Bryce Fletcher added 18 points for Oakwood.

Rancho Christian 78, St. Francis 59: With 7-4 center Cherif Millogo not playing, St. Francis was beaten in its playoff opener. Luke Paulus had 17 points.

Long Beach Millikan 79, Thousand Oaks 34: Freshman guard Quali Giran had 21 points.

Murrieta Mesa 71, Viewpoint 58: Murrieta Mesa advances in the Division 3 playoffs.

MIra Costa 57, Oaks Christian 56: Paxx Bell scored 15 points for Mira Costa.

Fairfax 66, Birmingham 58: Chris Stokes scored 22 points to help the Lions upset No. 3-seeded Birmingham in the City Section Open Division playoffs. Fairfax will face Cleveland, a 57-52 winner over Narbonne, in the semifinals on Feb. 21. Charlie Adams scored 23 points for Cleveland.

Palisades 72, El Camino Real 45: Top-seeded Palisades received 23 points from EJ Popoola and will face San Pedro in an Open Division semifinals on Feb. 21 at L.A. Southwest College.

San Pedro 51, Washington Prep 47: The Pirates won on the road to reach the Open Division semifinals. AJ Bobich made four free throws in the final 30 seconds and finished with 10 points. Chris Morgan led the way with 15 points and Ricky Alonso had 12.

Sun Valley Poly 44, Westchester 36: The Parrots eliminated defending City Open Division champion Westchester in a Division I opener. Kevin Lara scored 15 points for Poly.

Carson 68, LACES 53: Mekhi Williams had 28 points and Blake McCall 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Colts in a City Division II game.

Crenshaw 69, Grant 58: Lauran Coleman had 20 points for the Cougars in a Division I opener.

Eagle Rock 53, University 51: Skylar Melton scored 27 points for University in the Division II loss.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS
CITY SECTION
OPEN DIVISION
Quarterfinals
#1 Palisades 72, #8 El Camino Real 45
#5 San Pedro 51, #4 Washington Prep 47
#6 Fairfax 66, #3 Birmingham 58
#2 Cleveland 57, #7 Narbonne 52

DIVISION I
First Round
#1 Granada Hills 83, #16 Bernstein 53
#9 LA Marshall 60, #8 Triumph Charter 55
#5 LA Jordan 53, #12 LA Hamilton 38
#4 Crenshaw 69, #13 Grant 58
#3 Venice 73, #14 North Hollywood 64
#6 Sun Valley Poly 44, #11 Westchester 36
#10 Rancho Dominguez 61, #7 Taft 58
#2 Chatsworth 81, #15 LA Wilson 53

DIVISION II
First Round
#1 Bravo 76, #16 Granada Hills Kennedy 51
#8 MSCP 74, #9 LA Roosevelt 50
#12 Downtown Magnets 59, #5 Dorsey 54
#4 King/Drew 64, #13 View Park 34
#3 Sylmar 72, #14 Lincoln 65
#6 Carson 68, #11 LACES 53
#10 Marquez 55, #7 Garfield 38
#2 Eagle Rock 53, #15 LA University 51

DIVISION III
First Round
#1 RFK Community 69, #16 Wilmington Banning 51
#9 Orthopaedic 43, #8 South Gate 33
#5 Huntington Park 52, #12 WISH Academy 37
#4 Hollywood 55, #13 Middle College 51
#3 SOCES 89, #14 South East 57
#6 Foshay 81, #11 Arleta 76
#10 Verdugo Hills 51, #7 Northridge Academy 32
#2 Los Angeles 56, #15 Roybal 34

DIVISION IV
First Round
#16 Jefferson 95, #17 Larchmont Charter 53
#20 USC-MAE 54, #13 University Prep Value 45
#14 West Adams 52, #19 USC Hybrid 37
#15 New West Charter 53, #18 Harbor Teacher 38

DIVISION V
First Round
#17 Central City Value 56, #16 Simon Tech 54
#9 Sotomayor 56, #24 CHAMPS 37
#21 Camino Nuevo 60, #12 Horace Mann UCLA 55
#13 Magnolia Science 37, #20 Manual Arts 36
#19 Santee 85, #14 Valor Academy 49
#11 Torres 58, #23 Animo De La Hoya 30
#10 East College Prep 55, #23 Collins Family 51
#18 Chavez 54, #15 Animo Pat Brown 31

SOUTHERN SECTION
OPEN DIVISION
Pool Play
#1 Sierra Canyon 71, #9 Crespi 54
#2 Santa Margarita 81, #10 Damien 71
#3 Redondo Union 74, #11 Etiwanda 31
#4 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 76, #12 La Mirada 60

DIVISION 1
First Round
#1 Crean Lutheran 87, Santa Barbara 61
Corona Santiago 60, #16 Heritage Christian 55
#9 Village Christian 65, Orange County Pacifica Christian 63
#8 Mira Costa 57, Oaks Christian 56
Windward 77, #5 Bishop Montgomery 61
#12 Millikan 79, Thousand Oaks 34
Cypress 61, #13 San Gabriel Academy 58
Rancho Christian 78, #4 St. Francis 59
#3 Inglewood 102, Tesoro 71
St. Bernard 63, #14 La Habra 51
Fairmont Prep 52, #11 Crossroads 43
#6 Brentwood 61, Long Beach Poly 55
#7 Rolling Hills Prep 50, St. Monica 47
Orange Lutheran 79, #10 Arcadia 74
Loyola 72, #15 Los Alamitos 64
#2 JSerra 72, Pasadena 66

DIVISION 2
First Round
#1 Bishop Amat 68, La Serna 42
#16 Chino Hills 59, Mayfair 57
Oxnard 45, #9 North Torrance 43
#8 Anaheim Canyon 63, Silverado 55
#5 Eastvale Roosevelt 82, Santa Monica 61
#12 Servite 70, Maranatha 66
Edison 79, #13 Esperanza 76
Valencia 65, #4 Beverly Hills 63
#3 Mater Dei 83, Burbank Providence 63
#14 Westlake 65, Burbank 39
#11 El Dorado 74, Fountain Valley 62
Leuzinger 79, #6 St. Anthony 68
#7 Rancho Verde 68, Great Oak 64
#10 San Marcos 69, Calabasas 51
#15 Elsinore 80, Sonora 78
#2 Hesperia 52, San Clemente 41

DIVISION 3
San Marino 59, #1 Milken 57
#16 Ontario Christian 70, Villa Park 61
#9 Temecula Valley 66, Oak Park 54
#8 Murrieta Mesa 71, Viewpoint 58
Long Beach Wilson 59. #5 Riverside King 52
Warren 66, #12 Camarillo 44
Los Altos 59, #13 Palos Verdes 56
Golden Valley 66, #4 Oak Hills 49
#3 Alta Loma 51, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 34
Ayala 59, #14 Crescenta Valley 55
#11 Glendora 70, Portola 68
Aliso Niguel 68, #6 Newport Harbor 60
#7 Aquinas 54, Knight 50
#10 Gahr 60, La Salle 55
#15 Woodbridge 65, La Canada 50
Eastside 65, #2 Redlands East Valley 61

DIVISION 4
#1 Bonita 71, Malibu 34
#16 Blair 74, Palm Desert 66
#9 Trabuco Hills 70, Chino 54
#8 Saugus 65, Culver City 64
#5 Moorpark 101, Godinez 75
#12 Norte Vista 77, Downey 76
Cathedral 64, Flintridge Prep 36
#4 Summit 70, Holy Martyrs 65
#3 Shalhevet 57, Capistrano Valley Christian 51
#14 Palm Springs 67, Pioneer 46
Long Beach Jordan 69, #11 Los Amigos 65
#6 Torrance 61, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 55
#7 Colony 59, Beckman 51
#10 South Torrance 61, Citrus Hill 60
#15 Corona 95, Santa Paula 91
Hart 73, #2 Walnut 63

DIVISION 5
#1 Gardena Serra 82, Diamond Ranch 75
#16 Northwood 56, Valley Torah 51
#9 California 73, Temescal Canyon 49
Rancho Mirage 54, #8 Bishop Diego 53
Beaumont 63, #5 Mark Keppel 62
Oakwood 72, #12 San Bernardino 69
Adelanto 66, #13 Cerritos 55
Vasquez 67, #4 Sierra Vista 61
Pilibos 42, #3 Tustin 31
#14 Quartz Hill 70, Charter Oak 65
Temple City 39, #11 Hacienda Heights Wilson 28
#6 Brea Olinda 70, Indian Springs 54
#7 San Juan Hills 63, Arrowhead Christian 56
#10 Verbum Dei Jesuit 61, Diamond Bar 42
#15 San Juan Hills 84, Apple Valley 65
Irvine 84, #2 Calvary Baptist 68

DIVISION 6
#1 Hemet 75, Palmdale Aerospace 64
Placentia Valencia 62, #16 Vistamar 51
#9 St. Bonaventure 58, Western 42
Highland 43, #8 Paloma Valley 42
#5 Pasadena Poly 63, Grace 32
#12 Ramona 91, Fillmore 58
#13 Fontana 77, Ontario 54
#4 Montclair 68, Oxford Academy 58
Laguna Hills 85, #3 Temecula Prep 80
#14 Carter 72, Foothill Tech 56
#11 Orange Vista 60, Cajon 39
Valley View 57, #6 Chadwick 48
Eisenhower 80, #7 Santa Clara 73
#10 Buckley 59, Santa Fe 49
#15 Moreno Valley 62, La Palma Kennedy 55
#2 Troy 69, Ocean View 59

DIVISION 7
#1 Tahquitz 72, Azusa 65
#16 Vista del Lago 51, Summit Leadership 35
Anaheim 75, #9 Gabrielino 60
#8 Canyon Country Canyon 98, Bell Gardens 68
#5 Salesian 88, Thousand Oaks Hillcrest Christian 24
Westminster La Quinta 71, #12 CSDR 42
#13 YULA 64, Channel Islands 41
Webb 44, #4 Thacher 38
Riverside Notre Dame 61, #3 Garden Grove 60
Faith Baptist 57, #14 San Fernando Valley Academy 51
#11 Norwalk 52, La Puente 31
#6 Rowland 56, Arroyo 46
Rosemead 75, #7 Desert Chapel 47
Santa Rosa Academy 69, #10 CAMS 53
#15 Segerstrom 52, Estancia 42
#2 Rialto 58, Schurr 49

DIVISION 8
#1 Excelsior Charter 69, Newport Christian 54
Redlands Adventist at #16 Hawthorne MSA
#9 Bolsa Grande 52, Banning 43
Twentynine Palms 76, #8 Riverside Prep 63
#5 Victor Valley 82, Rubidoux 72
#12 Trinity Classical Academy 68, Sequoyah 54
Loara 73, #13 Palm Valley 21
#4 Barstow 68, Santa Ana 49
#3 Desert Christian Academy 63, Desert Hot Springs 57
#14 South El Monte 70, Tarbut V’ Torah 36
#11 Silver Valley 63, Rancho Alamitos 46
#6 Coastal Christian 82, Packinghouse Christian 54
#7 Big Bear 79, Western Christian 58
#10 Edgewood 52, Duarte 45
Dunn 77, #15 Animo Leadership 23
#2 San Gabriel 62, Rim of the World 44

DIVISION 9
First Round
#1 Bassett 53, Coast Union 9
Sherman Indian 48, #16 Maricopa 38
#9 Newbury Park Adventist 54, Public Safety Academy 49
#8 Colton 64, Hesperia Christian 35
#5 Santa Maria Valley Christian 88, Glendale Adventist 47
#12 Long Beach First Baptist 66, Mesa Grande Academy 42
#13 Loma Linda Academy 64, Crossroads Christian 22
#4 San Jacinto Valley 79, Coachella Valley 75
Grove School 64, #3 Joshua Springs 46
Samueli Academy 58, #14 Lakeview Leadership 39
#11 Santa Ana Valley 54, Magnolia Science 47
#6 Santa Barbara Providence 54, NOVA Academy 31
#7 Cal Lutheran 88, New Covenant 31
Pacific 68, #10 Acaciawood 66
#15 Mesrobian 60, Ambassador Christian 55
#2 ACE 78, Compton Early College 66

Megan Grant laughs after hearing that at one point during her basketball career, she was shooting .500 from field-goal range, better than her career .348 batting average.

The two-time NFCA All-American utility player has made softball look easy during her time with UCLA. She holds a career .727 slugging percentage, .978 fielding percentage and hit 26 home runs during the 2025 season, a Big Ten single-season record.

Is basketball just that much easier for her?

“I wouldn’t say easy but I would always say fun,” Grant said. “It’s something where I can just easily lose myself in the competitive nature and just the process of things.”

Grant has been a member of the Bruins’ women’s basketball team this season, an opportunity brought to her by her softball coach. When coach Kelly Inouye-Perez asked her if she would be interested in joining the team for the Bruins’ current season, she felt like she couldn’t turn down the opportunity.

Training with the basketball team would allow her to add new skills to her game. While developing, she would be doing it at a high level of college basketball competitiveness — it was a win-win situation.

“Just being able to say I played basketball at such a high level collegiately, it’s always an honor to say,” Grant said.

UCLA forward Megan Grant (43) is surrounded by teammates while celebrating after a win over North Carolina on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas.

(Steve Marcus / Associated Press)

Throughout the season, Grant has played 33 minutes off the bench and made three of nine field goal attempts. The No. 2 UCLA women’s basketball team is 22-1 and undefeated in Big Ten play.

Softball season began Friday, so her time on the court has come to an end. As she transitions to the diamond, Grant is entering her senior season with ambition, gratitude and a new sense of leadership.

“I feel like all programs all throughout our campus, we just have this competitive greatness about all of us that we know we will do whatever it takes to win,” she said. “It’s really refreshing to even see that from [women’s basketball] coach Cori [Close’s] side and just to get to learn her little nuggets.”

No. 7 UCLA softball is 5-0 after the opening weekend, including a record-setting 17-0 rout of UC Riverside.

The Bruins were the runner up in last year’s Big Ten tournament after falling 2-0 to Michigan in the championship game. In the Women’s College World Series, after Grant hit a two-run home run to tie a game against Tennessee, UCLA lost in extra innings.

The Bruins begin the season with a versatile and close-knit roster, Grant said. The team spent the fall getting to know each other, on and off the field.

“I feel like almost every single player is playing both infield and outfield and that kind of depth that we have is something that we haven’t had in a while,” she said.

Grant says even during her stint with the women’s basketball, her goal remained the same — winning softball Big Ten and national championships. Ultimately, she just wants to have the best time with her teammates along the way.

“If that moment were to come, I know in my heart, I have the confidence to just be able to say, ‘Yup, I worked on this and I’m ready,’” Grant said.

Rose Bowl scores a court win

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge denied a request from UCLA last week seeking to move its dispute with the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and the city of Pasadena to arbitration as it stated was required by their lease contract.

Officials who operate the Rose Bowl filed a lawsuit against UCLA after it learned the Bruins were heavily considering ending their lease early and instead playing home football games at SoFi Stadium. The Rose Bowl is seeking to enforce terms of a lease that runs through 2044, arguing taxpayers are backing costly renovations at UCLA’s request and the Bruins’ departure would cause irreparable harm.

Arbitration proceedings would limit the Rose Bowl’s right to obtain records related to the stadium lease and would be closed to the public. City of Pasadena and Rose Bowl attorneys argued public funds were at stake and the dispute should play out in court proceedings open to the public.

Judge Joseph Lipner ruled the contract’s arbitration clause contains “unusual and exceeding narrow language,” with evidence to suggest both sides did not want to use arbitration to settle disputes over termination of the agreement.

The next case hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27.

The streak continues

Lauren Betts pulls a rebound away from two Michigan players Sunday.

(Lon Horwedel / Associated Press)

No. 2 UCLA faced its toughest test of Big Ten play so far this season, earning a 69-66 win at No. 8 Michigan and extending its win streak to 17 games.

“What I’m proud of is, … our team in the midst of situations we haven’t been in very much this season, we found ways to win,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “To go into a hostile environment, and really in the second half, do it with our defense.”

The Bruins close out a tough trip at No. 12 Michigan State on Wednesday at 5 p.m. PST. The game will be streamed on Peacock.

A Prince tribute

Jordan Chiles earlier this season.

(Jesus Ramirez / UCLA Athletics)

UCLA gymnast Jordan Chiles dusted off last season’s floor routine set to Prince’s music in honor of the team’s meet at Minnesota on Saturday. Chiles nailed the routine, scoring a perfect 10 for the fourth consecutive week. After the meet, Chiles addressed the crowd, saying that the Prince routine was a tribute to the Minnesota fans who have endured immigration raids.

“I know it has been a lot of tough weeks going on here and I just want to say we stand with you,” Chiles told the crowd. “The Prince routine was meant for you guys and I wanted to bring that energy here and so I hope it uplifted you guys in this very dark time and that the Bruins will always be by your side.”

UCLA won the meet 197.550-197.275, with Chiles winning her fourth consecutive individual all-around title.

Watch her routine here and her address to fans here.

Survey results

We asked, “Aside from football and basketball, what is your favorite UCLA sport? Vote for up to three.”

The results, after 684 votes.

Softball, 52.8%
Baseball, 52.3%
Gymnastics, 32.9%
Men’s volleyball, 27.2%
Women’s soccer, 16.7%
Men’s water polo, 14%
Track and field, 11.8%
Women’s volleyball, 8.9%
Beach volleyball, 8.7%
Men’s soccer, 5.8%
Women’s water polo, 5.3%
Women’s golf, 1.1%
Men’s golf, 1.1%
Rowing, 0.6%
Men’s tennis, 0.4%
Cross-country, 0.1%
Swimming and diving, 0.1%
Women’s tennis, 0.1%

In case you missed it

Lauren Betts has 16 points, 16 rebounds as No. 2 UCLA beats No. 8 Michigan

UCLA men’s basketball holds off Washington, closes homestand with back-to-back wins

UCLA gymnastics team loves putting on a show during floor exercise

Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez help No. 2 UCLA rout Rutgers

Everything goes right for Xavier Booker and UCLA men in win over Rutgers

Angela Dugalic and No. 2 UCLA dominate No. 8 Iowa for 15th consecutive win

UCLA falls to Indiana in a double-overtime heartbreaker: ‘We deserved to lose’

Jordan Chiles achieves another perfect 10 to lead UCLA past Washington

The Bruins are actually lions who picked up another big win

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

In the eyes of Lakers coach JJ Redick, every team his group faces is a test. Still, many wondered if the Lakers’ litmus test would come from facing the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night.

Even with All-Star and league most valuable player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out with a strained abdominal, the Thunder are still a problem for most of the league. And the Lakers had to play OKC with their own MVP candidate, Luka Doncic, sitting out for the second straight game with a left hamstring strain.

In the end, the Thunder had seven players score in double figures and pulled out a 119-110 win over the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers (32-19) had six players score in double figures, but it wasn’t enough.

LeBron James had 22 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, Marcus Smart had 19 points, Austin Reaves 16 off the bench, Jake LaRavia 14 and Rui Hachimura and Jaxon Hayes both had 12 points.

Reaves gave the Lakers a 99-98 lead on a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter.

But the Thunder just kept coming back, taking a 109-101 lead by outscoring the Lakers 11-2.

The Lakers, too, kept fighting back, getting to within 113-110 on a Hachimura basket.

But Jalen Williams, who had 23 points in his return to the lineup, kept scoring for the Thunder, making a field goal, two free throws with 35.9 seconds left and two more with 20.9 seconds left that sealed the game.

Thunder guard Kenrich Williams is double teamed by Luke Kennard and Jarred Vanderbilt in the first half.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Reaves provided the fans with a big-time highlight, driving down the lane and throwing down a two-handed dunk on Jaylin Williams and Aaron Wiggins to end the first quarter.

The Lakers had 20 turnovers the last time they played at Oklahoma City in a game L.A. got down by as much as 37 points before losing by 29.

So, one point of emphasis for the Lakers was taking care of the basketball and then playing a high level of basketball despite the opponent.

“For our group, it felt like it’s good to see where we’re at every single night,” Redick said.

His team spent the entire first half climbing out of a hole.

The Lakers were down by just one at the end of the first quarter, but quickly got down 52-38 early in the second quarter.

But behind a James dunk over Chet Holmgren, the Lakers got to within two points in the second, drawing cheers from the fans.

But the Lakers couldn’t keep up that momentum, going down 67-58 at the half.

Then in the third quarter, the Lakers got rolling and opened an eight-point lead behind a strong defense and good offense.

But again, the Thunder didn’t stop playing hard, coming back to open a 93-91 lead at the end of the third quarter on an Alex Caruso three-pointer.