The day after Christmas is for more than seeking bargain Christmas sales or making returns on gifts. It’s also the first chance for high school basketball players who had to sit out the first half of the season after transferring to make their debuts.
At the Classic at Damien, Loyola got an immediate lift in a 67-51 win over Bakersfield Christian on Friday. Its two leading scorers were sit-out period players. Deuce Newt, a transfer from Campbell Hall, scored 24 points and Omari Cuffe, a transfer from St. Pius X-St. Matthias, had 17 points.
No team has waited more patiently than Corona Centennial’s girls’ basketball team. Knowing its top transfer students wouldn’t be eligible until Dec. 26, the Huskies didn’t play any games until Friday’s 90-31 win over Camarillo. Perhaps this is the trend of the future. Centennial is 1-0 and expected to be a Southern Section Open Division playoff team.
Can you say built for the playoffs?
Boys’ basketball
Crean Lutheran 62, Meridian (Id.) Owyhee 59: The Saints knocked off a team that beat Harvard-Westlake last week in Hawaii. Hunter Caplan scored 20 points.
Crespi 73, Layton (Utah) Christian 70 (OT): The Celts won in overtime. Isaiah Barnes had 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Redondo Union 110, Fresno Clovis North 56: SJ Madison had 30 points for the Sea Hawks.
St. John Bosco 56, Utah American Fork 39: Christian Collins led the Braves with 27 points.
Arcadia 64, Mayfair 59: Owen Eteuati-Edwards had 22 points for Arcadia, setting up a Saturday showdown with San Gabriel Academy.
San Gabriel Academy 66, Palisades 57: Freshman Zach Arnold contributed 14 points for San Gabriel Academy.
Moorpark 57, Fairfax 47: Sophomore Logan Stotts had 16 points for Moorpark.
Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee 65, St. Pius X-St. Matthias 64: Freshman Darrellreon Morris had 21 points in a buzzer-beater loss.
Milken 65, Bishop Alemany 55: Grayson Coleman scored 24 points for 7-7 Milken. Sophomore Ethan Frank, a transfer from Crespi, made his season debut for Milken, scoring nine points and getting seven rounds.
Etiwanda 53, San Joaquin Memorial 50: Armaun Pollock’s 14 points helpd the Eagles (15-0) stay unbeaten.
Mira Costa 55, La Costa Canyon 44: The Mustangs improved to 14-1 with a win in Carlsbad. Jayden Kainsinger scored 20 points.
La Habra 63, Washington Prep 48: Acen Jimenez finished with 27 points for La Habra.
St. Francis 68, Burroughs 23: Luke Paulus had 23 points for St. Francis.
Bishop Montgomery 73, Sylmar 41: Twins Terron and Tarron Williams combined for 30 points and 18 rebounds.
Harvard-Westlake 70, Germany Urspring 44: Joe Sterling made seven threes and finished with 31 points.
Brentwood 62, Taft 52: Ethan Hill finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Mater Dei 98, Otay Ranch 50: Zain Majeed, a transfer from IMG Academy, had 20 points in his debut for Mater Dei.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 55, Idaho Lake City 45: Josiah Nance, back from injury, had nine points for the Knights as they slowly get him back into shape. NaVorro Bowman led the way with 17 points.
Thousand Oaks 68, Davis Sr. 61: The Lancers stayed unbeaten behind Dylan McCord, who made seven threes and had 36 points.
Viewpoint 67, Washington Roosevelt 43: Solomon Clanton Jr. had 21 points.
Rolling Hills Prep 51, California 50: Carter Fulton had 27 points for 11-2 Rolling Hills Prep.
Calabasas 85, Eastside 58: Tristan Cordero had 28 points and Calvin Goetz 27 points for the Coyotes.
JSerra 68, Democracy Prep 64: Early Bryson scored 23 points and Jaden Bailes 22 points in San Diego.
St. Bernard 65, Washington Mount Si 64: Brandon Granger had 34 points for St. Bernard.
Girls’ basketball
Troy 57, King/Drew 46: Mei-Ling Perry led the way with 24 points for 10-3 Troy.
Sierra Canyon 82, Rancho Cucamonga 36: Sophomores Rosie Oladokum and Cherri Hatter each scored 18 points for the Trailblazers.
The series should offer a fresh take on a beloved classic character
16:36, 18 Dec 2025Updated 16:36, 18 Dec 2025
Fans have been given their first looks at a ‘crazy’ period drama meets fast-paced action prequel series based on a series of classic novels and an iconic literary character.
The new show comes from the acclaimed writer and director Guy Ritchie. He is known for creating Netflix hit The Gentlemen, which in turn was based on his film of the same name. He also helmed British comedy gangster films Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrells to name a few.
Ritchie is now returning to the world of Sherlock Holmes, which he previously visited in 2009 and 2011 with Robert Downey Jr as the renowned detective. His new series, set to premiere on Prime Video next year, will examine the character’s origins.
Young Sherlock will be streaming on the platform from March 4 and promises the same kind of wit and charm of found in Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes feature films. According to the synopsis provided by Prime, Young Sherlock follows the origin story of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s beloved detective in an explosive re-imagining of this iconic character’s early days.
Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man, raw and unfiltered, when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty. His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever. Unfolding in 1870s Oxford and adventuring abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.
Hero Fiennes Tiffin, who has previously appeared in Harry Potter, will star as the 19-year-old Holmes. Joining him in the cast are Joseph Fiennes as Silas Holmes, Sherlock’s father, Natascha McElhone as Sherlock’s mother and Colin Firth as Sir Bucephalus Hodge. Dónal Finn takes on the role of a young James Moriarty, Sherlock’s future arch-nemesis
The show’s first trailer was released and gives viewers a taste of what they could expect. It seems that the action will be full throttle from the beginning and even some younger versions of Sherlock’s classic villains on the way.
It didn’t take long for fans to react to the announcement and the trailer. Sharing their thoughts on social media, one person posted: “Guy Ritchie doing Sherlock? Sounds wild, cant wait for March.”
Another replied: “The origin story we didn’t know we needed.” While a third commented: “It’s crazy…. but it looks good! Nice surprise.”
Many are excited at the prospect of Guy Ritchie returning to the world of Sherlock Holmes and what he can contribute to the lore and period genre. One person said: “Guy Ritchie directing an origin story means we are 100% getting fast-paced dialogue, bare-knuckle boxing, and stylish editing.
“It sounds like he’s treating this less like a detective show and more like The Gentlemen in the 1870s. The ‘globe-trotting’ aspect suggests this is going to be way more action-heavy than just sitting in Baker Street.”
One person agreed: “Guy Ritchie’s style could reshape Sherlock’s origin story, but period accuracy often clashes with fast pacing.”
Young Sherlock is streaming on Prime Video from March 4.
The Jane Austen period drama starring Keeley Hawes will explore more of the Austen family story in the confirmed second season
The fate of an “exceptional” period drama, which fans have dubbed as “the best of the BBC“, has finally been revealed. Following its debut in February this year, Miss Austen has received a significant update.
It narrates her journey to safeguard her sister’s legacy while grappling with her past through a series of flashbacks.
Viewers were captivated by the drama, praising it as “engaging, heartfelt,” and “absolutely superb” in glowing reviews.
It’s now been confirmed that Miss Austen will be returning for a second season. The first season, based on Gill Hornby’s novel, spanned four episodes, and the upcoming one will be “largely based” on her latest work, The Elopement, reports the Express.
The sequel is set in 1820 and follows the life of Mary Dorothea Knatchbull, the daughter of Jane Austen’s niece, Fanny Knight. Andrea Gibb, who penned the first season, will also be writing the second, according to Deadline.
Masterpiece executive producer Susanne Simpson expressed her excitement about the return of the series, stating: “After the success of Miss Austen, I am thrilled to be working again with the incredible author Gill Hornby, and the impressive team of Andrea Gibb and Christine Langan, who created the first series that was such a moving experience and a joy to watch. I am pleased to be able to announce the return of the series just as we are about to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth,”.
Executive producer Christine Langan commented: “Fueled by another wonderful Gill Hornby novel, the journey of Miss Austen continues, going deeper into the intimate life of the Austen family. Love, loss and laughter mingle irresistibly in this fresh take on Jane Austen’s world brought to life by a dazzling array of characters both familiar and brand new.”
Miss Austen was set in 1830, and began with Cassandra visiting the Fowle family, as patriarch Reverend Fowle is dying. Vowing to help his daughter Isabella find a new home, she also looks for letters Jane, who died in 1817, had written as a younger woman to Fowle’s wife Elizabeth, in the hope to destroy them.
Meanwhile, Mary Austen, the widow of Cassandra and Jane’s brother James, also hunts for the letters, to write a biography about her late husband.
Discovering them, Cassandra is confronted by her past, with the letters covering her engagement to the late Tom Fowle, James’ marriage to Mary, other relatives they lost and chances at love, and Jane’s literary journey to become the novelist she’s known today.
Flashbacks from the early 1800s show Jane and Cassandra’s lives together, and the societal challenges of the era they grew up in.
The series stars Patsy Ferran as Jane and Jessica Hynes as Mary, as well as Rose Leslie, Max Irons and Phyllis Logan.
Fans fell in love with the four-part drama when it aired earlier this year, with one saying: “Fantastic series, we loved every minute. What a brilliant script and storytelling- so clever and so well done. We are Jane Austen fans and watched one episode each night this week. For us that’s a binge. The very best of the BBC at its best. Totally engaging, heartfelt, emotional and humorous. The actors were superbly cast and they all shone. I’ll give it a month then watch it again.”
Another said: “This 4 part series is absolutely superb, telling the story in a manner that I think Jane herself would have been proud of. The acting from all the cast is exceptional. I found Jane’s deathbed scene, being comforted by her beloved sister Cassandra, heartbreaking. This series will stay with me for a long time.”
Someone else wrote: “This show is absolutely superb. In excels in every possible way as a piece of entertainment. The ladies who play young Cassandra and Jane are perfection and the story is thoroughly intriguing. Loved it more than I can say.”
Another said: “A wonderful series -brilliantly portrayed by first class acting. I found this so moving and emotional- yet had many humorous scenes. Very rarely do we now find such a masterpiece on our screens. Well done BBC!”
Lacock village in Wiltshire is steeped in history and has been used as a filming location for Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice and Wolf Hall, making visitors feel like they’re living in a period drama
08:00, 16 Dec 2025Updated 08:13, 16 Dec 2025
Visitors in the Cloisters at the Abbey(Image: Shared Content Unit)
Its Wiltshire timber-framed buildings and magnificent cloisters have drawn numerous productions beyond Austen’s tale to its grounds. Lacock’s famous medieval Cloister, dating back to around 1450, also houses a verdant Cloister Garth. This striking architectural feature appeared in countless Downton Abbey scenes, and doubled as sections of the castle in the original Harry Potter films. It also featured in the BBC’s Wolf Hall adaptation. One TripAdvisor reviewer awarded the destination five stars, saying: “An absolute must if you are in the area! A beautiful village, which you can visit by parking just across the road in the National Trust car park.
“The village is a pleasure to walk around, totally untouched throughout history and is quintessentially English! From the rows of tiny cottages, the church, the tiny bakery, the village pub and a hotel, it has everything and all these are open and running. We stayed for a couple of hours and then had a wander around the Abbey which is also impressive.”, reports Gloucestershire Live. Another reviewer described the village as “frozen in time”, with Explore the Cotswolds concurring that the location “looks a lot like it would have done 200 years ago.”
Lacock’s magnificent abbey began life as an Augustinian nunnery, shuttered during Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Subsequently, John Ivory Talbot constructed the mock-Gothic hall – both are now in the care of the National Trust and available for afternoon exploration. A stone’s throw away stands St Cyriac’s Church. Initially believed to be a Saxon worship site, it later became Norman-controlled. The Church was erected near the close of the 11th century by Edward of Salisbury and William of Eu. The dedication to St Cyriac honours a beloved Norman saint.
The church houses numerous later memorials to the Baynards, Bonhams, Crokes, Sharingtons, Talbots and Awdreys. Yet for Harry Potter enthusiasts, the cloisters steal the show. For one devotee, exploring the cloisters topped her agenda upon arriving in Britain. She wrote: “Harry Potter fans NEED to do this! We’re from Canada. As soon as we landed in London, this was the very first thing we did. We did the Harry Potter Tour of London for Private Groups by Black Taxi. “Our guide was Richard and we can’t say enough good things about him! He was absolutely incredible! Ask him how he knows so much about this…such an interesting person, so knowledgeable and passionate about it all.”
TRAVELLING across the country for Christmas? Then there are some delays you need to look out for.
Each year hundreds of thousands of Brits will travel across the UK from A to B, to be somewhere for Christmas, battling busy roads, trains and airports.
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Travel across the Christmas period is expected to be busy, with the Civil Aviation Authority predicting that December 19 will be the busiest for air travelCredit: Getty
Here’s everything you should know about travel over the Christmas period.
Air
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), data shows that Friday December 19, will be the busiest travel day, with around 460,000 people expected to head off on a flight.
The CAA also revealed that travel on Christmas Day itself is becoming popular, with 160,000 passengers due to fly – 13 per cent more than last year.
The regulator recommended that travellers check their route to the airport and their flight status before leaving home, as winterweather can cause delays.
In addition, the CAA commented that it is important for passengers to understand their rights, including for when a flight is delayed or cancelled.
Alvaro Iturmendi, travel expert at Confused.com, said: “With record numbers of people expected to fly this Christmas, passengers should be prepared for a higher chance of disruption.”
“Busy airports combined with winter weather risks mean delays and cancellations are more likely.”
Heathrow, in particular, is expecting the busiest Christmas on record.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “We are fully prepared to deliver an exceptional Christmas experience, ensuring passengers enjoy the festive atmosphere across our terminals.
“Millions of passengers have enjoyed exceptional levels of service across the airport this year and those travelling through Heathrow this December can look forward to the best possible start to their journeys this holiday season.”
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
Road
The AA is predicting that this year will be the busiest Christmas on record for Britain’s roads.
According to the AA forecast, Friday December 19, is set to be the busiest with around 24.4 million cars hitting the roads.
Shaun Jones, AA expert patrol, said: “Our advice is simple: plan ahead, check your route and allow extra time.
“The AA Routeplanner will help you avoid the queues.
“Pack essentials, keep your tank or EV charge topped up, and don’t let congestion steal your Christmas sparkle.
“If you’re leaving your car parked over the festive period, start it for a few minutes every couple of days to ensure it’s ready for January.
“The M27 closure adds an extra twist to the seasonal story, so if you’re travelling in Hampshire, think about alternative routes. Our patrols will be out in force to keep Britain moving, but the best way to avoid a Christmas cracker of a breakdown is to prepare before you set off.”
The AA is predicting that this year will be the busiest Christmas on record on the roadsCredit: AFP
Colin Stevenson, road safety information lead at National Highways, said: “Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends, and the last thing anyone wants is a breakdown getting in the way of festive plans. Spending a few minutes checking tyres, lights, screenwash, fuel and keeping an eye on the weather, can make a real difference.
“With so many people travelling, our teams are working around the clock to keep the country moving.
“We’ve got 530 gritters on standby and over 250,000 tonnes of salt in reserve and ready to use. We also plan to remove as many roadworks as possible, but some work will still need to continue.
“Drivers should check their route before they travel.”
How many cars will be on the roads over Christmas?
HERE are how many cars will be on the roads each day over the Christmas period, according to the AA.
Friday, December 19:
24,408,000
Saturday, December 20:
23,730,000
Sunday, December 21:
22,374,000
Monday, December 22:
24,069,000
Tuesday, December 23:
24,069,000
Wednesday, December 24:
22,713,000
Thursday, December 25:
18,306,000
Regarding car hire, Stewart Cahill, assistant vice president, rental, UK and Ireland at Enterprise Mobility, said: “Driving home for Christmas is a key part of the festive season for many – and we’re definitely seeing demand rise across our rental branches.
“Our research shows that the average round trip this Christmas will be more than 500 miles – the equivalent of driving from London to Middlesbrough and back – with nearly half of all holiday journeys happening by road.
“Car hire is especially popular with younger travellers this year, with almost a third of Gen Z and Millennials planning to rent for their Christmas trip.
“If you’re looking to hire a car, we’d recommend booking early to avoid limited availability closer to the holidays, especially for larger vehicles or one-way rentals. Planning ahead can also help lock in the best price and beat the last-minute rush.”
Coach
A spokesperson for National Express told Sun Travel: “The Christmas period is one of our busiest and our customers know they can count on us to get them to where they need to be, with the highest passenger numbers expected on 20th, 23rd, 26th and 27th December.
“Routes from London, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, as well as major airports such as Stansted and Heathrow, are particularly busy as people travel to see family and friends.
“On Christmas Day itself we are operating the nation’s largest festive coach network, with 355 services from 96 locations.
“Given the planned rail disruption over the festive period we’re expecting our coaches to be busy and have increased capacity to meet demand.
“Customers are strongly advised to book early to guarantee a seat and allow extra time for their journeys, especially when travelling to airports.”
Rail
According to The Independent, December 20 and December 22 will be the busiest days for rail.
Network Rail has listed a number of services that will be disrupted online.
These include no trains running on Christmas Day across the UK and on Boxing Day, there will be a reduced service.
There will be a number of engineering works taking place over the festive period as well.
There will also be no trains to or from London Waterloo Station or Vauxhall on December 27 and 28, with services starting and terminating at Clapham Junction.
There will be no trains running on Christmas Day across the UKCredit: Getty
A limited service will also run to and from London Waterloo from December 29 to January 2.
Buses will replace trains between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby/Northampton from December 27 to January 4 and journeys on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and the Midlands/North West England/Scotland will be disrupted.
Buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Lockerbie from January 1 to 7, as well as between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh from December 27 to 31.
And no trains will run between Cambridge and Cambridge North, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport from December 27 to January 4.
Ferry
For those travelling via ferry from the Port of Dover, there are also some dates where lots of people are expected to be travelling.
Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said: “The weekend before Christmas is expected to be particularly busy, with peak traffic anticipated between 6am and 1pm from Friday, December 19, to Sunday, December 21.
“To help ensure a smooth departure, we kindly ask all customers travelling with our ferry partners not to arrive any earlier than two hours before their scheduled sailing, just as you would if departing from a UK airport, and greatly appreciate everyone’s patience should there be any additional waiting time due to the high volumes of traffic.”
Irish Ferries, in particular, is expecting lots of traffic from this weekend.
From December 19 onwards, sailings are expected to be busy on both Dover-Calais to the Continent and on Irish Sea routes from Holyhead and Pembroke, Irish Ferries told Sun Travel.
The operator added that there are still some sailings that are dealing with the aftermath of Storm Bram and advised passengers to have confirmed booking, as well as checking the status of their sailing via the Sailing Updates pages online.
In addition, Irish Ferries also suggest that travellers need to make preparations if they intend to travel with their pet, by booking a space in the Pets Den.
