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Maybe UCLA has discovered the answer to boosting home attendance at men’s basketball games.

Just have Jordan Chiles perform at every halftime.

When the Olympic gymnast put on her “Dancing with the Stars” routine in November during an otherwise humdrum matchup against Pepperdine at Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins drew 9,103 fans. It remains, by far, their largest crowd of the season.

Unfortunately, Chiles isn’t available for every game. That leaves her school in need of more realistic solutions for another season of lagging attendance for what’s supposed to be its marquee sport.

UCLA’s home average of 5,211 fans entering its game against Maryland on Saturday evening at Pauley Pavilion is ranked third to last among the 18 Big Ten teams, topping only Northwestern (4,886) and USC (4,280).

Among a litany of explanations, there are the usual (tickets are too expensive, students have been on winter break) and relatively new (the team is disappointing, the best nonconference games are being held as neutral-site fundraisers for name, image and likeness endeavors).

While it’s almost certain that attendance will rise as the Bruins (10-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) enter the heart of conference play — more than 10,000 fans are expected for a showdown against No. 5 Purdue later this month, and the crosstown rivalry game against USC isn’t until February — the team could use some additional solutions for a problem that has plagued it in recent years.

What can be done to get more people in the building?

“That’s a Martin Jarmond question,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said Friday, referring to the school’s athletic director. “You know, there’s only so many things I can worry about. I’ve been getting that [question] since my days at Murray State. Donors, fans, friends of mine come with ideas — marketing, tickets. They have whole divisions of the athletic department to worry about that.

“Imagine having to raise $10 million to pay your team and you have to do it because the athletic department fundraisers raise money for the athletic department. So I think I’ll leave the marketing up to the marketing department.”

UCLA coach Mick Cronin cheers on his team against Oregon at Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 6.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

As part of its new ticketing partnership with Elevate, UCLA continues to tweak its pricing strategy. The entities have begun implementing dynamic pricing that can be adjusted based on demand, though they remain constrained by a new process that will be improved into a more nimble operation in the future.

Some fans might simply be unwilling to pay the asking price to see a team that has fallen short of expectations.

Tickets on UCLA’s website for the Maryland game range from $24 for a corner seat in the upper deck to $310 for a seat at midcourt in the lower level. (Each seat also comes with an additional ticketing fee ranging from $7 to $35.50, depending on location.)

One could buy a midrange smartphone for what it costs to see the Bruins play Purdue in a prime seat. Those tickets range from $44.50 for a corner seat in the upper deck to $449.50 at midcourt in the lower level. A comparable lower-level midcourt seat to see the Lakers face Milwaukee on Friday at Crypto.com Arena could be found on StubHub for $505.

UCLA has mitigated the pricing issue with promotions such as “Fours Up Fridays,” which offered fans $4 tickets for three Friday nonconference games; $10 tickets for the Arizona State, Northwestern and Rutgers games; and mini-plans offering bundled tickets at a discounted rate. Students were offered free entry for nonconference games in addition to free food during games while school is in session and a student attendance challenge providing prizes based on attendance.

Part of the attendance problem in recent seasons has been a lack of exciting nonconference opponents. The Bruins’ most attractive nonconference games this season — against Arizona, Gonzaga and California — were held at neutral sites to raise NIL money for each team.

“Everybody in the country is doing what we’re doing, would you agree with that?” Cronin asked a reporter inquiring about bringing more enticing nonconference opponents to Pauley Pavilion.

Well, yes and no.

While neutral-site NIL games have indeed become a major trend, some schools have continued to play big-name nonconference opponents on their home court. Arizona played Auburn. Duke played Florida. Michigan played Villanova. Kansas played Connecticut.

UCLA’s most attractive nonconference home game was against Arizona State, which isn’t exactly a national brand. The game drew only 5,553.

“They’re a high-major team in the Big 12 and everybody said we’ve got to keep Pac 12 rivalries,” Cronin said of the Sun Devils. “But everybody else, everybody in the country has got to raise money and is playing neutral-site games — everybody. Unless you know some donors that want to give me $5 million to pay players, we’ve got no choice.”

Some additional promotions could entice fans in the weeks to come. UCLA is offering 7,500 fans a free John Wooden bobblehead for the Purdue game. There will be a white-out theme, including a free rally towel for all fans, against Indiana.

Ultimately, the easiest answer won’t cost a thing. As always, winning is the best promotion.

Etc.

Cronin said guard Skyy Clark, who has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in the second half against Iowa last week, was considered doubtful to play against Maryland. … Cronin said everything was on the table to improve the team’s lackluster defense, including lineup changes, schematic changes and the possibility “we don’t practice offense the rest of the year.” … UCLA will honor Dodgers manager and former Bruins outfielder Dave Roberts as the honorary captain Saturday. A limited edition “Westwood Brothers” T-shirt featuring Roberts and Cronin together in a playful twist on the movie “Step Brothers” can be purchased with a $25 donation to Men of Westwood. Fans must email their receipt to menofwestwoodtickets@gmail.com before picking up the shirts on the north concourse during the game. Asked if he had seen his likeness on the shirt, Cronin said, with a chuckle: “Somebody told me it was awful.”

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday unveiled a sweeping proposal to overhaul how California’s education system is governed, calling for structural changes that he said would shift oversight of the Department of Education and redefine the role of the state’s elected schools chief.

The proposal, which is part of Newsom’s state budget plan that will be released Friday, would unify the policymaking State Board of Education with the department, which is responsible for carrying out those policies. The governor said the change would better align education efforts from early childhood through college.

“California can no longer postpone reforms that have been recommended regularly for a century,” Newsom said in a statement. “These critical reforms will bring greater accountability, clarity, and coherence to how we serve our students and schools.”

Few details were provided about how the role of the state superintendent of public instruction would change, beyond a greater focus on fostering coordination and aligning education policy.

The changes would require approval from state lawmakers, who will be in the state Capitol on Thursday for Newsom’s last State of the State speech in his final year as governor.

The proposal would implement recommendations from a 2002 report by the state Legislature, titled “California’s Master Plan for Education,” which described the state’s K-12 governance as fragmented and “with overlapping roles that sometimes operate in conflict with one another, to the detriment of the educational services offered to students.” Newsom’s office said similar concerns have been raised repeatedly since 1920 and were echoed again in a December 2025 report by research center Policy Analysis for California Education.

“The sobering reality of California’s education system is that too few schools can now provide the conditions in which the State can fairly ask students to learn to the highest standards, let alone prepare themselves to meet their future learning needs,” the Legislature’s 2002 report stated. Those most harmed are often low-income students and students of color, the report added.

“California’s education governance system is complex and too often creates challenges for school leaders,” Edgar Zazueta, executive director of the Assn. of California School Administrators, said in a statement provided by Newsom’s office. “As responsibilities and demands on schools continue to increase, educators need governance systems that are designed to better support positive student outcomes.”

The current budget allocated $137.6 billion for education from transitional kindergarten through the 12th grade — the highest per-pupil funding level in state history — and Newsom’s office said his proposal is intended to ensure those investments translate into more consistent support and improved outcomes statewide.

“For decades the fragmented and inefficient structure overseeing our public education system has hindered our students’ ability to succeed and thrive,” Ted Lempert, president of advocacy group Children Now, said in a statement provided by the governor’s office. “Major reform is essential, and we’re thrilled that the Governor is tackling this issue to improve our kids’ education.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday previewed a major education system overhaul that would give the next governor more authority over state school policies and redefine — and almost certainly diminish — the role of the elected state superintendent of public instruction.

The governor’s office indicated Thursday that major portions of the proposal, to be included in the state budget plan Friday, are based on a December 2025 report from Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), a nonpartisan center that brings together researchers from Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis and USC.

The central aspect of the PACE plan calls for removing the state superintendent as the head of the California Department of Education. Instead, that department would be run by an appointee of the state Board of Education. Members of the state board are appointed by the governor to fixed four-year terms.

The PACE report envisions the “governor as the chief architect and steward responsible for aligning and advancing California’s education system.” According to the report, the “governor could develop long-term plans and use the budget as a strategic lever to advance them.”

A release from the governor’s office asserted that the state’s education system operates as “a fragmented set of entities with overlapping roles that sometimes operate in conflict with one another, to the detriment of educational services offered to students.”

This education initiative, if approved by the Legislature, could prove a defining element of Newsom’s education agenda for his last year in office. He would not get to exercise these new powers, which would fall to his successor.

State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond immediately raised concerns, while also praising Newsom’s record on education.

“Gov. Newsom has done an incredible job on education, one of the best governors we’ve had on education … and I think we have been more aligned than any state superintendent and governor in recent times,” said Thurmond, who is running to succeed Newsom as governor. “On this one issue, I don’t think we could be more misaligned.”

Here are the details and why Newsom wants to move forward with this plan.

Who controls what happens in California’s schools?

Authority over education is distributed among different officeholders.

The Legislature passes laws related to education. The governor chooses which to sign. The governor also proposes what to pay for in education through his budget plan. The Legislature can amend the plan and has the responsibility to approve it.

The elected state superintendent runs the state Department of Education and serves as the administrative lead for the state Board of Education. The superintendent does not have a vote on the board. In some areas, he answers to the authority of the state board; in others, he does not.

The governor appoints the state board, which approves the wording of state education policies. The board also approves curriculum and grants waivers to school districts seeking exemptions from state rules.

What is the problem Newsom says he is trying to fix?

The PACE report says the system is too complicated. It’s not clear who is in charge of what and who is accountable for results.

This has not stopped state officials from taking credit for positive developments or favored policies. Both Newsom and Thurmond take credit for creating the new grade of transitional kindergarten for 4-year-olds and for providing two meals at school each day for all students.

Both had a role in supporting and executing that policy, although neither would have happened without Newsom’s favor.

Some parts of the education system are not faring so well. Statewide student test scores and absenteeism rates — although improving — are worse than in 2018-19, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Fewer than half of California students meet state standards in English language arts and math.

As part of its work, the PACE research team conducted interviews with 16 former and current policymakers, researchers and education leaders. Collectively they rated the performance of the state’s education system somewhere between fair and poor when it comes to strategic thinking, accountability, capacity, knowledge governance, stakeholder involvement and systemwide perspective.

What would the state superintendent do under the Newsom plan?

A news release from the governor said his plan would “expand and strengthen the State Superintendent of Public Instruction’s ability to foster coordination and alignment of state education policies from early childhood through post-secondary education.”

Thurmond is not persuaded, based on his review of the PACE report, which would take the Department of Education away from the superintendent.

That report reimagines that state superintendent as a student “champion” who would analyze and report on the effectiveness of the state education system and also take on an advocacy role.

The PACE analysts noted that the Legislature would need to provide funding and staffing for the superintendent, in this new role, to be effective. Thurmond said that even under the current structure, underfunding of the state Education Department limits its effectiveness.

Thurmond said it would make more sense to give the elected state schools leader more authority over education spending and more resources, given that individual’s specific focus on education.

Why not just eliminate the elected state superintendent?

The state’s voters have rejected that option in the past. So have the powerful teachers unions, which have seen the office as a check on the governor’s power and an outpost in which they could campaign to install an ally.

How does this play out politically?

Newsom has taken credit for much in education, including career and mentoring programs, funding for teacher training and expanded community schools, which serve the broader needs of an entire family.

“Just this year, we’ve seen improved academic achievement in every subject area, in every grade level, in every student group,” Newsom said in his prepared State of the State remarks, “with greater gains in test scores for Black and Latino kids.”

He also took credit for state education spending per student at the highest level to date.

But he or his representatives have, at times, distanced himself from Department of Education guidelines that have expanded the rights of transgender students, including, for example, the right of transgender students to play on girls’ sports teams.

California Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has concerns about Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to change how the state’s schools are managed.

(Josh Edelson/For The Times)

Under the proposed system, a future governor would be more accountable for these and other policies.

Thurmond said that Newsom’s positive record proves that the governor already is the most powerful official in the state when it comes to education — and that more power does not need to be concentrated in that office.

What is the governance model in other states?

If California were to adopt a model in which the state board appoints the head of the Education Department, “it would align with the plurality of states that follow this governance approach,” the PACE report states.

In 20 states, including Massachusetts, New York, Florida and Mississippi, state boards of education directly appoint their chief state school officers. Twelve states, including California, select their chief state school officer through direct election.

Thurmond countered that even in some states with an appointed superintendent, the role has more authority than the elected superintendent in California.

Senegalese men ask all the questions they don’t dare bring up in public at a so-called ‘School of Husbands’ that’s trying to subvert deep-rooted gender bias. Endorsed by the government and backed by the UN, the programme has trained more than 300 men across 20 schools in Senegal. Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque visited one school in Pikine.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS
CITY SECTION
Chatsworth 57, Marquez 37
Fairfax 77, Carson 40
Foshay 76, Northridge Academy 72
Franklin 64, SOCES 41
Granada Hills Kennedy 70, Castaic 59
LA Jordan 53, Granada Hills 46
LA University 60, Wilmington Banning 43
Narbonne 65, Dorsey 48
North Hollywood 66, King/Drew 63
Rise Kohyang 51, Valor Academy 48
San Pedro 67, LA Hamilton 37
South Gate 48, Orthopaedic 47
Torres 65, Santee 58
Venice 63, Los Angeles 31

SOUTHERN SECTION
Aliso Niguel 65, Mission Viejo 56
Apple Valley 78, Serrano 64
Arcadia 87, Burbank Burroughs 51
Azusa 65, Nogales 47
Banning 75, Desert Hot Springs 57
Beckman 66, Trabuco Hills 53
Beverly Hills 79, Hawthorne 26
Big Bear 50, Silver Valley 48
Bishop Amat 77, Bosco Tech 37
Bishop Montgomery 73, Verbum Dei 52
Blair 91, Monrovia 62
Bonita 66, Claremont 50
Burbank 84, Hoover 69
California 105, Saddleback 77
Cathedral City 68, Desert Mirage 49
Charter Oak 50, West Covina 39
Citrus Hill 63, Lakeside 44
Crespi 85, Alemany 46
CSDR 66, Anza Hamilton 27
Desert Chapel 60, Public Safety Academy 36
Downey 60, Norwalk 36
Duarte 64, Garey 30
Eastvale Roosevelt 72, Riverside King 60
Edgewood 66, Ganesha 20
Foothill Tech 50, Highland 40
Fountain Valley 51, Newport Harbor 49
Glendora 65, Diamond Bar 60
Harvard-Westlake 84, Chaminade 51
HMSA 67, Ambassador 58
Holy Martyrs Armenian 59, Le Lycée 55
Inglewood 130, Compton Centennial 45
Keppel 57, Montebello 22
La Canada 45, Temple City 44
La Puente 57, Bassett 36
La Salle 58, Salesian 41
La Serna 76, El Rancho 37
Leuzinger 73, Lawndale 51
Loma Linda Academy 61, Mesa Grande Academy 31
Los Alamitos 57, Huntington Beach 47
Mayfair 63, Gahr 50
Millikan 89, Lakewood 31
Mountain View 64, Pasadena Marshall 58
Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 71, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 41
Norte Vista 102, Patriot 56
Orange Vista 50, Riverside Poly 48
Oxnard Pacifica 76, Buena 69
Paloma Valley 70, Heritage 48
Paramount 71, Firebaugh 69
Perris 80, Arlington 77
Ramona 92, La Sierra 36
Rancho Verde 81, Liberty 45
Rio Mesa 63, Ventura 57
Rosemead 49, El Monte 28
Rowland 41, Northview 28
Royal 60, Grace 47
Rubidoux 56, Jurupa Valley 42
Samueli Academy 58, Avalon 36
San Bernardino 60, Indian Springs 57
San Marino 67, South Pasadena 55
Santa Barbara 77, Oxnard 52
Santa Monica 68, Culver City 46
Schurr 57, San Gabriel 45
Segerstrom 43, Orange 21
Sierra Canyon 50, St. Francis 47
Sierra Vista 72, Baldwin Park 42
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 78, St. Paul 61
Temecula Valley 81, Capistrano Valley Christian 65
Tesoro 78, Capistrano Valley 39
Valley View 59, Riverside North 52
Walnut 66, Ayala 58
Warren 89, Lynwood 59
Workman 62, Pomona 26

INTERSECTIONAL
Granada Hills Kennedy 70, Castaic 59

GIRLS
CITY SECTION
Bernstein 41, Huntington Park 16
Chatsworth 70, Marquez 24
Northridge Academy 46, Bell 38
RFK Community 39, LA Marshall 28
San Fernando 46, Sun Valley Magnet 15
Van Nuys 41, Vaughn 17

SOUTHERN SECTION
Apple Valley 40, Serrano 35
Baldwin Park 40, Sierra Vista 39
Buena Park 75, Segerstrom 50
Burbank 65, Hoover 9
Burbank Burroughs 62, Arcadia 45
Carpinteria 51, Channel Islands 34
Claremont 53, Bonita 47
Costa Mesa 41, Garden Grove 38
Crescenta Valley 74, Muir 19
CSDR 65, Anza Hamilton 29
Desert Chapel 40, Public Safety Academy 4
Desert Hot Springs 42, Banning 35
Duarte 56, Garey 24
Edgewood 60, Ganesha 23
Excelsior Charter 50, AAE 46
Fairmont Prep 47, Corona Centennial 45
Flintridge Prep 70, Chadwick 12
Fullerton 44, La Palma Kennedy 41
Gabrielino 57, South El Monte 27
Geffen Academy 33, Lennox Academy 6
Glendale 58, Pasadena 31
Glendora 56, Diamond Bar 26
Godinez 67, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 29
Hacienda Heights Wilson 75, Covina 32
Heritage 60, Valley View 29
Hesperia 47, Ridegcrest Burroughs 36
Hillcrest 54, Perris 16
Holy Martyrs Armenian 56, Buckley 16
Inglewood 69, Compton Centennial 42
Jurupa Valley 57, Rubidoux 12
Keppel 79, Montebello 30
La Canada 66, Temple City 30
La Puente 30, Bassett 20
La Quinta 47, Palm Springs 26
La Serna 60, El Rancho 39
Leuzinger 65, Lawndale 50
Liberty 55, Riverside North 46
Loma Linda Academy 49, Arrowhead Christian 31
Long Beach Wilson 37, Long Beach Poly 27
Mayfair 76, Firebaugh 9
Miller 50, Highland Entrepreneur 0
Monrovia 43, Blair 27
Moreno Valley 81, Hemet 32
Nogales 49, Azusa 9
Norwalk 45, Dominguez 36
Oak Hills 81, Sultana 11
Pasadena Marshall 54, Mountain View 16
Patriot 59, Norte Vista 20
Rancho Christian 112, Canyon Springs 24
Rancho Verde 53, Paloma Valley 48
Ramona 61, La Sierra 21
Riverside Poly 60, Orange Vista 23
River Springs Magnolia Academy 38, Temecula River Springs 25
Rowland 45, Northview 38
San Bernardino 47, Indian Springs 33
Santa Fe 46, Whittier 35
Santa Monica 42, Culver City 37
Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 44, Burbank Providende 35
Santa Paula 64, Fillmore 19
Schurr 46, San Gabriel 21
Shalhevet 68, Oakwood 64
Silver Valley 60, Big Bear 13
South Pasadena 55, San Marino 32
St. Monica Academy 60, Palmdale Aerospace Academy 29
Twentynine Palms 51, Indio 24
Vista del Lago 23, Arlington 21
Walnut 58, Ayala 23
Warren 56, Bellflower 17
West Covina 41, Charter Oak 19
Yucca Valley 56, Coachella Valley 51

INTERSECTIONAL
Castaic 49, Lakeview Charter 18
Simi Valley 47, SOCES 36
Vistamar 48, WISH Academy 21

The decision by Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. to enter the transfer portal shocked and angered the Huskies because only days earlier the sophomore breakout star had signed a lucrative name, image and likeness deal to remain in Seattle.

Legal action by Washington would be no surprise two weeks after similar events prompted an exchange of lawsuits involving Damon Wilson II, an edge rusher who transferred from Georgia to Missouri in January 2025, days after signing an NIL contract.

With recruiting strategy reduced to shoveling stacks of NIL dollars at players who jump through the transfer portal seemingly at will, it’s no wonder loyalty and etiquette have given way to opportunity and greed.

And it should surprise no one that the implementation of rules might be done by judges, not NCAA officials or conference commissioners.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Washington is “prepared to pursue all legal avenues to enforce Williams’ signed contract,” and the quarterback’s situation has also “drawn the attention of the Big Ten.” Already, Washington has declined to enter Williams’ name into the portal, citing language in the NIL contract that states the school is not obligated to do so.

It appears Washington wants to play hardball, much the way Georgia is attempting to do with Wilson, whose countersuit against the Bulldogs claims he was one of several players pressured into signing his NIL contract on Dec. 21, 2024. Georgia is seeking $390,000 in damages, pointing to a liquidated damage fee clause in the NIL contract that may or may not hold up in court.

Washington officials suspect that another school contacted Williams after he had signed his Huskies deal, and submitted evidence of tampering to the Big Ten. Tony Petitti, the conference commissioner, happened to be in Seattle on Tuesday for a Celebration of Life service for Washington goalkeeper Mia Hamant, who died on Nov. 6 from an rare form of kidney cancer.

Many Huskies football players and coaches also were in attendance when Williams posted his official announcement about entering the transfer portal on Instagram.

“To post his decision to enter the portal during the service was, at best, the result of horrible advice from his PR team, and at worst, a stunning lack of self-awareness,” wrote Matt Calkins in the Seattle Times.

Williams’ NIL deal with Washington for 2026 was estimated at $4 million, a reasonable number for a quarterback who was among the top 15 nationally in passing efficiency, passing yards and yards per attempt. He attempted to enter the portal with a “do not contact” tag, an indication he has a destination in mind.

A chronology of top quarterback movement in recent days provides circumstantial evidence that Louisiana State and Williams have mutual interest. LSU, of course, has a new coach in Lane Kiffin, and a need at quarterback. Turns out Williams and Kiffin aren’t strangers.

Kiffin’s first target was Brendan Sorsby, who had left Cincinnati, but he committed to Texas Tech. Sam Leavitt of Arizona State is considered the best quarterback left in the portal, and he visited Baton Rouge this week before heading to Tennessee for another visit.

However, Kiffin easily could shift his attention to Williams, a dual-threat signal-caller who while in high school committed to Ole Miss when Kiffin was coach. He eventually signed with Arizona, and when coach Jedd Fisch took the job at Washington, Williams followed him.

Williams blossomed as a sophomore in 2025, passing for 3,065 yards and 25 touchdowns with eight interceptions while adding 611 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

In his lengthy Instagram post, Williams thanked everyone associated with Washington before revealing the news: “I have to do what is best for me and my future. After much thought and prayer, I will be entering the transfer portal.”

He’s not there yet.

There are some things that make a person happy they’re not a millennial mom. Ashley Tisdale’s mommy group drama is one of those things.

Because Tisdale — now Ashley Tisdale French — sounds like she might be stuck in her own “High School Musical,” and it looks as if Hilary Duff’s husband just threw a stink bomb under the bleachers.

Adding to the drama: Duff and Mandy Moore are rumored to be part of the group, though Tisdale French has annoyingly refused to name names.

“Since becoming a public figure as a teenager, it’s often the thing I least expect that people most want to talk about,” the former child star wrote in an essay for New York Magazine that echoes what she wrote a while back on her own blog. “Sometimes, I’ll say something offhandedly, only to see it turn into a headline or start a conversation on TikTok.”

Bottom line, per the essay, is that Tisdale French — who married composer Christopher French in 2014 — was pregnant during the pandemic. She missed out on baby showers and prenatal yoga classes and handing her newborn baby off to acquaintances. Then a friend brought together a group of new moms.

“[F]inally, we were able to be together, and our kids were able to be together, and it all felt right,” she wrote.

The founder of the Being Frenshe line of personal care products thought she had joined a group of cool kids who did cool things.

“I felt energized by being around women who understood the challenge of feeding a baby while taking a Zoom call.”

She literally called them cool.

“[I]t made me hopeful about finding the balance between fulfilling work and family life, since all these cool women were able to do it. Maybe we’d be able to share our secrets to success.”

Then social media burst her bubble.

“I remember being left out of a couple of group hangs, and I knew about them because Instagram made sure it fed me every single photo and Instagram Story.”

She wrote that she realized her mommy group was just like high school.

“Even though it had been decades since tenth grade, the experience of being left out felt so similar.”

But now she was a grown-up, so she took a stand.

“So that’s exactly what I texted to the group after being left out from yet another group hang: ‘This is too high school for me and I don’t want to take part in it anymore.’”

People didn’t react well, she said. One mommy sent flowers, then didn’t acknowledge her thank-you. Another was like, “You weren’t invited? I thought you were.”

Keep in mind, this is part of a series titled “It’s Been a Year,” which includes essays about a woman learning via DNA test results that she wasn’t the person she thought she was and one from actor Rebecca Gayheart about going through estranged husband Eric Dane’s ALS diagnosis and subsequent care.

Then again, it also includes a Kathy Griffin essay about post-divorce dating at age 65 that includes some serious name-dropping — “It wasn’t my idea; it was all Sia and our friend Nia Vardalos’s fault. We were at Sia’s house, just being silly girls, when they dared me to do it.” — and a detailed discussion of condoms.

But back to Tisdale French.

“Why me? The truth is, I don’t know and I probably never will. What I do know is that it took me back to an unpleasant but familiar feeling I thought I’d left behind years ago.”

She was more specific about what happened in her older blog post, by the way.

“I realized that there were group text chains that didn’t include everyone, which led to cliques forming within the larger group. And after the third or fourth time of seeing social media photos of everyone else at a hangout that I didn’t get invited to, it felt like I wasn’t really part of the group after all.”

She also shared a revelation with her blog readers.

“If a mom group consistently leaves you feeling hurt, drained, or left out, it’s not the mom group for you. (Even if it used to be!) It’s no longer serving you in a way that lifts you up, and you don’t have to stay out of obligation or anything else.”

We will never know how far into either essay Hilary Duff’s husband got. We do know that Matthew Koma didn’t hesitate to pull out the Burn Book.

Koma got riled up enough over it that on Instagram, he mimicked Tisdale French’s repost of New York Magazine’s promotional post about the essay, slapping a picture of his own face over hers and changing the headline from “Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group” to his own: “When You’re The Most Self Obsessed Tone Deaf Person On Earth, Other Moms Tend To Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers,” with “A Mom Group Tell All Through A Father’s Eyes” as a sub-headline.

Alas, he posted it as an Instagram story, now expired, so we can imagine it only with the help of outlets such as People, which for the longest while has been writing about Reddit AITAH posts and the subsequent comments telling the original poster whether they are indeed the jerk in a particular situation. (Not that any jerks are being discussed here.)

Tisdale French doesn’t name names in her essay, but Koma’s reaction seems to indicate that former child star Duff, 38, might have been one of the allegedly mean moms who was definitely not being named. And Duff and Koma hosted former child star Moore, 41, and her family after last year’s Eaton fire in Altadena, when Moore’s home burned down, so some might bet on Moore also being among the mothers of small children in former child star Tisdale French’s group.

Tisdale French, meanwhile, apparently anticipated this kind of speculation in reaction to the New York essay because she had experienced it after blogging about the same topic. And apparently it’s all wrong, wrong, wrong.

“It’s a subject that has made women DM me to say ‘I feel seen’ and to share their most emotional stories with me,” she wrote for the magazine.

“It has also made wannabe online sleuths try to do some investigating like they’re on ‘CSI’ (please, don’t even try — whatever you think is true isn’t even close).”

Cool? Uncool? Christopher French, Ashley’s husband, may have made his own decision on that already.

“Underrated life skill,” French wrote on Wednesday morning in an Instagram story, quoting author and mindfulness coach Cory Allen. “Pausing to decide if it’s worth your energy.”

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HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

CITY SECTION

Chatsworth 43, Los Angeles 28

Downtown Magnets 55, Wilmington Banning 47

East College Prep 45, Collins family 41

East Valley 52, San Fernando 48

East Valley 79, Sun Valley Magnet 28

Harbor Teacher 49, New Designs University Park 32

LA Roosevelt 65, Franklin 64

Lincoln 74, LA University 65

Locke 52, Animo Robinson 44

Panorama 54, Sun Valley Magnet 50

San Pedro 64, Granada Hills 51

Sherman Oaks CES 53, Verdugo Hills 48

View Park 69, Manual Arts 52

SOUTHERN SECTION

ACE 65, Lakeview Leadership Academy 49

Adelanto 58, Granite Hills 34

Aquinas 74, Woodrest Christian 52

Arlington 51, La Sierra 35

Arroyo Valley 50, San Jacinto 46

Beaumont 59, Redlands 48

Big Bear 81, Riverside Prep 35

Bolsa Grande 68, Santa Ana Valley 30

Brea Olinda 57, Troy 49

Buckley 66, de Toledo 34

Cajon 62, Yucaipa 58

Calabasas 63, Thousand Oaks 57

California City 74, Desert 36

California Lutheran 80, United Christian Academy 29

Camarillo 63, Royal 49

Carter 67, Bloomington 39

Century 44, Magnolia 25

Chaffey 63, Don Lugo 55

Chino 76, Ontario 65

Chino Hills 64, Upland 51

Corona Centennial 54, Fairmont Prep 51

Cerritos 77, Glenn 31

Crean Lutheran 80, Anaheim Canyon 54

Crossroads 69, Viewpoint 39

Cypress 64, La Habra 55

Damien 79, Rancho Cucamonga 46

Eisenhower 71, Riverside Notre Dame 69

El Dorado 59, Villa Park 57

El Modena 37, Garden Grove Pacifica 34

Estancia 58, Westminster La Quinta 47

Etiwanda 46, Los Osos 30

Godinez 50, Garden Grove 46

Grace 67, Pilgrim 35

Great Oak 69, Chaparral 53

HMSA 72, Animo Leadership 48

Irvine University 63, St. Margaret’s 48

Laguna Hills 90, Buena Park 69

Lancaster Baptist 49, Desert Christian 48

Los Amigos 64, Savanna 42

Mira Costa 67, Palos Verdes 50

Moorpark 57, Simi Valley 54

Newbury Park Adventist 64, Hillcrest Christian 60

Nordhoff 69, Hueneme 38

Northwood 62, Laguna Beach 59

North Torrance 46, South Torrance 44

NSLA 56, Cornerstone Christian 42

Oaks Christian 83, Newbury Park 36

Oakwood 61, YULA 48

Palmdale Aerospace Academy 67, Trinity Classical Academy 60

Pioneer 66, Artesia 52

Placentia Valencia 49, La Palma Kennedy 45

Portola 90, Sage Hill 51

Rancho Alamitos 54, Saddleback 47

Redlands East Valley 74, Citrus Valley 32

Redondo Union 72, Wiseburn-Da Vinci 35

Riverside North 58, Norco 42

Rosamond 77, Frazier Mountain 37

San Fernando Valley Academy 62, Highland Hall 37

San Jacinto Valley Academy 73, San Jacinto Leadership 47

Santa Clarita Christian 73, PACS 52

Santa Paula 70, Fillmore 47

Segerstrom 80, Santa Ana 60

Servite 62, St. Anthony 56

Sonora 70, Yorba Linda 64

South Hills 61, San Dimas 56

Summit 78, Jurupa Hills 44

Summit Leadership Academy 55, Victor Valley Christian 44

Tahquitz 73, Anza Hamiton 12

Temecula Prep 69, California Military Institute 29

Temecula Valley 83, Murrieta Mesa 78

Tustin 64, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 52

University Prep 70, Hesperia Christian 63

Victor Valley 73, Barstow 53

Village Christian 78, Heritage Christian 76

Western 49, Anaheim 42

West Ranch 61, Valencia 58

West Torrance 65, El Segundo 51

Whitney 69, Oxford Academy 50

INTERSECTIONAL

Brawley 54, Palo Verde Academy 52

Cleveland 88, St. Paul 74

GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Bernstein 51, LA Marshall 45

Birmingham 54, Granada Hills Kennedy 46

Bolsa Grande 50, Rancho Alamitos 43

Huntington Park 38, Marquez 35

LA Hamilton 61, Bell 11

Northridge Academy 48, MSCP 23

RFK Community 61, Chatsworth 53

SOUTHERN SECTION

Adelanto 67, Granite Hills 30

Alemany 82, Marymount 29

Aliso Niguel 50, Dana Hills 41

Anaheim 67, Westminster La Quinta 14

Anaheim Canyon 53, Crean Lutheran 49

Arroyo Valley 23, Eisenhower 18

Beaumont 56, Redlands 32

Bishop Amat 47, St. Mary’s Academy 23

Brentwood 83, Archer School for Girls 22

California Lutheran 45, United Christian Academy 20

Carter 60, Bloomington 19

California City 62, Desert 23

Calvary Baptist 69, Pomona 7

Camarillo 66, Royal 25

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 51, St. Pius X-St. Matthias 44

Canyon Country Canyon 71, Golden Valley 27

Capistrano Valley Christian 42, Coastal Academy 30

Cerritos 84, Glenn 11

Chaffey 44, Don Lugo 28

Chaparral 62, Great Oak 36

Chino 55, Ontario 28

Chino Hills 50, Upland 41

Citrus Valley 40, Redlands East Valley 26

Colony 64, Alta Loma 51

Cypress 74, La Habra 26

Desert Christian 67, Lancaster Baptist 31

Diamond Ranch 36, Montclair 32

El Modena 46, Garden Grove Pacifica 10

El Toro 55, Mission Viejo 15

Etiwanda 69, Los Osos 33

Hesperia Christian 47, University Prep 38

Immaculate Heart 29, AGBU 28

Jurupa Hills 58, Rim of the World 29

Lakewood St. Joseph 69, Bishop Montgomery 46

La Salle 43, St. Anthony 40

Long Beach Jordan 59, Mayfair 30

Los Alamitos 28, Corona del Mar 20

Los Amigos 32, Savanna 31

Lucerne Valley 45, PAL Academy 2

Marina 54, Fountain Valley 40

Marlborough 52, Harvard-Westlake 47

Moorpark 57, Simi Valley 32

Murrieta Mesa 55, Temecula Valley 31

Notre Dame Academy 47, Flintridge Sacred Heart 29

Oaks Christian 63, Newbury Park 47

Orange Lutheran 58, Godinez 31

Pasadena Poly 69, Mayfield 8

Pioneer 61, Artesia 45

Rancho Cucamonga 90, St. Lucy’s 24

Redondo Union 68, West Torrance 53

Riverside Prep 45, Big Bear 24

Rosamond 72, Frazier Mountain 9

Rosary Academy 56, Portola 52

Sacred Heart of Jesus 50, St. Genevieve 45

Sage Hill 92, Laguna Beach 28

San Dimas 55, South Hills 36

San Jacinto 66, Linfield Christian 21

Santa Ana Valley 43, Saddleback 27

Santa Clarita Christian 49, PACS 28

Saugus 50, Hart 11

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 67, Louisville 38

Silver Valley 62, CIMSA 30

St. Bernard 33, Mary Star of the Sea 31

St. Bonaventure 74, Santa Clara 4

Summit 47, Fontana 35

Tahquitz 63, Anza Hamilton 31

Temecula Prep 37, California Military Institute 12

Thousand Oaks 69, Calabasas 20

Trabuco Hills 38, Tesoro 35

Troy 75, Brea Olinda 43

Valencia 82, West Ranch 29

Village Christian 54, Heritage Christian 31

Villa Park 68, El Dorado 25

Westlake 51, Agoura 34

Whitney 57, Oxford Academy 28

Whittier Christian 58, Maranatha 56

Windward 79, Campbell Hall 52

Wiseburn-Da Vinci 58, El Segundo 32

Yucaipa 71, Cajon 20

INTERSECTIONAL

Venice 61, St. Monica 51

If you asked Los Alamitos basketball coach Nate Berger to be honest about early expectations for a team that returned zero starters, he would have said a 1-9 start wouldn’t have been surprising.

But the Griffins, loaded with backups from last season and members of a good junior varsity team, are 8-6 going into an early Sunset League showdown with 16-1 Corona del Mar on Monday.

Tyler Lopez has been leading the way. The senior committed to Jessup University in Northern California is averaging 17 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Isaiah Williamson, younger brother of former Eastvale Roosevelt standout Issac Williamson, has been making major contributions.

Berger has been pleased with his players’ growing experience and confidence after some early season struggles adjusting.

“I was pleasantly surprised how my team responded and some of these young players have jelled,” he said.

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

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats’ 2024 candidate for vice president, is ending his bid for a third term as governor amid President Trump’s relentless focus on a fraud investigation into child care programs in the state.

Less than four months after announcing his reelection campaign, Walz said Monday that negative attention and Republican attacks have contributed to an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state,” making it impossible for him to serve full time as governor while also being a candidate to keep his job.

“Every minute that I spend defending my own political interest would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who want to prey on our differences,” Walz said at the state capitol. “So I’ve decided to step out of this race, and I’ll let others worry about the election while I focus on the work that’s in front of me for the next year.”

Walz did not take questions from reporters after speaking for about seven minutes, much of which involved repeating his earlier written statement announcing his decision.

“Donald Trump and his allies — in Washington, in St. Paul, and online — want to make our state a colder, meaner place,” Walz said, referring to the Trump administration withholding funds for the programs and the president’s attacks on Somali immigrants in Minnesota. “They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors. And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family.”

Despite the opaque references, Walz did not explicitly acknowledge the effect of a viral video from a right-wing influencer who claimed he’d found rampant fraud at day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis. But the Trump administration has cited the video in its decision to cut off certain federal funding streams, and the video’s creator, Nick Shirley, was happy to take credit for the governor’s decision.

“I ENDED TIM WALZ,” Shirley posted Monday on social media.

Walz’s exit scrambles the contest in a Democratic-leaning state that Republicans have insisted they can win. Democrats currently hold 24 out of 50 governor’s seats nationwide, with 36 seats, including Minnesota’s, on the ballot in 2026.

The candidates to replace Walz

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is considering entering the Minnesota race, according to a person close to her. The person, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the senator, who ran for president in 2020, has not made a final decision.

Around a dozen Republicans are already running. They include MyPillow founder and Chief Executive Mike Lindell, an election denier who is close to Trump. They also include Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth; Dr. Scott Jensen, a former state senator who was the party’s 2022 candidate; state Rep. Kristin Robbins; defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor Chris Madel; former executive Kendall Qualls; and former Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann.

A military veteran, union supporter and former high school educator and coach, Walz helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.

Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election after his attack line against Trump and his running mate, then-Ohio Sen. JD Vance — “These guys are just weird” — spread widely.

Walz continued building his national profile since his and Harris’ defeat in November. He was a sharp critic of Trump as he toured early caucus and primary states. In May, he called on Democrats in South Carolina to stand up to the Republican president, saying, “Maybe it’s time for us to be a little meaner.”

There were partisan reactions to Walz’s announcement

Reactions to Walz’s decision reflected the intense partisanship certain to spill into the campaign to pick his successor.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin, who led Minnesota Democrats when Walz was first elected governor in 2018, said Walz “entered public life for the right reasons and never lost sight of them.” Walz’s guiding principle, Martin added, “has always been showing up and doing the work that actually makes their lives better.”

Klobuchar, posting on X, praised Walz as “a true public servant” who made a “difficult decision” but said nothing about her own pending choice.

Another Minnesotan of national prominence, Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer was more succinct, issuing a statement that said in its entirety: “Good riddance.”

Democratic Governors Assn. Chair Andy Beshear, the second-term Kentucky governor, praised Walz as a “a national leader in fighting for the middle class” and said his organization “remains very confident Minnesotans will elect another strong Democratic governor this November.”

At the Republican Governors Assn., spokeswoman Courtney Alexander blasted Walz for “failed leadership” and argued that the eventual Democratic nominee “will need to defend years of mismanagement and misplaced priorities.”

Walz, for his part, stood by his administration’s stewardship.

“We should be concerned about fraud in our state government,” he said, adding that “a single taxpayer dollar wasted on fraud should be intolerable.” But Walz said his administration has worked diligently to address fraud and manage the state’s operations.

A look at Walz’s time as governor

Through nearly two terms as governor, Walz navigated a closely divided legislature. In his first term, he served alongside a Democratic-led House and Republican-controlled Senate that resisted his proposals to use higher taxes to boost money for schools, healthcare and roads. But he helped broker compromises.

He used the office’s emergency power during the COVID-19 pandemic to shutter businesses and close schools, prompting Republican pushback.

Republicans also were critical of Walz over what they saw as his slow response to sometimes violent unrest that followed the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Walz pleaded for calm after Floyd’s death but also stood out as a white political leader who expressed empathy toward Black Americans and their experiences with police violence.

In his second term, Walz worked with Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers to chart a more liberal course in state government, aided by a huge budget surplus. Minnesota eliminated nearly all of the state abortion restrictions enacted in the past by Republicans, protected gender-affirming care for transgender youth and legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Walz and his fellow Democrats also enacted free school meals for all students and a paid family and medical leave program that went live on Jan. 1.

That record, combined with Walz’s rural background and experience representing southern Minnesota in Congress, landed him on Harris’ radar as she considered potential running mates in 2024 after replacing Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. After a whirlwind search, she opted for Walz over other candidates including North Carolina’s Roy Cooper, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Walz received a warm welcome from Democratic voters but drew mixed reviews for his lone debate against Vance.

More recently, Walz has been frustrated in his efforts to enact new gun control measures following a mass shooting in August at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, which left two children dead and injured dozens. He had hoped to call a special session to consider a list of gun safety proposals.

Karnowski and Barrow write for the Associated Press. Barrow reported from Atlanta.

Jan. 5 (UPI) — The trial of former Uvalde school police officer Adrian Gonzales is underway Monday, four years after 19 students and two teachers were killed in a shooting at a Texas elementary school.

The jury selection process will begin the trial proceedings for Gonzales in Corpus Christi, Texas. He faces 29 felony charges, one for each of the 19 fourth-grade victims and 10 surviving students of the shooting on May 24, 2022.

Gonzales is accused of putting the children at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in “imminent danger” when he failed to respond to an active shooting. He was one of the first officers on the scene, the prosecution says.

It took the nearly 400 officers who responded in various capacities 77 minutes to engage the shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Rolando Ramos. Ramos was armed with an AR-15-style rifle.

State and federal investigators reviewed bodycam footage, 911 calls and eyewitness accounts before determining that a series of failures in the law enforcement response contributed to the incident.

The jury is expected to view bodycam footage and hear from investigators and survivors during Gonzales’ trial.

The site of the trial was moved by a judge in October after his attorneys argued it would be unlikely to fill an impartial jury in Uvalde.

Gonzales is one of two law enforcement officers facing criminal charges related to their response to the shooting. Pedro Arredondo, former police chief of the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Department, faces 10 counts of abandoning and endangering children.

A look at The Times’ top 25 boys’ basketball rankings for the Southland after Week 7.

Rk. School (Rec.); Comment; ranking last week

1. SIERRA CANYON (13-1): Brannon Martinsen starting to contribute after injury; 1

2. REDONDO UNION (16-3): Mira Costa will be the challenge in league play; 2

3. SANTA MARGARITA (19-2): Showdown with St. John Bosco on Friday at home; 3

4. ST. JOHN BOSCO (11-4): Braves need to give Christian Collins some help; 4

5. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (17-2): Mission League showdown with Crespi on Friday; 6

6. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (13-4): Knights face Sierra Canyon on Friday; 7

7. LA MIRADA (11-6): Big win over Crespi; 17

8. CRESPI (13-6): Celts start Mission League vs. Bishop Alemany on Wednesday; 10

9. CREAN LUTHERAN (14-5): Begin league play on Tuesday vs. Anaheim Canyon; 5

10. ETIWANDA (17-1): Open league play vs. Los Osos; 12

11. CORONA DEL MAR (15-1): Big league game vs. Los Alamitos on Monday; 9

12. DAMIEN (15-4): Faces Etiwanda on Thursday; 14

13. CORONA CENTENNIAL (15-5): Lost in OT to Coronado; 11

14. SAN GABRIEL ACADEMY (7-6): Close loss to Etiwanda; 13

15. VILLAGE CHRISTIAN (13-5): League showdown with Heritage Christian on Tuesday; 15

16. THOUSAND OAKS (16-0): Lancers face Oaks Christian in league game on Friday; 18

17. BRENTWOOD (18-1): Sophomore Ethan Hill keeps leading Eagles to victory; 19

18. JSERRA (13-8): Lions need to get healthy for Trinity League play; 16

19. MIRA COSTA (16-2): Mustangs quietly looking good for Bay League play; 21

20. ELSINORE (18-0): Kamrynn Nathan is averaging 24.6 points; 22

21. MATER DEI (12-7): Transfer students have given Monarchs a lift; NR

22. LOS ALAMITOS (8-6): Faces Corona del Mar on Monday; NR

23. INGLEWOOD (14-5): Jason Crowe Jr. had games of 50 and 51 points; 24

24. ST. FRANCIS (16-2): 7-foot-4 center Cherif Millogo is living up to expectations; NR

25. WINDWARD (12-6): Open Gold Coast League vs. Campbell Hall on Tuesday; NR

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

CITY SECTION

Chatsworth 40, Marquez 36
Franklin 69, Sotomayor 38
Garfield 60, Northridge Academy 47
Granada Hills Kennedy 53, Dorsey 42

SOUTHERN SECTION

Alemany 73, West Ranch 53
Anaheim 60, Loara 28
Barstow 52, Bloomington 48
Brea Olinda 68, Rialto 57
Brentwood 75, Millikan 68
Buena Park 61, Linfield Christian 54
Burbank 70, Canyon Country Canyon 66
Calabasas 69, North Torrance 65
Camarillo 74, Aliso Niguel 59
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 59, Mission Viejo 57
Carter 71, Palm Desert 66
Cerritos 53, Irvine 49
Chaffey 75, Bosco Tech 53
Chino 51, Cathedral 50
Chino Hills 72, Alta Loma 47
Citrus Hill 72, Corona 69
Claremont 56, South Torrance 50
Corona Santiago 80, Golden Valley 53
Costa Mesa 60, Nogales 43
Crespi 57, Crean Lutheran 54
Culver City 66, Cajon 62
Desert Hot Springs 67, Desert Christian Academy 55
Edgewood 51, El Monte 20
Esperanza 70, Bonita 62
Estancia 61, Arlington 59
Etiwanda 51, San Gabriel Academy 47
Faith Lutheran 56, Great Oak 52
Fountain Valley 79, Gardens Grove Pacifica 53
Garden Grove Santiago 45, Segerstrom 42
Glendora 61, Colony 41
Godinez 58, Long Beach Cabrillo 57
Hillcrest 72, Yucaipa 64
Jurupa Valley 58, San Gorgonio 50
Kaiser 51, Banning 46
La Canada 65, Walnut 57
Laguna Beach 68, Rancho Alamitos 56
La Habra 64, Rancho Cucamonga 55
La Salle 60, Flintridge Prep 33
La Serna 65, Silverado 61
Legacy Christian Academy 63, Anaheim Canyon 62
Liberty 59, Eastvale Roosevelt 43
Los Altos 87, Schurr 43
Los Amigos 49, Los Osos 40
Los Angeles Wilson 74, Whittier 61
Marina 62, Western 50
Mesa Grande Academy 49, Escondido Adventist Academy 31
Montclair 47, Royal 45
Morro Bay 57, Valley Christian Academy 50
Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 65, Santa Ana Foothill 47
Newport Harbor 61, Woodbridge 35
Norco 60, Salesian 47
Norwalk 46, Santa Fe 24
Orange Vista 61, MSCP 57
Palmdale Aerospace Academy 68, Azusa 59
Paloma Valley 66, St. Paul 54
Pioneer Valley 65, Twentynine Palms 63
Portola 80, Hacienda Heights Wilson 55
Ramona 59, Heritage 56
Rancho Christian 56, California 47
Redlands East Valley 70, Wiseburn Da Vinci 67
Ridgecrest Burroughs 73, Sierra Vista 67
Rio Hondo prep 55, Lone Pine 43
Riverside King 61, Leuzinger 58
Rowland 53, Garden Grove 48
Santa Maria 66, Coastal Christian 58
Saugus 60, Burbank Burroughs 50
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 74, JSerra 55
Sonora 62, Mission Hills 55
St. Anthony 65, Servite 63
St. Francis 48, Long Beach Poly 43
Summit 75, Rancho Mirage 47
Temecula Prep 66, Western Christian 57
Temple City 85, Duarte 30
Troy 60, Bolsa Grande 44
Warren 80, Compton 65
West Covina 51, Shadow Hills 48
Westlake 51, Eastside 36
Westminster La Quinta 69, Oxford Academy 54
Whitney 55, Santa Paula 39
Windward 90, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 73
Xavier Prep 65, Parlier 41

INTERSECTIONAL

Adelanto 65, Chula Vista LCC 14
AGBU 76, Brawley 41
Allen (TX) 73, Oak Hills 60
American Heritage (UT) 66, Capistrano Valley 62
Arcadia 57, Henderson (NV) Liberty 51
Bakersfield Christian 59, Mayfair 44
Beaumont 64, Hughson 51
Beckman 71, Hawaii Baptist Academy 48
Beverly Hills 75, Birmingham 74
Bishop Diego 63, Davis Sr. 60
Bishop Montgomery 56, Fairfax 33
Bishop’s 55, Bellflower 40
Boulder City (NV) 56, Orange 35
Calexico 49, Moreno Valley 47
Central 76, Fairmont Prep 64
Chaminade 76, Seabury 50
Chowchilla 60, Saddleback 41
Cypress 83, Poway 73
Dallas (TX) Oak Cliff Faith Family 91, Inglewood 65
Dallas (TX) Parish Episcopal 72, Eastvale Roosevelt 56
Desert Pines 76, Laguna Hills 73
Dos Pueblos 58, Saratoga 53
Dougherty Valley 66, San Pedro 46
Douglas 80, Oakwood 70
Edison 78, Fernley 40
El Cerrito 53, Ayala 50
Elk Grove Franklin 81, Oaks Christian 66
Folsom 65, Rolling Hills Prep 60
Gillion Academy National 75, SoCal Academy 72
Glendale 56, Blair 54
Granada 54, Vista Murrieta 42
Harbor Teacher 53, Acaciawood 31
Highland 61, Tennyson 51
Hillcrest Christian 73, WSCA 69
Hoover 69, Bell 32
Horizon Prep 44, Avalon 37
Keppel 54, Crenshaw 51
Lake Washington 87, Corona del Mar 82
La Mirada 65, Meridian (ID) Owyhee 56
Las Vegas (NV) Clark 73, Villa Park 58
Layton Christian Academy (UT) 51, Corona Centennial 48
Littlerock 64, Sylmar 63
Loma Linda Academy 63, Paradise Adventist Academy 50
Los Alamitos 60, Auburn (WA) 53
Los Angeles Wilson 74, Whittier 61
Loyola 64, Mesa (AZ) 62
Maryville (TN) 76, Heritage Christian 69
Mater Dei 108, Bellevue (WA) 80
Meadows School 68, Diamond Bar 58
Menlo School 45, Milken 44
Mira Costa 52, Somerset Academy Losee 48
Mission College Prep 46, Gahr 42
Moorpark 67, Eagle Rock 49
North Hollywood 78, Firebaugh 53
Orange Lutheran 93, Cleveland 87
Orange Vista 61, MSCP 57
Oxnard Pacifica 60, Pinole Valley 54
Palo Verde Valley 81, Cathedral City 47
Pasadena 56, Palisades 43
Pasadena Poly 62, Lakeside 41
Phoenix (AZ) Sunnyslope 71, Redondo Union 63
Ponderosa 75, Northview 37
Rancho Bernardo 65, El Dorado 62
Richmond Salesian College Prep 57, Damien 54
Rosemead 60, Ridgeview 53
Sacramento Adventist 69, Newbury Park Adventist 56
Sage Hill 53, Fort Worth Christian 52
Saint Mary’s 66, Valencia 53
San Diego 60, San Marino 36
San Fernando 86, Santa Clarita Christian 64
San Joaquin Memorial 57, Crossroads 48
San Marcos 63, Granada Hills 42
Santa Barbara 61, Oakland Tech 54
Santa Fe Christian 73, Murrieta Mesa 55
Scripps Ranch 67, Downey 64
Shadow Ridge 73, Long Beach Wilson 68
Sierra Canyon 67, Miami (FL) Columbus 60
Simi Valley 54, Otay Ranch 41
South Gate 40, la Sierra 27
St. Bernard 60, Eastside Catholic 46
St. Bonaventure 73, Van Nuys 38
St. John Bosco 70, Phoenix (AZ) O’Connor 58
St. Monica 78, La Jolla Country Day 51
Sunny Hills 59, Henderson (NV) Basic 57
Temecula Valley 67, Huntington Beach 59
Thousand Oaks 76, College Park 44
Valley Christian Academy 66, Kern County Taft 56
Verbum Dei 75, ALA- West Foothills 61
Village Christian 78, Jesuit 71
Vistamar 84, Paramount 80
Westmont 69, Oak Park 60

GIRLS

CITY SECTION

Verdugo Hills 55, Granada Hills 50

SOUTHERN SECTION

Agoura 47, Simi Valley 38
Aliso Niguel 53, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 29
Apple Valley 45, Orange 34
Aquinas 49, Calvary Baptist 38
Aquinas 58, Citrus Hill 32
Beckman 56, St. Anthony 54
Bishop Diego 50, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 33
Bishop Diego 62, San Marino 54
Buena Park 53, South Torrance 31
Calvary Baptist 63, Escondido Adventist Academy 50
Campbell Hall 49, Village Christian 37
Chaminade 60, St. Francis 50
Chino 57, Keppel 28
Chino Hills 52, Great Oak 35
Citrus Valley 35, Barstow 23
Corona Santiago 52, Palm Desert 23
Crescenta Valley 56, La Canada 34
Culver City 40, Escondido 29
El Modena 51, West Covina 41
Escondido Adventist Academy 42, Citrus Hill 26
Fillmore 52, PACS 22
Flintridge Prep 75, Pilibos 30
Gahr 46, Coachella Valley 34
Glendora 59, Cerritos 40
Godinez 39, Marina 37
Hacienda Heights Wilson 68, Dos Pueblos 53
Huntington Beach 41, Laguna Beach 21
Irvine 43, Laguna Hills 28
JSerra 51, Fairmont Prep 33
Lakeside 56, Norco 38
La Palma Kennedy 62, Del Sol 58
La Salle 53, Marlborough 43
La Serna 50, Bonita 45
Liberty 49, St. Lucy’s 34
Loma Linda Academy 42, Hesperia Christian 37
Long Beach Jordan 53, Los Alamitos 49
Long Beach Wilson 60, Rosemead 35
Los Osos 53, Sonora 37
Milken 48, Moorpark 37
Montclair 29, Westminster 20
Montebello 35, Monrovia 30
Newbury Park 52, Millikan 50
Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 54, El Rancho 25
Northwood 59, Ocean View 37
Ontario Christian 94, Oak Park 48
Pasadena Poly 43, Corona del Mar 39
Rialto 80, Hesperia 48
Rio Hondo Prep 43, Marina 36
Sage Hill 67, St. Mary’s 58
San Gabriel Academy 34, Lucerne Valley 17
San Jacinto 60, Palm Springs 32
San Marino 31, Madera Liberty 21
Santana 55, Paloma Valley 49
Santa Ana Valley 32, Capistrano Valley Christian 31
Shadow Hills 58, Oakwood 33
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 72, Santa Monica 21
Sierra Canyon 62, Corona Centennial 55
South Pasadena 60, Rancho Buena Vista 38
St. Bernard’s 43, Santa Fe 36
Victor Valley 50, Riverside Prep 22
Villa Park 67, Valencia 62
Vista Murrieta 57, Alta Loma 45
West Ranch 57, Burbank 55
Whittier Christian 55, Diamond Bar 43
Xavier Prep 47, Desert Christian Academy 43
Yorba Linda 49, Cypress 45
Yucaipa 56, Bishop Amat 48

INTERSECTIONAL

Alemany 57, King/Drew 43
Auburn (WA) 47, El Dorado 30
Bellevue (WA) 73, Camarillo 36
Birmingham 73, Highland 53
Brentwood 55, Piedmont 48
Calexico 37, AGBU 21
California City 39, Antelope Valley 32
Chula Vista Mater Dei 63, Heritage 30
El Capitan 64, St. Pius X-St.Matthias Academy 59
Etiwanda 51, Tualatin (OR) 41
Folsom 42, Ontario 25
Fountain Valley 52, Winslow 44
Fullerton 44, Cerritos Valley Christian 33
Gardena Serra 59, Fallbrook 37
Granada Hills 49, Trinity Classical Academy 46
Granite Hills 35, Maricopa 8
Grant 41, St. Genevieve 39
Harvard-Westlake 72, Leuzinger 37
Heritage Christian 48, Cleveland 44
Lakewood St. Joseph 75, Jesuit 58
Lathrop 54, El Toro 51
Madera Liberty 34, Southlands Christian 20
Mira Costa 56, Philomath 38
Murrieta Valley 57, Watsonville 21
Notre Dame Academy 36, Taft 22
Oceanside 42, Sacred Heart of Jesus 35
Palos Verdes 47, Moreau Catholic 40
Pinole Valley 47, Holy Martyrs Armenian 30
Point Loma 56, Irvine University 10
Punahou (HI) 58, Downey 30
Rancho Christian 84, Redondo Union 73
Rancho Cucamonga 56, Carlsbad 47
Ross Branson 47, Warren 29
Rowland 70, Wilmington Banning 12
Salt Lake City (UT) West 79, Esperanza 42
San Dimas 51, Imperial 38
Santa Margarita 58, Spanish Springs 51
Saugus 56, El Camino Real 36
Shalhevet 67, Arleta 47
Sierra Pacific 67, Anaheim Canyon 30
St. Margaret’s 66, Bellevue (WA) Sammamish 61
Temple City 50, San Pasqual 45
Trabuco Hills 53, Issaquah (WA) Liberty 46
West Jordan (UT) 59, Long Beach Poly 29
Whittier 53, Carson 40

It’s time to peer into my crystal ball to see what 2026 has in store for the Southland’s high school athletes (and a few former ones), coaches and fans:

JJ Harel of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, armed with passports from the United States, Israel and Australia, will soar so far past 7 feet in the high jump that national organizations from three different countries will fight to have him represent their team. …

Striker Pence, a sophomore pitcher at Corona Santiago with a 100-mph fastball, will receive an endorsement deal from a radar gun company. …

The UCLA-USC women’s basketball games will have so many celebrities and former players wanting to be seen that TMZ won’t need to pay for video. …

The high school soccer debut of incoming freshman Zoe Thompson, sister of Alyssa and Giselle, will be so big that Harvard-Westlake will need to give out red bibs to photographers to identify who’s real media. …

Norco junior shortstop Dylan Seward will hit for the cycle. …

Jaden Soong celebrates after winning the Southern California Golf Assn. Amateur Championship at Saticoy Club in Somis on July 11, 2024.

(SCGA)

St. Francis sophomore golfer Jaden Soong will win a second straight CIF championship, then have to answer the same question over and over, “When are you turning pro?” …

Gary Morse, a 6-foot-8 senior pitcher at Orange Lutheran, should be one of the best in the Southland in 2026.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Orange Lutheran 6-foot-8 senior pitcher Gary Morse will throw a no-hitter, then find a hoop and celebrate with a dunk. …

Sophomore catcher Jordan Lindsay (left) and sophomore pitcher Carlos Acuna will be key players for Birmingham in 2026.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

The Birmingham sophomore pitcher/catcher duo of Carlos Acuna and Jordan Lindsay will lead the Patriots to the City Section baseball title, then celebrate with a dogpile at Dodger Stadium in which the 6-2, 200-pound Lindsay protects Acuna from being suffocated at the bottom by teammates. …

Santa Margarita shortstop Brody Schumaker (left) and his father, Skip, the manager of the Texas Rangers.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Santa Margarita’s Brody Schumaker, who had eight bunt singles last season, will be asked by his father, Skip, the new manager of the Texas Rangers, to show off his bunting skills at spring training. …

Brian Prince of Cathedral will break 47 seconds in the 400 meters. …

Rickee Luevano of Sylmar and Xavier Allen of Carson will battle to be the home run champion in the City Section. …

Eastvale Roosevelt’s Aubrey McLaughlin, who won a gold medal playing for the Team USA U-18 softball team in the World Cup, will break out her new jewelry for a showdown game against Norco. …

All-City linebackers De’Andre Kirkpatrick of Crenshaw and Elyjah Staples of Marquez will become among the first City Section players to receive NIL deals. …

Cypress baseball coach John Weber will receive an NIL deal from a pencil company because he’s always walking around with a pencil tucked behind his ear. …

Corona Centennial’s All-CIF defensive back Jaden Walk-Green, who also starts in center field for the baseball team, will show so much promise snowboarding that he’ll decide to seek an Olympic Games berth in 2028. …

George Hastings of Agoura will try to play every position in a football game this season. …

There will be so many quarterbacks transferring that MaxPreps’ digital rosters will go down from too many clicks. …

PlayOn, which owns MaxPreps, GoFan and the NFHS Network, will go for a California prep sports monopoly by bidding for the CIF state playoffs contract that runs out in June. …

Offensive lineman Elisha Mueller of Servite.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Offensive lineman Elisha Mueller of Servite will record so many pancake blocks that IHOP will sign him to promote a week of all-you-can eat pancakes for anyone who weighs 280 pounds and up. . . .

A basketball official, tired of hearing a parent complain about his calls, will stop the game, give his whistle to the parent and dare him to take over. …

Louis Lappe, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo walk-off home run off Curacao’s Jay-Dlynn Wiel during the sixth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game iin 2023.

(Gene J. Puskar/AP)

Freshman Louis Lappe, known for his walk-off home run for El Segundo in the 2023 Little League World Series championship game, will hit a home run in his high school debut for Harvard-Westlake. …

Shohei Ohtani will be spotted working out at a high school baseball field, causing multiple helicopters to be dispatched to provide commentary like an L.A. car chase. …

USC will resolve any red-zone scoring deficiencies by installing freshman Trent Mosley at wildcat quarterback. …

Former Granada Hills pitcher Easton Hawk will be UCLA’s closer this season.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Former Granada Hills pitcher Easton Hawk will become the long-sought standout closer to lead UCLA to the NCAA baseball title. …

With four Southern California players on its roster, led by Sherman Oaks Notre Dame grad Ella Parker, Oklahoma’s softball team will hold a beach day at practice to make sure its SoCal players are not feeling homesick. …

Freshman tight end Austin Miller of Bellflower will be the first to motivate new UCLA coach Bob Chesney to drop by campus for a personal introduction. …

Valencia sophomore quarterback Evan McCalister will be a breakout passing star. …

After nine consecutive years of Northern California teams losing in the CIF Open Division state championship bowl final, the CIF will agree to allow postseason transfers to De La Salle or San Mateo Serra so they can be competitive. …

Huntington Beach surfer Bailey Turner, shows her medals after returning from the ISA World Junior Surf Championships in Peru.

(Don Leach/Staff Photographer)

Bailey Turner of Huntington Beach, the ISA World Junior Surf Championhip winner, will continue her preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games by riding one big wave after another. …

After the Cleveland Browns’ Carson Schwesinger is named defensive rookie of the year, all the people who didn’t rate him highly at Oaks Christian during his high school days will use magic markers to update their star rankings.

A look at The Times’ top 25 boys’ basketball rankings for the Southland after Week 6.

Rk. School (Rec.); Comment; ranking last week

1. SIERRA CANYON (10-1): Trailblazers getting close to full strength; 1

2. REDONDO UNION (13-2): Sea Hawks looking like Sierra Canyon’s major challenger; 3

3. SANTA MARGARITA (15-2): Drew Anderson is a big man rising in performance; 2

4. ST. JOHN BOSCO (9-3): Overtime loss to Phoenix (Ariz.) Sunnyslope; 4

5. CREAN LUTHERAN (12-3): Semifinalist for Classic at Damien; 8

6. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (15-2): Face JSerra on Friday; 5

7. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (10-4): Josiah Nance is back from injury; 6

8. ARCADIA (11-1): Win over San Gabriel Academy makes Apaches the real deal; 16

9. CORONA DEL MAR (14-0): Fourteen straight wins for Sea Kings; 11

10. CRESPI (11-4): Celts advance to Classic at Damien semifinals; 13

11. CORONA CENTENNIAL (14-3): Stanford commit Isaiah Rogers is delivering; 9

12. ETIWANDA (15-1): Lost in overtime for first defeat; 10

13. SAN GABRIEL ACADEMY (6-5): Freshman Zach Arnold continues to perform well; 7

14. DAMIEN (14-3): Came within one point of upsetting Redondo Union; 14

15. VILLAGE CHRISTIAN (11-5): A 41-point performance from freshman Will Conroy; 12

16. JSERRA (12-5): Lions starting to make improvement; 17

17. LA MIRADA (8-5): Matadores keep challenging themselves; 15

18. THOUSAND OAKS (13-0): Dylan McCord is firing in threes; 18

19. BRENTWOOD (15-1): Thirty-point performance from AJ Okoh; 22

20. EASTVALE ROOSEVELT (10-5): Big performance from Sloane Harris; 21

21. MIRA COSTA (15-1): Made it to Torrey Pines semifinals; 23

22. ELSINORE (18-0): Undefeated season still going strong; 24

23. MAYFAIR (6-3): Next up is Crossroads on Monday; 20

24. INGLEWOOD (11-4): Jason Crowe Jr. is averaging 44.0 points per game; 25

25. CYPRESS (12-5): In divisional semifinals at Torrey Pines; NR