Kobe's Back wins $100,000 Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes

June 15, 2013

Los Angeles Times' 2013 final high school baseball rankings

June 10, 2013

Rank, School Record, playoff finish

Harvard-Westlake's Jack Flaherty is The Times' baseball player of the year

June 10, 2013

From the first day Jack Flaherty walked on the Harvard-Westlake High campus as a freshman two years ago, he was projected to be a baseball standout. He had the size, the work ethic and the cool, calm demeanor that signified star quality in his future.

Matt LaCour is The Times' baseball coach of the year

June 10, 2013

After the 2007 high school baseball season, Matt LaCour made a surprising job change.

Los Angeles Times' 2013 High School All-Star Baseball Team

June 10, 2013

Pitcher: Phil Bickford, Oaks Christian, Sr. — An 18-strikeout performance in the Southern Section Division 4 championship game capped a season in which Bickford had a 12-1 record with an 0.83 earned-run average and 146 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings. He was chosen No. 10 overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in last week's Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Mater Dei's Jonathan Lockett shines at Dana Hills passing tournament

June 8, 2013

If there were one clear lesson learned Saturday during the seven-on-seven Dana Hills passing tournament, it's that Santa Ana Mater Dei has a capable replacement for graduating all-star Thomas Duarte.

Incoming high school quarterbacks are masters of the unknown

June 7, 2013

If it's June, it means summer football passing competitions are about to go into high gear. And this summer the situation is going to be more intriguing than ever, because there's no consensus No. 1 high school quarterback in Southern California heading into the 2013 season.

SoCal's Phil Bickford, Dominic Smith chosen early in MLB draft

June 6, 2013

Phil Bickford of Westlake Village Oaks Christian and Dominic Smith of Gardena Serra were in a celebratory mood after being chosen No. 10 and No. 11, respectively, during Major League Baseball's first-year player draft on Thursday.

Daughter and dad share dream of UCLA softball

June 3, 2013

Curled up on the floor near the front door of her grandmother's house, Angelica Felix mumbled in her sleep.

College games on Friday nights could divide Southern California

June 2, 2013

In its never-ending quest for more money and more TV exposure, the Pac-12 Conference is taking dead aim at something that used to be considered unfathomable — playing college football on Friday nights.

San Fernando wins City baseball title

June 1, 2013

In a vintage baseball staredown on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the best pitcher in the City Section, left-hander Jack Hartman of Reseda Cleveland, stood on the mound and faced off three times against the best hitter, Roberto Ramos of San Fernando.

Harvard-Westlake captures Southern Section Division 1 baseball title

May 31, 2013

As a freshman and sophomore, Jack Flaherty couldn't win a playoff game on the mound for Studio City Harvard-Westlake. Now he doesn't lose games period.

Dominic Smith leads Gardena Serra to Division 3 baseball title

May 31, 2013

In five days, Dominic Smith leaves for New York to experience the excitement of baseball's amateur draft, in which he is likely to be a first-round choice. But on Friday afternoon, he and his Gardena Serra teammates flashed big smiles and screamed like children at an amusement park after an 8-1 victory over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in the Southern Section Division 3 championship game at Dodger Stadium.

Baseball finalists pinching themselves as Dodger Stadium awaits

May 30, 2013

For 10 high school baseball teams, this weekend's championship games at Dodger Stadium must feel like Christmas morning.

Cleveland Cavaliers defeat Marshall Barristers, 3-1, in semifinal

May 29, 2013

It has been 31 years since a teenage Bret Saberhagen pitched and hit Reseda Cleveland to a City Section baseball championship. Jack Hartman is turning in Saberhagen-like performances in the Division I playoffs.

Max Willingham lifts Marina over Loyola, 6-5

May 28, 2013

Max Willingham was delirious with joy. The 17-year-old Huntington Beach Marina second baseman delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday to earn himself and his best friends on the Vikings' baseball team a trip to Dodger Stadium.

These track and field girls are in a class of their own

May 27, 2013

They're teenage wonder women of high school track and field.

Soccer star Cristian Roldan makes rare choice to stay and play

May 24, 2013

Every once in a while, a high school athlete comes along with the kind of character, commitment and talent to make himself a standout in his community.

Santa Anita gets key racing dates

May 23, 2013

Santa Anita came away the big winner Thursday when the California Horse Racing Board tentatively approved racing dates for 2014 and 2015 in response to the pending closure of Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 22.

Palisades' Marissa Williams shatters City Section distance track records

May 22, 2013

Frozen yogurt. That's the reward 15-year-old sophomore Marissa Williams of Palisades plans to give herself after turning in the greatest performance by a girls' distance runner in City Section history Wednesday night at the City track and field championships at Birmingham.

Harvard-Westlake cruises past El Dorado, 12-1

May 21, 2013

Players in the Southern Section Division 1 baseball playoffs can dream about celebrating a championship at Dodger Stadium, but giving legitimacy to the dream only occurs after a team proves it can win with its No. 2 pitcher.

Stress is a foreign notion to Marina's Jake Bauers

May 20, 2013

It's 15 minutes before the start of a pressure-packed Southern Section Division 1 baseball first-round playoff game. Some players are feeling a little nauseated as the reality of what's at stake begins to sink in.

Khalfani Muhammad wins Southern Section Division 3 100, 200 races

May 19, 2013

Khalfani Muhammad of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has never faced a camera he didn't like or taken on an opponent he didn't want to beat. That made Saturday's Southern Section track and field championships the ideal environment for Muhammad to put on a show.

Competition in 100 meters could be hot in Southern Section meet

May 17, 2013

The Southern Section track and field championships are set for Saturday at Mount San Antonio College, and the 100-meter races could be as sizzling as the weather.

Hamilton brothers have found a love and a livelihood in basketball

May 17, 2013

The Hamilton boys — Gary, Jordan, Isaac and Daniel — fell in love with the same girl, according to their mother, Karen.

Tommy Wilson, son of 'Back to the Future' actor, stars in win

May 15, 2013

Who would have thought the son of Biff from the 1985 movie classic, "Back to the Future," might become a high school pitching star?

Southern Section Division 1 baseball playoff pairings unveiled

May 14, 2013

There's nothing easy or predictable about the 40-team Southern Section Division 1 baseball playoffs that begin Tuesday with eight wild-card games.

Transfer rules in prep sports are still not deterring cheaters

May 13, 2013

There's a perception that illegal recruiting is rampant in high school sports.

Hurdler Reginald Bell to join Eastern Michigan football team

May 10, 2013

The fastest 110-meter hurdler in a California high school can't wait to try his skills on the football field.

Hollywood Park to close after final autumn meeting race Dec. 22

May 10, 2013

Everyone knew the day was coming and now it's a reality. After 75 years of horse racing, Betfair Hollywood Park will end its operations following the final race of its autumn meeting Dec. 22.

Pitcher Henry Baker delivers title to Agoura

May 7, 2013

Henry Baker, the standout left-handed pitcher from Agoura High who wears uniform No. 32 in honor of Sandy Koufax ("It's the Jewish lefty thing — you got to represent"), did all he could to deliver a Marmonte League championship Tuesday at Agoura.

Loyola sprinters pass test without a glitch

May 6, 2013

For those who run relays in track and field, passing the baton can be scarier than a scene from "A Nightmare on Elm Street."

A long and winding road for Mater Dei's Aaron Cross and family

May 3, 2013

For three years, Brad Cross would rise at 5 a.m. and drive his grandson, Aaron, 53 miles from their home in Rialto to Santa Ana so Aaron could attend Mater Dei High School. He'd drive back to Rialto, then return to pick up Aaron after baseball practice.

What to watch for as prep football teams begin spring drills

April 29, 2013

This isn't Texas, so I know most people aren't spending day and night worrying about spring football.

Oaks Christian's Phil Bickford draws crowd when he's alone on mound

April 26, 2013

More than 25 pro baseball scouts are crowded around the bullpen at Westlake Village Oaks Christian to catch a glimpse of senior right-hander Phil Bickford warming up.

Big Pine students will worm their way to Magic Mountain

April 26, 2013

Saturday marks the opening of trout season, and for more than 40 years the senior class from tiny Big Pine High — enrollment 36 — has tried to cash in.

Betfair Hollywood Park spring-summer season opens Thursday

April 24, 2013

Betfair Hollywood Park begins what could be its final 49-day spring-summer meeting Thursday.

Cleveland shuts out Chatsworth in battle for first place

April 23, 2013

Jack Hartman, the senior pitcher with the movie star name, and Reno Rankin, the senior outfielder with the famous uncle, combined to help Reseda Cleveland defeat Chatsworth, 1-0, on Tuesday in a game for first place in the West Valley League.

Interaction wins San Juan Capistrano Handicap by a nose

April 22, 2013

On the final day of the 71-day Santa Anita meeting Sunday, the marathon 13/4-mile San Juan Capistrano Handicap produced a thrilling finish. When the photo showed that Interaction had beaten All Squared Away by a nose, 80-year-old Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally got to bask in the glow of another memorable triumph.

Thomas Hudnut leaves a legacy of excellence at Harvard-Westlake

April 18, 2013

When it comes to trendsetters, Thomas Hudnut will go down in history as the high school educator who proved students could excel in academics and athletics at the same time.

These high school coaches are unrattled by snakes on diamond

April 16, 2013

Animal Planet needs to get its cameras trained on the Burrill brothers, Casey and Brady, at Valencia West Ranch High. They are quickly becoming adept at capturing and eradicating rattlesnakes.

Mira Costa High volleyball wins three of five sets to beat Loyola

April 12, 2013

For one invigorating night, there was a truce in the seemingly never-ending feud between public and private high schools.

Ryan McMahon a good fit for the Mater Dei way

April 11, 2013

If anyone needs further evidence of how much Ryan McMahon of Santa Ana Mater Dei has matured as a player in his senior baseball season, just examine what he accomplished last week when he was named the most valuable player of the Southern California Boras Classic.

Chatsworth outlasts El Camino Real, 10-9, in eight innings

April 9, 2013

Expectations are always high when Chatsworth and Woodland Hills El Camino Real players put on a baseball uniform. The two schools have combined to win 16 City Section championships and produce a glittering group of major league players.

Pole vaulter Kaitlyn Merritt sets national sophomore and meet records

April 7, 2013

Anyone who meets 16-year-old pole vaulter Kaitlyn Merritt of Santa Margarita can easily envision her one day becoming an astronaut, mountain climber or F-15 fighter pilot.

Notre Dame's Muhammad is fastest at Arcadia meet

April 6, 2013

Khalfani Muhammad of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame proved once again that he is the fastest high school athlete in California, winning the 100 meters in 10.46 seconds at Saturday's Arcadia Invitational.

Vanessa Nygaard is girls' basketball coach of the year

April 6, 2013

Two weeks before official practice started in November, L.A. Windward first-year girls’ basketball Coach Vanessa Nygaard gave birth to twins.

Mater Dei wins Boras Classic title for Southern California

April 5, 2013

After winning eight games in 10 days and capturing tournament championships in North Carolina and Orange County, it can be concluded that the streaking Santa Ana Mater Dei High baseball team is the No. 1 team in Southern California, if not the nation.

Strategy will be the focus in Santa Anita Derby

April 5, 2013

It will take less than 110 seconds to decide the winner of Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, but if you pay attention to the bettors, they are almost certain to place their trust in the combination of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez.

Doug O'Neill hopeful about Goldencents in Santa Anita Derby

April 4, 2013

It was a year ago that trainer Doug O'Neill's fortunes began to turn, by a nose, at the Santa Anita Derby. He hopes to duplicate that magic this weekend.

Encino Crespi leader a 'non-jock' who knows the score on sports

April 4, 2013

Alonzo Garcia pitches San Fernando past Kennedy, 2-1

April 4, 2013

When the pressure rises and fans start to get riled up and make noise, that's when junior pitcher Alonzo Garcia of San Fernando High enters the calm zone.

Flashback is 9-5 favorite for Santa Anita Derby

April 3, 2013

The Bob Baffert-trained Flashback drew post position No. 1 for Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby and was installed as the 9-5 favorite in a nine-horse field.

Lakewood drops Anaheim Canyon, 2-0, at Boras Classic

April 2, 2013

J.P. Crawford of Lakewood can create havoc on the base paths with his speed. He tries to get on base any way possible, and one way is with a drag bunt that he pulled off with precision on Tuesday in an opening game of the Boras Classic at Mater Dei.

Pitchers are ahead of the game this high school season

March 31, 2013

After one month of the high school baseball season, there have been more no-hitters than triples, more strikeouts than doubles and more shutouts than .400 hitters.

Simi Valley's Cody Jones succeeds in baseball despite disability

March 28, 2013

If Simi Valley High baseball players ever get lazy or start complaining about something innocuous, such as who has to rake the mound, they are usually snapped back to reality by simply watching the determination of senior outfielder Cody Jones.

Basketball state title games offer a chance to reflect and anticipate

March 25, 2013

The final buzzer of the final game of the high school basketball season has finally sounded, and that means it's time to look back and look ahead.

Mater Dei wins 10th state title

March 24, 2013

SACRAMENTO — Aaron Gordon is supposed to be the best high school basketball player from Northern California since Jason Kidd. Stanley Johnson could be the best player in Coach Gary McKnight's 31-year coaching career at Santa Ana Mater Dei.

Jeremiah Headley helps Redondo slam way to boys' basketball state title

March 23, 2013

SACRAMENTO — With 39.3 seconds left in the CIF state championship Division II final, 6-foot-6 sophomore Jeremiah Headley of Redondo unleashed a thunderous dunk over a Pleasant Hill College Park defender that not only signaled his arrival as a top player but made the stunned crowd at Sleep Train Arena begin to realize the special accomplishment the Sea Hawks were about to pull off.

Santa Monica loses battle for Division I state title to Pleasant Grove

March 22, 2013

SACRAMENTO — For the first five games of the CIF state basketball championships played Friday at Sleep Train Arena, shooters were off target. Again and again.

Mater Dei, Santa Monica stars in spotlight at state championships

March 22, 2013

SACRAMENTO — Get ready for real star power on display this weekend at the CIF state basketball championships at Sleep Train Arena.

Coach Mike Brown has a hand in son's Mater Dei basketball team

March 20, 2013

Sometimes teenage athletes can be very stubborn and don't want to listen to suggestions from their father, even if they play basketball and he's a coach in the NBA.

Windward High's Courtney Jaco is No. 1 when it comes to threes

March 19, 2013

When it comes to making three-point shots, no girls' basketball player in Southern Section history has had a better season than senior Courtney Jaco of Los Angeles Windward High.

Pacific Hills' Herman Nash has made the most of time at the helm

March 17, 2013

Herman Nash is his name, and the 44-year-old former Manual Arts running back has earned a special place in the history of West Hollywood Pacific Hills basketball.

Mater Dei wins CIF Southern California Open Division final

March 16, 2013

Humbled, if not humiliated, when it trailed by 17 points in the Southern Section Division 1AA championship game two weeks ago, Santa Ana Mater Dei showed the kind of toughness and resolve on Saturday night that usually leads to a state championship.

Windward-Mater Dei girls' matchup is something special

March 15, 2013

When it comes to girls' basketball, all signs point toward Saturday's CIF Southern California Open Division championship game between Los Angeles Windward (31-0) and Santa Ana Mater Dei (30-1) as being the game of the year.

Long Beach Poly coach takes school out on a limb for player

March 14, 2013

The decision by Long Beach Poly boys' basketball Coach Sharrief Metoyer to knowingly play an ineligible player, Kameron Chatman, on Tuesday night against Santa Ana Mater Dei in protest of a CIF eligibility decision is going to require major damage control.

Elijah Brown leads Monarchs to Open final

March 12, 2013

When Mike Brown was hired as Lakers coach two years ago, he brought his teenage son, Elijah, with him from Cleveland.

St. Bonaventure must go the distance to show area placement is wrong

March 11, 2013

Marc Groff, the principal at Ventura St. Bonaventure, will soon learn what it's like trying to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Hear The Ghost surprises in San Felipe Stakes

March 9, 2013

With the Kentucky Derby less than two months away, excitement and tension filled the Santa Anita paddock Saturday just before the running of the Grade II $300,000 San Felipe Stakes.

San Fernando's Jonny Parada makes history on the mat

March 7, 2013

Heisman Trophy winner Charles White, former major leaguer Gary Matthews and former USC running back Anthony Davis are among the greatest athletes in the 117-year history of San Fernando High.

CIF basketball Open Division selection is a head-scratcher

March 4, 2013

The California Interscholastic Federation released its state basketball playoff pairings Sunday night, and let's just say a public relations disaster is brewing regarding its new Open Division selection process.

Westchester is again king of City Section

March 2, 2013

There were 10 lead changes in the second half of a hard-fought City Section Division I championship boys' basketball game Saturday night, just what was expected in the long-anticipated duel between Westchester and Woodland Hills El Camino Real at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Gardena wins City Section Division II boys' final

March 1, 2013

Dushone Brown made two game-changing three-point field goals in the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points to help sixth-seeded Gardena knock off top-seeded Granada Hills Kennedy, 55-47, in the City Section Division II boys' basketball final Friday night at Roybal.

Westchester's Comets come in waves — and usually sink opponents

February 28, 2013

There's no Little League-like rule in high school basketball requiring every player on a team to make an appearance, so would someone explain why Coach Ed Azzam of 11-time City Section champion Westchester keeps using as many as 13 players in the first half of playoff games?

Etiwanda outlasts Long Beach Poly, 59-55

February 26, 2013

Dozens of fans were left outside the sold-out Long Beach Poly High gym Tuesday night unable to get a ticket for a Southern Section Division 1AA semifinal playoff game. What they missed was a basketball classic.

Marvin Sanders shifts gears to coach football at Los Angeles Loyola

February 26, 2013

Can someone who has coached all of his career at the college level suddenly reverse course and be successful at the high school level?

Football's scholar-athletes inspire

February 24, 2013

If you're feeling down or need a little inspiration, attend one of the banquets being held over the next month by local chapters of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame recognizing the Southland's top scholar-athletes.

El Camino Real, Westchester advance to City final

February 24, 2013

It's the time of the basketball season when style points no longer matter, rankings mean nothing and trying to impress college recruiters is on hold. Now it's all about earning a championship ring, and Woodland Hills El Camino Real passed a final hurdle Saturday night to get its shot.

Long Beach Poly defeats Loyola, 75-69, in 1AA quarterfinal

February 22, 2013

It was a wild Friday night of high school basketball in Southern California.

Smaller school is just right for guard Robert Cartwright

February 22, 2013

There's something inspiring about choosing a school for academic reasons, then not abandoning it when you become a star athlete and others try to lure you away with visions of grandeur.

L.A. Loyola pulls together to beat Pasadena, 80-56

February 19, 2013

At various times during Tuesday's Southern Section Division 1AA second-round basketball playoff game, individuals stepped up to make huge contributions for Los Angeles Loyola.

This year's freshman baseball players are in a class by themselves

February 18, 2013

They're not old enough to shave, not old enough to drive a car, and certainly not old enough to see an R-rated movie without an accompanying adult.

Midnight Lute produces three winners at Santa Anita this weekend

February 18, 2013

If anything was learned at Santa Anita this weekend, it's that the $15,000 stud fee for Eclipse Award winner Midnight Lute needs to be raised.

L.A. Windward's blowout victory has Shakespearean overtones

February 15, 2013

Los Angeles Windward students were quoting Shakespeare in the third quarter of Friday's Southern Section Division 4AA boys' basketball playoff game against visiting Westlake Village Oaks Christian.

Aliso Niguel's coming attraction: Kyle Molnar

February 15, 2013

It's the spring of 2015, and the car rental workers at John Wayne Airport in Orange County are reporting that visitors from Pittsburgh, Kansas City, New York, Tampa, Boston and Atlanta have been making strange requests.

Loaded Division 1AA leads Southern Section playoff pairings

February 11, 2013

The Southern Section released its basketball playoff pairings Sunday. Some coaches in Division 1AA will be suffering from shock-like symptoms this coming week while pondering the gantlet of challenges ahead.

Talent pool runs deep for sophomore guards in the Southland

February 8, 2013

Get ready for an invasion of private jets arriving from Lexington, Ky.; Durham, N.C.; Gainesville, Fla.; and elsewhere carrying college basketball coaches hoping to woo a growing group of talented guards from the high school class of 2015.

A plea for improved prep football jerseys

February 3, 2013

It's the time of the year when high school football coaches start designing new uniforms for the coming season, and let me make an urgent plea: Can the jersey numbers please be visible to the naked eye?

Nike tournament offers preview of 1AA playoffs

February 2, 2013

Fans attending Saturday's Nike Extravaganza at Santa Ana Mater Dei were given a sneak preview of the upcoming Southern Section Division 1AA boys' basketball playoffs.

It's a win-win for Loyola's basketball team

February 1, 2013

On the day Los Angeles Loyola learned that standout junior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright had received a doctor's clearance to return to the team after a month's absence because of an ankle injury, the Cubs played one more Mission League game without him and found a way to win.

Basketball: Mission Viejo in first after beating El Toro, 66-60

January 31, 2013

When standout point guard Evan Zeller of Mission Viejo went down because of an ankle injury with 3 minutes 3 seconds left in the third quarter on Wednesday night against El Toro, the Diablos' 11-point lead hardly looked safe.

Brentwood doesn't disappoint home crowd, beats Pacific Hills, 81-71

January 29, 2013

They've caught basketball fever at Brentwood School, where Monday night, instead of dining on $9 cheeseburgers from the gourmet truck in the parking lot, students and fans packed the gymnasium and helped inspire an 81-71 victory over Pacific Hills in a battle for first place in the Alpha League.

When Jordin Canada is on the court, there's magic in the air

January 27, 2013

It's supposed to be the year of the point guard in boys' basketball in Southern California, with multiple players in contention for who's best. But in girls' basketball, there's one standard for excellence, and that's 5-foot-6 junior Jordin Canada of Los Angeles Windward.

Jordan Wilson leads Windward over Alemany, 86-72

January 27, 2013

When Jordan Wilson of Los Angeles Windward High banked in a three-point shot from the top of the key as the first half ended Saturday at Fairfax High, it was a sign he could make anything.

Newhall Hart gets back at Valencia West Ranch after only loss of season

January 25, 2013

A Newhall Hart student wearing a wig and dressed as Moses showed up just before the start of the third quarter of Friday night's Foothill League basketball showdown against host Valencia West Ranch and parted the red-clad student section, igniting Hart fans and adding even more fire to a fired up Hart team.

Burbank's newest action star: Marcus LoVett Jr.

January 24, 2013

At 16, Marcus LoVett Jr. of Burbank Providence has become one of the best entertainers in Los Angeles. He does things with a basketball that some adults can only dream of accomplishing.

El Camino Real earns first win over Taft since 1992

January 23, 2013

The battle for basketball supremacy between the two rival high schools in Woodland Hills — Taft and El Camino Real — has been pretty much a mismatch, with Taft winning every game for more than 20 years.

Crespi keeps winning, beats Harvard-Westlake, 69-66

January 21, 2013

Explaining how Encino Crespi continues to hold down first place in the Mission League basketball race is hard to do.

Los Angeles City Section Hall of Fame adds 42 members

January 20, 2013

In the 78-year history of high school sports in the Los Angeles Unified School District, the number of Olympians produced, major league players developed and Hall of Fame members inducted from a variety of sports is staggering.

Westchester defeats Fairfax, 65-64, with dramatic finish

January 18, 2013

The atmosphere was electric Friday night at Fairfax High. There was a packed gym for a high school basketball game matching City Section powers Westchester and Fairfax. Fans got their money's worth.

Basketball success is relative for Southern California prep stars

January 17, 2013

Having a father or brother with NBA ties is a valuable asset for a high school basketball player.

Pacific Hills tops Brentwood, 75-71, thanks to trio of guards

January 16, 2013

Guards who can dribble, shoot and score have become more valuable than centers in high school basketball, and that makes West Hollywood Pacific Hills one of the top teams in Southern California.

It isn't pretty, but Westchester beats Palisades, 69-60

January 15, 2013

Sloppy, ragged, out of sync. That was the surprising performance taking place Monday in a Western League basketball showdown between Westchester and host Palisades.

High school students bring excitement to sports fandom

January 13, 2013

There's something uniquely Americana about high school students showing up at a basketball game to scream, yell and act a little silly rooting for their team to win.

Thousand Oaks High rallies to beat Calabasas, 46-43

January 11, 2013

They take their basketball seriously at Thousand Oaks High, where the fan section is known as the Green Hole. And they were whipped into a frenzy in the second half Friday night, with the Lancers rallying for a 46-43 victory over Calabasas in a Marmonte League game.

Trey Mason's father figures mightily in his success at Loyola

January 10, 2013

Sitting at the top level of the gymnasium bleachers, Harvey Mason Jr. leaves no doubt about his joy as a father watching his son, Trey, play basketball for Los Angeles Loyola.

Valencia West Ranch ends Newhall Hart's winning streak

January 8, 2013

Role players are needed to contend for a championship, and that's what Valencia West Ranch High displayed Tuesday night, relying on its two usual standouts, Ako Kaluna and Kevin Harris, while also turning to unsung contributors in knocking off Newhall Hart, 70-63, in a Foothill League opener at Hart.

Loyola edges Chaminade, 62-61, in Mission League play

January 8, 2013

Point guards are plentiful in the Mission League, but two of the best were missing in action Monday night at West Hills Chaminade, and the absence of the Eagles' Jaron Martin (strep throat) and Loyola's Parker Jackson-Cartwright (ankle injury) created opportunity for the understudies.

Some bold predictions for high school sports in 2013

December 28, 2012

It's time to peer into my crystal ball and see what 2013 has in store for Southern California athletes, coaches and fans:

El Camino Real's Evan Wardlow pulls out all the stops on defense

December 21, 2012

Any high school basketball player who claps his hands while playing defense, daring the player he is guarding to try to get past him, deserves attention.

The Times' high school football All-Star team

December 18, 2012

Offense

The Times' high school football All-Star team

December 18, 2012

Offense

Mater Dei's Thomas Duarte is The Times' football player of the year

December 18, 2012

Game after game this football season, defensive backs prepared for the challenge of facing receiver Thomas Duarte of Santa Ana Mater Dei. They were told by their coaches exactly what would happen. A pass would be thrown, and you had to outjump or outduel Duarte for the ball.

Football: Narbonne's Troy Williams is The Times' back of the year

December 18, 2012

Quarterbacks do what their coaches ask, and Troy Williams of Harbor City Narbonne was asked to focus more on winning than statistics. The result was that he helped deliver the best season in school history.

King Glorious Stakes at Hollywood Park is won by 60-1 shot Weewinnin

December 16, 2012

The final day of the 24-day Betfair Hollywood Park autumn meeting Sunday produced a 60-1 shocker in the $200,000 King Glorious Stakes. Weewinnin, under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr., pulled off the upset in the seven-furlong race for Cal-bred 2-year-olds.

Bowl victory could be the last for Concord De La Salle coach

December 16, 2012

Victory No. 399 in the legendary 33-year coaching career of Bob Ladouceur from Concord De La Salle produced scenes of relief and celebration Saturday night at the Home Depot Center.

Gardena Serra defeats Oakdale, 42-15, for Division II championship

December 16, 2012

The cupboard is never bare of football talent at Gardena Serra. Coach Scott Altenberg has so many options on whom to call upon it's almost as if he's playing a video game.

Long Beach Poly loses Division I bowl to Granite Bay, 21-20

December 14, 2012

In a season filled with highs and lows, exhilaration and heartbreak, Long Beach Poly couldn't overcome five interceptions and was beaten by Granite Bay, 21-20, in the CIF state championship Division I bowl game on Friday night before 7,361 at the Home Depot Center.

Saturday's CIF state championship bowl games

December 14, 2012

CIF state championship bowl games

Centennial must match the power of state powerhouse De La Salle

December 14, 2012

The Concord De La Salle Spartans, California's top high school football team, make their annual trip to the Home Depot Center in Carson on Saturday looking to finish off a 15-0 season against Corona Centennial in the CIF state championship Open Division bowl game.

Friday's CIF state championship bowl games

December 13, 2012

CIF state championship bowl games

High school bowls will showcase plenty of college-bound talent

December 12, 2012

College recruiters will be paying close attention to the CIF state championship bowl games on Friday and Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson in the final weekend of high school football.

Long Beach Poly enjoys the longest season

December 11, 2012

The longest high school football season in California history comes to a close this weekend with the CIF state championship bowl games at the Home Depot Center. But Long Beach Poly hardly looks exhausted or in need of a break going into its 16th week of action.

Serra's Emerald Faletuipapai trying to lead Cavaliers to title

December 10, 2012

If it's lunchtime at Gardena Serra and 6-foot-7, 360-pound offensive tackle Emerald Faletuipapai walks into a room, everyone hides his or her food.

Corona Centennial looks to pull off another stunning victory

December 9, 2012

In a high school football season that has produced so many twists, turns and improbable story lines, Corona Centennial High Coach Matt Logan is hoping for one more.

Centennial gets a last-minute win against Narbonne, 41-34

December 8, 2012

It has been the longest and most successful football season in school history, but unbeaten Harbor City Narbonne had never faced the dire situation it encountered on Saturday night in the CIF state regional Open Division championship bowl game.

Long Beach Poly runs past Clovis North, 28-7

December 7, 2012

Long Beach Poly Coach Raul Lara sure knows how to tease his team's football fans.

Narbonne coach won't settle for 'satisfied' at 14-0

December 6, 2012

Manuel Douglas is listed as the head football coach of City Section Division I champion Harbor City Narbonne, but his assistants tease him about "checking in with the real head coach."

Long Beach Poly plays Clovis North in regional bowl game Friday

December 6, 2012

CIF State Regional Championship Bowl Games

Corona Centennial's quarterback has been filling big shoes

December 4, 2012

Robert Webber remembers attending his first Corona Centennial High football game in the sixth grade. He saw quarterback Matt Scott (Arizona) running and passing the ball. Then he watched Taylor Martinez (Nebraska) and Michael Eubank (Arizona State).

Narbonne, Centennial to play in regional Open Division bowl game

December 2, 2012

Two elite high school football teams that run no-huddle, fast-paced offenses and are mirror images of each other have been selected to play in the inaugural CIF state regional Open Division championship bowl game.

Narbonne rolls to City title

December 1, 2012

Best City Section football team of the 21st century.

San Fernando defeats Canoga Park, 42-35, in Division II final

December 1, 2012

Quarterback Cristian Solano helped deliver the first City Section football championship for San Fernando High in 37 years on Saturday night, running for two touchdowns and passing for three touchdowns in a 42-35 victory over Canoga Park in the Division II championship game at East Los Angeles College.

Corona Centennial holds off Vista Murrieta to win 30-28

November 30, 2012

Don't believe anyone who says they don't play thrilling football in the Inland Empire, because Friday night's Inland Division championship game between Corona Centennial and Vista Murrieta came down to one of those unforgettable scenes.

Narbonne, Crenshaw already have proved they belong among the best

November 29, 2012

There are so many issues about playing football in the City Section. No practice on Thanksgiving ... head coaches whose stipend is a meager $2,811 a season ... no chance to play a championship game in a major venue ... a 64% graduation rate in Los Angeles Unified schools.

Centennial lineman gets up for game just by lying down

November 29, 2012

Every day, when he wakes up or goes to sleep, offensive lineman Cameron Hunt of Corona Centennial is reminded why he works so hard.

Gardena Serra's Ardis Perez bounces back from a dangerous injury

November 28, 2012

Scott Altenberg, the Gardena Serra football coach, doesn't know whether to laugh or cry when he tells the story of senior linebacker Ardis Perez.

St. Bonaventure, Oaks Christian could be headed for new leagues

November 26, 2012

On a day 26 teams playing for Southern Section football championships came together for a luncheon in Long Beach, big news was made off the field with the announcement that football powers Ventura St. Bonaventure and Westlake Village Oaks Christian could be headed to new leagues in 2014.

Sarah Baxter's great cross-country run continues

November 26, 2012

A correction has been added below.

Longshot wins Matriarch at Hollywood Park as favorite has trouble

November 26, 2012

Jockey Javier Castellano had a wild day at Betfair Hollywood Park on Sunday.

Prep basketball preview: Long Beach Poly is Division 1AA favorite

November 24, 2012

There are no guarantees in high school basketball, as Long Beach Poly learned two seasons ago. The Jackrabbits were cruising along with a 31-1 record and were everybody's pick to win a state championship, until a young, fearless Santa Ana Mater Dei team rose up and eliminated them, 72-55, in a stunning regional playoff defeat.

Mater Dei puts stop to naysayers by beating St. Bonaventure

November 23, 2012

A Pac-5 Division semifinal that started in thick fog at Ventura High ended Friday night with Santa Ana Mater Dei sending a clear message that its football program is back and better than ever after a 21-0 victory over Ventura St. Bonaventure.

Narbonne, Crenshaw to meet in City Section Division I final

November 23, 2012

The showdown everyone has anticipated all season in City Section Division I is set.

Mater Dei's Thomas Duarte elevates game as a pass catcher

November 22, 2012

The jump ball has disappeared from high school basketball except for the start of each game, but if you want to see repeated jump-ball situations, go to a Santa Ana Mater Dei football game and watch 6-foot-3, 225-pound Thomas Duarte make defensive backs look helpless as they simultaneously go for the ball.

Mater Dei plays St. Bonaventure in a top football playoff game

November 22, 2012

Santa Ana Mater Dei (10-2) vs. Ventura St. Bonaventure (11-1) at Ventura, 7 p.m. (Prep Zone): Top-seeded St. Bonaventure has turned to standout running back Zachary Green, who scored four touchdowns and rushed for 195 yards in 33 carries last week against Santa Margarita. The Seraphs will rely on their offensive line to open holes for Green and protect sophomore quarterback Ricky Town in this Pac-5 Division semifinal. Mater Dei, led by improving linebackers JC Genova and Grant Moore, will try to disrupt the Seraphs. Junior quarterback Chase Forrest has been handling the playoff pressure like a senior. The pick: Mater Dei.

Jonathan Santos leads South East through issues toward title shot

November 21, 2012

When it's time to look back on the high school career of South East quarterback Jonathan Santos, people will remember him as the teenager who was so poised and unyielding at a time of adversity that he inspired teammates and coaches alike.

Long Beach Poly springs back from humiliating loss

November 21, 2012

Imagine what it was like Sept. 7 to be part of the Long Beach Poly football program on the night the Jackrabbits lost to Harbor City Narbonne, 56-0, their worst defeat since 1916.

Washington Prep alumnus James Lofton offers students inspiration

November 17, 2012

Students who filled the gymnasium at Los Angeles Washington Prep on Thursday learned that future Hall of Famers don't always start out as high school sports standouts. That was the story told by Pro Football Hall of Fame member James Lofton, Washington class of 1974.

Mater Dei wins a wild one against Alemany

November 16, 2012

What an unforgettable night of Pac-5 Division quarterfinal playoff thrillers.

Prep football: Friday's top games

November 16, 2012

Mission Hills Alemany (9-2) vs. Santa Ana Mater Dei (9-2) at Santa Ana Stadium, 7:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West): There will be no shortage of top athletes on the field in this Pac-5 Division quarterfinal. Alemany has receivers Steven Mitchell and Devin Ross. Mater Dei has receiver Thomas Duarte and defensive back Jonathan Lockett. The key is whether Alemany's defense can take away Mater Dei's ability to run the ball and force junior quarterback Chase Forrest into some uncomfortable situations. The pick: Alemany.

Two Crenshaw cornerbacks put in the hard work to earn scholarships

November 15, 2012

Dominique Hatfield won't forget the moment last month that his football coach at Crenshaw High, Robert Garrett, told him a letter had just come in via school fax machine.

Turmoil in West Adams Prep's sports program raises questions

November 13, 2012

Built at a cost of $176 million, Los Angeles West Adams Prep opened in 2007 with some of the best athletic facilities in the Los Angeles Unified School District. There is an all-weather football field, an all-weather track, a weight room, fitness center, swimming pool, two gymnasiums and lighted baseball and softball diamonds.

A change at quarterback positions Mater Dei nicely

November 10, 2012

It's considered a risky move to make a change at quarterback in the opening round of the football playoffs. That's what Santa Ana Mater Dei Coach Bruce Rollinson did Friday night, starting junior Chase Forrest instead of senior Ryan McMahon.

Notre Dame knocks out Oaks Christian

November 9, 2012

The Pac-5 Division football playoffs are about survival and finding a way to advance, and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame left no doubt about how fortunate it was on Friday night after pulling out a 28-27 first-round victory over Westlake Village Oaks Christian.

Most Pac-5 postseason quarterbacks are new to the playoff game

November 8, 2012

It's win or turn in the uniform time, and that means attention will be focused on a group of quarterbacks who have never started, let alone played in, a Pac-5 Division playoff game.

Oaks Christian vs. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame among top Friday games

November 8, 2012

Westlake Village Oaks Christian (8-2) at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (7-3), 7 p.m. Oaks Christian is making its Pac-5 Division playoff debut. The Lions opened a 21-0 lead over top-seeded Ventura St. Bonaventure last week before losing in the Marmonte League championship game, so it's clear they have the ability to play against the best,. They're led by quarterback Brandon Dawkins and linebacker Cameron Judge. Notre Dame's offense has reached peak form in Week 11, led by standout running back Khalfani Muhammad and improving quarterback Kelly Hilinski. The pick: Notre Dame.

Notre Dame finally finds a way into playoffs

November 6, 2012

After two years of coming up short, once because of a miracle touchdown by its opponent on the final play of the final regular-season game, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is back in the Pac-5 playoffs armed with an offense that's playing as well as any in the division.

Southern Section playoff pairings full of Pac-5 surprises

November 5, 2012

In a season full of surprises, the Southern Section football playoff pairings were released on Sunday with more surprises.

St. John Bosco routs Santa Margarita for first Trinity League title

November 2, 2012

In a statement game one week before the Pac-5 Division playoffs begin, Bellflower St. John Bosco won its first Trinity League title with a 42-15 victory over Santa Margarita on Friday night at St. John Bosco. Running back Darren Walker scored three times.

Barbara Fiege to retire, ending an era in City Section

November 2, 2012

After 39 years of working in the Los Angeles Unified School District as a teacher, coach and athletic administrator, Barbara Fiege says she will retire on June 30, 2013.

Prep football: Friday's top games

November 2, 2012

Lake Forest El Toro (9-0, 4-0) at Mission Viejo (9-0, 4-0), 7:30 p.m. — Mission Viejo is averaging 51.8 points. El Toro is averaging 47.2. It should be a wild offensive circus in this South Coast League title decider. Mission Viejo's versatile Max Redfield, who has committed to USC, continues to make big plays. Running back Alex Suchesk has exceptional speed. El Toro will feature quarterback Conner Manning and running back Jacob Furnari. The pick: Mission Viejo.

Diocese, Mater Dei agree to settle lawsuit against Southern Section

November 2, 2012

The Diocese of Orange and Santa Ana Mater Dei High have reached agreement in principle to settle a 2-year-old lawsuit against the CIF Southern Section that alleged unfair treatment and discrimination against Mater Dei athletes, attorney Jerome Jackson said Thursday.

California Flag, oldie and still goodie, to run for last time

November 1, 2012

California Flag is the senior citizen of racehorses this weekend at Santa Anita. The 8-year-old gelding will try to become the oldest horse to win a Breeders' Cup race.

Trainer Bill Mott has three shots at piece of Breeders' Cup history

October 30, 2012

When it comes to winning Breeders' Cup races, trainer Bill Mott has been one of the best. He has won eight, including last year's $5-million Classic with Drosselmeyer.

Hired to produce victories, these high school coaches deliver

October 30, 2012

Accepting a head coaching position at a private school has very little job security unless you win. That's the harsh truth these days in Southern California high school sports.

Game On Dude is tabbed as favorite for $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic

October 30, 2012

With the temperature in the mid-80s on Monday and not a single cloud visible at Santa Anita, the draw was held for this weekend's Breeders' Cup, even though 14 horses entered in the world championships are still stuck in New York and Kentucky waiting for the weather to clear from Hurricane Sandy.

The Times' high school football rankings

October 29, 2012

It's the final week of the regular season and there are two huge games Friday matching top 10 teams: No. 8 El Toro at No. 4 Mission Viejo and No. 10 Santa Margarita at No. 5 St. John Bosco.

Mission Viejo-El Toro game 'could be an old-fashion shootout'

October 28, 2012

High school football fans who enjoy lots of scoring should make plans to head out to Mission Viejo High on Friday night for a regular-season finale that doesn't get much better than the Diablos (9-0) taking on Lake Forest El Toro (9-0) to decide the South Coast League title.

Garfield linebacker pumped for Classic, preps for MIT

October 26, 2012

When a 17-year-old high school football player says he wants to apply to Caltech and MIT, everyone should take notice.

Top high school games: Garfield vs. Roosevelt, Hart vs. Valencia

October 26, 2012

Friday's games

Eight former champions entered in Breeders' Cup

October 24, 2012

Eight Breeders' Cup champions are among the 180 horses that have been pre-entered for the 29th Breeders' Cup World Championships set for Nov. 2-3 at Santa Anita. Final entries will be taken Monday.

Prep Notebook: East L.A. Classic renews Roosevelt-Garfield football rivalry

October 24, 2012

It's time for the annual East Los Angeles Classic matching Garfield against Roosevelt on Friday night at East Los Angeles College. And much attention will be on Roosevelt's versatile Gilbert Herrera.

Coach Sean Pollard executes an impressive turnaround at Van Nuys

October 20, 2012

Sean Pollard had it good. He was an assistant coach at Woodland Hills Taft under Troy Starr. He was head coach at Woodland Hills El Camino Real. He was an assistant at Moorpark College.

Crenshaw cuts off Dorsey at the pass, 34-14

October 19, 2012

Good luck to quarterbacks who test the best cornerback tandem in the City Section. Crenshaw High's Dominique Hatfield and Mossi Johnson back down from nobody.

These high school quarterbacks are making names for themselves

October 18, 2012

Want to know the most surprising development of the 2012 high school football season? It's the rise of a new group of quarterbacks few envisioned would become standouts so quickly.

Ojai Nordhoff has football fans pumped up

October 16, 2012

With a 7-0 record, a No. 1 ranking in the Northwest Division and the possibility of playing in a CIF state championship Division III regional bowl game, Ojai Nordhoff has its fans excited.

Another last-second Notre Dame-Crespi game goes Knights' way

October 14, 2012

It's 7 o'clock on Saturday morning at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, and a detention class for being tardy has never felt better for linebacker JJ Muno. He's wearing a ski cap, he's limping badly and acting zombie-like, but it's no surprise since he and his teammates are still feeling a little delirious after pulling out a 40-34 victory over Encino Crespi in four overtimes only hours earlier.

In Cal Cup Classic, Baze earns biggest win in his racing comeback

October 14, 2012

On Cal Cup Day at Santa Anita, jockey Tyler Baze earned his biggest win yet in his racing comeback, guiding Lucky Primo to a half-length victory over Got Even in the $175,000 Cal Cup Classic at 1 1/16 miles.

Alemany rolls early, holds on late to beat Bishop Amat

October 13, 2012

Can the high school football season produce any more excitement and drama than what transpired Friday night?

Friday's top high school football games

October 12, 2012

La Puente Bishop Amat (5-0-1, 0-0) at Mission Hills Alemany (6-1, 1-0), 7 p.m. — Alemany hasn't lost a Serra League game since it joined the league in 2010, going 9-0. This should be one of the Warriors' toughest tests. Bishop Amat has balance on offense with quarterback Koa Haynes and running back Dionza Blue. Darren Andrews is a terrific receiver-defensive back. Alemany gave up 42 points last week in a win over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. The offense scored 49 points and might need to equal that, putting the pressure on quarterback Devon Dunn and receivers Steven Mitchell and Devin Ross. The pick: Alemany.

Harbor City Narbonne's Keishawn Bierria making recruiters notice

October 12, 2012

Every time linebacker Keishawn Bierria of Harbor City Narbonne steps onto the field, he looks ready to run through a brick wall. It's his way of honoring his father, Lowell, who died from cancer when Bierria was 8, leaving behind four boys who loved to play sports.

Alemany keeps winning despite shaky defense

October 6, 2012

Does Mission Hills Alemany football Coach Dean Herrington truly believe that "defense wins championships?"

Chaminade battles back to beat Serra, 28-20

October 6, 2012

Call it a signature victory in the latest coaching achievement for Ed Croson. His West Hills Chaminade football team got physical and tough in the second half and rallied for a 28-20 victory over Gardena Serra in a Mission League opener on Friday night.

Friday's top high school football games

October 5, 2012

Gardena Serra (4-1) at West Hills Chaminade (4-1), 7:30 p.m.: Chaminade is still trying to figure out how to beat the Cavaliers in this Mission League opener. The last two seasons, Serra has won, 35-29, in 2011 and 35-21 in 2010. So either the defense has to rise up or the offense must score more than 35 points. A 362-yard passing performance by new starting quarterback Brad Kaaya last week has Chaminade excited. But the Eagles still must find a way to deal with a Serra defensive unit that more than held its own against unbeaten Narbonne. The pick: Serra.

Chaminade's Brad Kaaya makes an impact

October 4, 2012

It's not every high school football season that a team receives a bolt of lightning to send it on a trajectory even opponents never thought possible.

Different religions, but all on the same team

October 4, 2012

It still seems a little strange when the starting quarterback at a Catholic high school is Jewish, but in reality, it has been happening so often that it's no longer considered a big deal.

Versatility gives young volleyball virtuoso an edge

October 3, 2012

Whether setting, digging, hitting, serving or passing, 16-year-old Zana Muno of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame is volleyball's version of a utility player. There isn't a position she can't play or a skill she can't master.

For high school transfers, the waiting is over — go out and play

October 2, 2012

Monday was freedom day for more than 100 high school athletes who play for Southern Section teams. They became eligible to compete in football, cross-country, girls' tennis, girls' golf and girls' volleyball after sitting out the first month of the season under new CIF transfer rules.

It has been a wild football season and it's still early

September 30, 2012

It's the midway point of the high school football season, and there have been so many strange, unexpected developments that not even the most competent psychic could have predicted what has transpired.

Narbonne defeats Mater Dei to pull off sweet trifecta

September 28, 2012

The only ingredient missing from Friday night's matchup of unbeaten Santa Ana Mater Dei and unbeaten Harbor City Narbonne was snow, rain or a little mud, because the fourth quarter produced a defensive struggle that will be long remembered for its intensity and big-time hits.

Football's a block party at Lake Forest El Toro

September 28, 2012

In an era when teams that win championships usually have a transfer or two on their roster, Lake Forest El Toro is trying to succeed the old-fashioned way — with kids who played together at the same park, the same cul-de-sac, even the same middle school.

San Fernando on a 4-0 high as it prepares to take on Kennedy

September 26, 2012

There's a resurgence in San Fernando High football taking place after three consecutive 3-7 seasons.

Crenshaw's football team inspires with passion, determination

September 23, 2012

If you want inspiration, go watch the Los Angeles Crenshaw High football team. They're 30 players strong and keep showing what happens when a group of determined, passionate teenagers give their all for 48 minutes.

Santa Margarita is a cut above St. Bonaventure in first-rate show

September 21, 2012

OMG, or "oh my God" if you have to spell it out, was the text message of the day coming out of Saddleback College on Friday night during a playoff-like football game between No. 1-ranked Santa Margarita and No. 3 Ventura St. Bonaventure.

Friday's top high school football games

September 21, 2012

Ventura St. Bonaventure (4-0) vs. Santa Margarita (4-0) at Saddleback College, 7 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prep Zone): The task for St. Bonaventure looks daunting. Santa Margarita has scored touchdowns on 17 of its last 20 offensive possessions and scored 141 unanswered points over 10 quarters. Quarterback Johnny Stanton is completing 68% of his passes and has nine TD passes. Running back Ryan Wolpin has scored 10 TDs. "We've got some answers," St. Bonaventure Coach Todd Therrien said. "Let's see if they work." The Seraphs, led by quarterback Ricky Town and running back Zachary Green, own wins over Corona Centennial and Redlands East Valley. The pick: Santa Margarita.

Oaks Christian can't help but smile along with QB Brandon Dawkins

September 20, 2012

If someone discovers quarterback Brandon Dawkins not smiling, please take a photo to prove it. Whether in the huddle, on the sideline or in the locker room, Dawkins is the coolest, most laid-back teenager not named Justin Bieber.

Mater Dei-CIF legal fight continues

September 19, 2012

A lawsuit filed in 2010 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and Santa Ana Mater Dei against the CIF Southern Section lives on, and attorney fees for the CIF have exceeded $109,000, CIF Executive Director Roger Blake said Monday.

Fairfax High tournament offers peek into the future

June 18, 2012

Who needs the NBA when you can watch some future college and perhaps NBA players all next week in one of the featured tournaments of the summer at Fairfax High.

Yutaka Shimizu dies at 84; longtime L.A. high school basketball coach

June 13, 2012

Yutaka Shimizu, who became a quiet institution among high school basketball coaches in Los Angeles during a career that began in 1959 and lasted the rest of his life, has died. He was 84.

Marty Biegel dies at 90; former Fairfax High basketball coach

March 16, 2012

Marty Biegel, who took over as Fairfax High School's head basketball coach in 1969 at a time of racial tension in Los Angeles and united players and students both in the classroom and on the court, died Tuesday. He was 90.

Lloyd Arnold dies at 83; helped revive harness racing in California

January 11, 2012

Lloyd Arnold, the former co-owner of Los Alamitos Race Course who helped revive harness racing in Southern California in the 1980s, died Sunday in La Quinta. He was 83 and had cancer.

Lewis Brown dies at 56; former high school basketball star in Los Angeles

September 20, 2011

Lewis Brown, a 6-foot-11 center who was a two-time high school basketball player of the year at Los Angeles Verbum Dei in the 1970s and spent the last 10 years living on the streets of Hollywood, died Wednesday after having a heart attack, according to his sister, Anita Brown Campbell. He was 56.

Greg Goossen dies at 65; catcher signed with Dodgers for a six-figure bonus

March 1, 2011

Greg Goossen, a former Dodgers catcher who played six seasons in the major leagues, then dabbled as a boxing trainer and was a stand-in for actor Gene Hackman in more than a dozen films, was found dead Saturday at his home in Sherman Oaks. He was 65.

Noble Threewitt dies at 99; champion trainer of thoroughbreds

September 20, 2010

Noble Threewitt, a thoroughbred trainer for 75 years who was known in Southern California for his friendly, gentle demeanor and dedication to helping workers in the barn areas, died of natural causes Friday at an assisted living facility in West Covina, said his grandson Chris Chinnici. He was 99.

Jim Brownfield dies at 81; football, girls' track coach at Pasadena's Muir High School

May 25, 2010

Jim Brownfield, who achieved prominence as a football and girls' track coach at Pasadena's John Muir High School in the 1980s and '90s, died early Monday. He was 81.

Bobby Frankel dies at 68; Hall of Fame racehorse trainer

November 17, 2009

Bobby Frankel, a Hall of Fame trainer recognized on both coasts for his affection for and success with thoroughbred horses, died Monday at his home in Pacific Palisades from complications of lymphoma. He was 68.

Bishop Amat's Isaiah Bowens is on a collision course with stardom

August 31, 2008

Seventh in a series previewing top high school players:

Kirifi Taula gets a new start at Servite

August 30, 2008

Sixth in a series previewing top high school players:

Carson's Morrell Presley is new breed of tight end

August 28, 2008

Fourth in a series previewing top high school players.

A break in the fencing

June 19, 2008

Sweat drips from Brennan Louie's face as the 16-year-old twists and turns in a series of acrobatic break dance movements that produce both pleasure and pain.

Malibu's Williams has plenty of class

April 25, 2008

Autographs can become very valuable. Just ask someone who got reclusive Dodger Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax to sign a baseball.

This track is not completely meter made

April 23, 2008

Call it the "Incredible Shrinking Track."

Demands of some club soccer coaches test high school ethics

April 19, 2008

If Mario Ledezma had his way, he would have become invisible at the conclusion of a tension-filled City Section semifinal soccer playoff game on the last day of February.

Southland is brimming with top baseball prospects

April 16, 2008

Anthony Gose of Bellflower is a left-handed pitcher who can throw a fastball 95 mph. There are major league teams that have paid million-dollar signing bonuses to teenagers with similar skills.

Taft hurdler D.J. Morgan has a jumping-off point

April 11, 2008

When sophomore track standout D.J. Morgan of Woodland Hills Taft was 5, he tried to leap over a thorn bush in the frontyard of his parents' house in Pacoima while his older brothers watched in amusement.

Parent-coaches must find the right balance

April 4, 2008

Whenever a parent decides to coach his son or daughter on a sports team, their relationship faces potential risks as well as possible rewards.

Newhall Hart pitcher Trevor Bauer keeps head in game

March 21, 2008

Last July, while many teenagers were hanging out at the beach on their summer vacations, Trevor Bauer of Newhall Hart was spending three weeks in 95-degree temperatures and 85% humidity at a baseball camp in Texas.

Blind swimmer is true inspiration

March 19, 2008

A loud beep tells the six swimmers standing on starting blocks to dive into the pool. Andrew Luk of Diamond Bar, wearing goggles, pushes off from the wall as his competitors splash and dart ahead in the 500-yard freestyle race.

UCLA-bound Holiday soars to new heights

March 14, 2008

Standing at the entrance to the gymnasium at North Hollywood Campbell Hall and wearing a Disneyland hat with the name "Grumpy" emblazoned on its front, a smiling and playful Jrue Holiday hardly fit the profile of an All-American high school basketball player who, in a couple of years, could be playing with or against Kobe Bryant.

Shooting death of his father drives Riverside King's Leonard

March 8, 2008

The last time Riverside King and Compton Dominguez played in a high school basketball game was Jan. 19 at Pauley Pavilion, and Kawhi Leonard was grieving.

Separate playoff divisions isn't the answer

March 5, 2008

A leap of faith is necessary to support the idea that creating separate public and private school playoff divisions in the Southern Section would be good for Southern California's high school sports.

Open enrollment is a magnet for Taft success

February 29, 2008

If Woodland Hills Taft wins the City Championship Division boys' basketball title Saturday night at the Sports Arena, give some of the credit to the state legislature for passing the open enrollment law that went into effect in the fall of 1994.

Orange Lutheran's Cole is a pitcher with options

February 27, 2008

Long before Gerrit Cole's junior baseball season, UCLA Coach John Savage identified the Orange Lutheran right-hander as having one of the better pitching arms in the Southland. Savage got an early commitment from Cole and started to make plans for when Cole would arrive for the 2009 college season.

Villanueva's journey has him back at Roosevelt

February 24, 2008

There are spider webs not nearly as entangled or twisted as the strange odyssey involving left-handed pitcher Martin Villanueva of Los Angeles Roosevelt.

Harris wins over a tough crowd

February 20, 2008

On Sundays in the Mojave Desert town of Twentynine Palms, home to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, 17-year-old Montreal Harris likes to travel to a gym on base to test himself against some former athletes who offer him no sympathy.

Sophomore takes her best shot at Olympic glory

January 11, 2008

Marisa Berger, a 15-year-old sophomore at North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, would have no problem toting a .44 Magnum while spouting, "Go ahead, make my day."

Showing their Wares

January 9, 2008

Those who followed City Section boys' basketball in the late 1970s know that it was a time of oohing and aahing over the magnificent displays of athletic talent.

After Serna is switched to QB, St. Bonaventure lights it up

December 14, 2007

While munching on a carne asada taco at a coaches' barbecue, Ventura St. Bonaventure's youthful first-year football coach, Todd Therrien, made a decision that proved to be a decisive moment in helping the Seraphs (13-1) earn an invitation to Saturday's CIF state Division III championship bowl game.

Corona Centennial has quite the spread

December 12, 2007

There can't be anything more frightening for a high school football coach these days than trying to figure out how to stop Corona Centennial's seemingly unstoppable spread offense.

Pain never slows Dorsey's Franklin

November 30, 2007

It was Thanksgiving morning, and running back Johnathan Franklin of Los Angeles Dorsey woke up feeling the pain of a hard night's work.

She's got a ticket to ride

November 28, 2007

If Ryan Sheckler, the skateboarding MTV heartthrob from San Clemente, ever needs a companion with X Games-like fearlessness, 15-year-old Kate Hansen of La Cañada could be the perfect match.

Crespi defense creates a buzz

November 22, 2007

Defensive coordinator Joe McLaughlin expects his Encino Crespi players to act like a bunch of crazed bees.

Olmos makes family proud

November 21, 2007

With temperatures in the 90s, Jesus Olmos spent last Wednesday building a fence. Almost every hour, while sweating and full of dirt, he thought about his son, Edgar.

Fairfax center Sidney brings complete set of skills

November 14, 2007

At 6 feet 10, 235 pounds, with the ability to dribble like a point guard, dunk as if he were Shaquille O'Neal and shoot three-pointers with relative ease, Renardo Sidney is no ordinary high school basketball player.

Top Southland boys' basketball players like it hot

November 14, 2007

The rumors started on the Internet and spread to the gyms around Southern California. DeMar DeRozan of Compton was transferring to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill to join Brandon Jennings. Then he was going to New York Lincoln, where Lance Stephenson holds court.

Ward, Jakubiec learn from best

November 9, 2007

Two giant 16-year-old sophomores who didn't play tackle football until they reached high school have discovered that smashing their smaller opponents to the turf can be fun and rewarding.

Notre Dame's Crist is defined by more than football

November 7, 2007

Coach Kevin Rooney held a meeting with his Sherman Oaks Notre Dame football team on Halloween, and he found that keeping a straight face was extremely difficult. Linebacker Anthony McDonald showed up as Dog the Bounty Hunter. A teammate was Scooby-Doo and another was dressed as Superman.

Beverly Hills senior still growing

November 2, 2007

Shaquille O'Neal is 7 feet 1 and wears size 23 shoes. UCLA freshman Kevin Love is 6-10 and wears size 19 shoes.

Taking a new stance on football

October 31, 2007

In fall 2004, Datone Jones was a freshman at Compton High, dreaming of becoming a basketball standout. He ignored the repeated pleas of his P.E. teacher, Calvin Bryant, to try football.

Gretzky living baseball dream through son

October 27, 2007

The greatest ice hockey player in history, Wayne Gretzky, a nine-time NHL most valuable player and 10-time scoring champion, had a pen in his hand Wednesday night and was signing jerseys, hockey sticks and wine bottles in such rapid fashion that it seemed as if he might develop carpal tunnel syndrome before the night was over.

Baca goes from zero to hero at Ayala

October 24, 2007

Matt Baca of Chino Hills Ayala has already mastered one of the most important skills necessary to becoming a top athlete: blocking out miserable memories.

Barkley stands tall for Mater Dei

October 19, 2007

At midseason, it's time to look at who's doing well, who's exceeding expectations and who's come out of nowhere to make an impact on the 2007 high school football season.

El Segundo's Bundy has the right (and left) stuff

October 17, 2007

As a 747 jumbo jet began its full-throttle climb from Los Angeles International Airport, far below stood left-handed quarterback Michael Bundy on the football field at El Segundo High, lofting one 20-yard spiral after another.

A little variety doesn't hurt

October 12, 2007

There's an urgent need to restore the concept of cross-training to the vocabulary of high school coaches, athletes and parents.

Hart's Ewart on a mission after being injured in fire

October 10, 2007

Five days before Christmas 2005, Mike Ewart was jolted awake in the early morning by the piercing screams of his younger brother.

It's a family thing for Garfield standout

October 3, 2007

For 26 years, Maria and Jesus Lopez have lived in a two-bedroom house in City Terrace, sending seven sons to Garfield High, where each learned to play football and gained an appreciation for the difference between right and wrong.

UCLA becomes a detour choice for Ivy League son

September 28, 2007

If anyone seemed destined to become an Ivy Leaguer, it was Jonathan Martin. After all, his father went to Harvard. His mother went to Harvard and her parents went to Harvard. Even his mother's cousin went to Harvard.

A standout stays close to home

September 26, 2007

The start of school each September can be cruel for any high school basketball coach waiting to learn if rumors of summer transfers out of his program turn out to be true.

Old-school style for new school

September 21, 2007

Julio Segura had never played tackle football until he came out for spring practice at the urging of a couple of football coaches who saw him play basketball as a sophomore at South East, a new high school in South Gate.

Big Bear's Kriss Proctor thrives under pressure

September 19, 2007

Nestled in the mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest is Big Bear, hometown of Kriss Proctor, a 17-year-old senior quarterback whose life tales are filled with enthralling moments.

Evans has the right attitude on and off the field

September 14, 2007

When a teenager loves to play football, his attitude can become contagious, inspiring teammates and even coaches.

They're off and running with the shotgun formation

September 12, 2007

It took 25 years of coaching high school football at the varsity level before a skeptical Kevin Rooney of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame finally embraced the shotgun formation in 2004.

Mascarenas corners the market on big plays

September 7, 2007

Something special seems to happen every time cornerback Alex Mascarenas of Mission Viejo is on the football field.

Loyola's Thompson is answering the call

September 5, 2007

There's an interesting way to determine whether a high school athlete has attained big-time status in the college recruiting world.

Mater Dei's Barkley figures to stay on course

August 30, 2007

When the final story is written years from now, chronicling the football achievements of quarterback Matt Barkley, don't let anyone downplay the significance of what happened in the fall of 2005.