UC Irvine outlasts UC San Diego in showdown between Big West’s best

• January 19, 2024

IRVINE — Heading into Big West Conference play three weeks ago, few expected UC Irvine and UC San Diego to be the featured matchup after five games, but both entered Thursday night’s meeting as the only unbeaten teams left in the conference.

UCI now stands alone after a 76-65 victory over the Tritons at the Bren Events Center.

Andre Henry led the way for UCI (13-5 overall, 6-0 Big West) with 18 points and he was the primary defender on UCSD’s leading scorer, Bryce Pope, who came in averaging 18.7 points with 37 consecutive games in double figures dating to last season. Pope was held to eight points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field.

Henry, who shot 4 for 6 from 3-point range, said the defensive effort on Pope meant more to him than his 18 points.

“We knew how important he was to their team, his scoring, just his playmaking in general,” Henry said. “I might get the credit, but that’s a team job right there. We played great team defense and we just made everything hard for him, and we just tried to have other guys beat us.”

Justin Hohn had 14 points and five assists and Devin Tillis scored all 11 of his points in the second half while also contributing nine rebounds and three steals for UCI, which improved to 7-0 at home this season.

Francis Nwaokorie had 17 points and seven rebounds, but he scored just two in the second half for UCSD (11-7, 5-1), which was picked to finish ninth in the Big West preseason coaches’ poll. Tyler McGhie added 12 points and Hayden Gray had 11 points and six rebounds.

“I thought we wore them down, which is what we thought we could do, as the game went on,” UCI coach Russell Turner said. “I thought we had some really outstanding performances on both offense and defense.”

The Anteaters trailed 33-32 at halftime and were still behind by two points when they went on a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead of the night at 50-45 with 12:42 left in the game.

UCI missed a few chances to expand the lead before Bent Leuchten made two free throws in a one-and-one situation to extend the lead to 59-53 and Henry then scored inside to make it 61-53 with 4:58 left.

The Tritons could only get as close as six points the rest of the way.

“Andre has done what we ask guys to do,” Turner said. “He’s built his game off of his defense and it’s almost like, the better defense he plays, the better offense he plays. So he’s taken the challenge to play the other teams’ best players.”

The Anteaters finished with 19 assists and just seven turnovers.

“We have a team of good passers and that was one of the things that I knew coming into the season,” Turner said. “It’s hard to teach passing. You either have it or you don’t, so I think we have a chance to get better.”

After six lead changes in the opening 20 minutes, the Tritons took a one-point lead into the break.

Both teams shot 42.9% from the floor in the first half, but the Tritons owned a 20-11 edge in rebounding.

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UCI was ultimately outrebounded 37-29, including 10-3 on the offensive end.

“I’m disappointed that we’re not rebounding better as a team right now,” Turner said.

Henry and Langston Redfield took turns guarding Pope and limited him to two points on 1-for-4 shooting in the opening half.

UCI was 6 for 15 from 3-point range in the first half and 6 for 13 on 2-point attempts.

The Tritons took their biggest lead of the first half at 21-14 with 7:27 left, but the Anteaters outscored UCSD 19-11 the rest of the half.

Francis Nwaokorie, who came in averaging 12.5 points, scored 15 in the first half for the Tritons.

Hohn, Henry and Leuchten each had eight points in the opening half for Irvine.

​ Orange County Register 

Mater Dei girls basketball dominates Orange Lutheran to tighten grip on Trinity League race

• January 19, 2024

SANTA ANA — The Mater Dei girls basketball team opened up a double-digit lead late in the first quarter of its Trinity League game against Orange Lutheran on Thursday at Mater Dei High School.

The Monarchs, who are ranked No. 1 in Orange County and No. 5 in Division 1 of the CIF Southern Section, just created more and more separation the rest of the way, cruising to a 75-40 victory.

The Monarchs (17-6, 5-0) are now sitting comfortably in first place in the Trinity League with a two-game lead over the second-place Lancers (15-7, 3-2) with three league games remaining.

Mater Dei is looking to go undefeated in the Trinity League for the second consecutive season.

“I liked the way we played tonight,” Mater Dei coach Kevin Kiernan said. “We were locked in. We were really focused. We’re getting better and if we can just build on this as we move toward the rest of the league and the playoffs, that would be awesome.”

When Mater Dei and the Lancers faced off in their first meeting at Orange Lutheran on Jan. 2, the Monarchs trailed by six at the half and one point after three quarters before going on an 18-7 run in the fourth for a 66-57 victory.

“We’ve been talking about this game since the last game,” said Kaeli Wynn, who scored 18 points to lead the Monarchs. “We said when we play them on our own court, they don’t even have a chance. We were so determined, we were so focused this week of practice.”

Emily Shaw scored 17 for the Monarchs, including three 3-pointers, and Janessa Cotton finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Princess Cassell led the Lancers with 12 points.

Shaw stepped in as a starter after Addison Deal, the reigning Orange County girls basketball player of the year, became sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining an ankle injury on Dec. 21.

The Monarchs were the faster, stronger team against Orange Lutheran, were dominant under the basket and gave the Lancers trouble with their signature full-court press.

“We’re just learning to trust each other more, especially with losing Addy,” said Wynn, who is the daughter of Mater Dei assistant coach Jody Wynn.

“It was hard the first few games without Addy,” Wynn added. “But I think we’re finally back in our groove. I’m excited. I think we can go far in CIF and state.”

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​ Orange County Register 

Predators hand Kings their 10th loss in 11 games

• January 19, 2024

LOS ANGELES — Needing to shake off the doldrums after a dreary 10-game stretch, including a just-completed 1-5 road trip, the Kings could not find their form in front of a less-than-enthused crowd on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena, losing to the Nashville Predators, 2-1.

All three goals came in the second period, when the teams traded scores. Ryan O’Reilly and Gustav Nyquist connected for the visitors, sandwiching the Kings’ only highlight on a Drew Doughty power-play goal.

Hours after Kings general manager Rob Blake gave Coach Todd McLellan a vote of confidence amid their slump, some of the same issues that have defined the recent slump showed up again. The Kings played better at even strength through the first half of the game, only for their special teams to give away that momentum.

The Kings took seven shots against Predators netminder Juuse Saros in the opening five minutes. Then they managed just one more over the next 15 minutes, falling short on two power-play opportunities while killing a pair for Nashville.

Receiving the start over All-Star Cam Talbot, David Rittich held Nashville scoreless with 11 first-period saves, denying a good look on a wrist shot by Denis Gurianov, who got behind the Kings’ defense, and a couple minutes later keeping his cool as Juuso Parssinen whirled around to try a 360-degree spinning wrist shot.

The Kings’ lone attempt on goal after their early flurry came with less than two minutes remaining in the period. Leading goal scorer Taylor Moore found the puck in front of the Nashville net, but wristed it above the crossbar.

That’s how it went as passes, shots and connections missed their mark. When potentially dangerous attacks did materialize, the Kings were sufficiently rebuffed.

Outside of one power-play effort in the third period and a frantic final minute trying to beat Saros, who saved 33 of the 34 shots he faced, the Kings gave their fans more reasons to jeer than cheer their first home match since Jan. 4.

O’Reilly put the Predators on the board with a rare power-play goal against the strongest penalty-killing team in the NHL. The Kings had denied their opponents’ 22 man-advantage opportunities since the start of the new year until defenseman Roman Josi fired the puck at the net and O’Reilly tipped it in at 7:56 for his 17th goal of the season.

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The Kings (21-13-8, 50 points) asserted themselves less than a minute later when Doughty’s one-timer slap shot zoomed past Saros’ glove hand, cashing in a much-needed power play after Nashville defenseman Ryan McDonagh was hit with a delay of game when the Predators’ net was dislodged as the Kings threatened in the crease.

Doughty’s 10th goal of the season, assisted by Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe, followed his 150th goal for the Kings on Tuesday night in Dallas, inching the ironman closer to Rob Blake’s franchise record for a defenseman (161).

Rittich (31 saves on 33 shots) stayed strong between the pipes despite conceding a rebound goal to center Gustav Nyquist at 13:40 of the second period. The Swede’s 12th goal put the visitors in front to stay.

Coming off a 4-1 loss to Las Vegas, Nashville (25-19-1, 51 points) entered the game with the third-most points in the NHL since mid-November. The Predators have suffered only three regulation losses to the Kings in their last 27 meetings, taking 12 of the last 15 between the two.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

Tournament of Roses announces 2025 Rose Parade theme: ‘Best Day Ever!’

• January 19, 2024

Just weeks out from what was thought to be one of the most well attended Rose Parades in years, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses has announced the theme for the 136th annual New Year’s Day parade: “Best Day Ever!”

Incoming Tournament of Roses President Ed Morales announced the selection, which will inspire the float designs for the 2025 Rose Parade, in front of a crowd of supporters at the Tournament House on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

“This year’s theme celebrates life’s special moments. Those moments that excite us, motivate us and fill us with joy,” Morales said, noting that the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl unite millions ever New Year.

“It could be the day you learn to ride a bike, a favorite family vacation, or the birth of your first grandchild. These are the moments that make life worth living.”

Each year, the new president selects the theme and the grand marshal of the Rose Parade for the year, on the day they ascend to the position. Morales was confirmed as president and chairman of the board for the 2025 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association by the Board of Directors earlier Thursday.

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Throughout his tenure as a volunteer Member of the Tournament of Roses, Morales has been involved in numerous committees, such as Community Relations, Membership, Queen and Court and Media Operations. Outside of the Tournament of Roses, Morales is a member of the Pasadena Optimist Club and serves on the Foundation Board for the California School of the Arts.

He is a partner with the Law Offices of Borton Petrini, LLP, receiving his undergraduate degree in History from UCLA, and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School.

The new theme follows the 2024 Rose Parade theme, “Celebrating a World of Music,” which paid homage to music’s ability to unite people. It also informed the selection of the 135th parade’s grand marsha, Audra McDonald.

​ Orange County Register 

Placentia man accused of entering U.S. Capitol during Jan. 6 riot is arrested

• January 19, 2024

A Placentia man seen walking through the U.S. Capitol building with hundreds of people who stormed in more than three years ago seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election was arrested this week, according to court documents.

FBI agents arrested Shawn Schaefer, 51, on Wednesday, Jan. 17 on five charges related to his actions during the 2021 attack on the Capitol, an event that had been hyped for months among supporters of former President Donald Trump as he pursued illegitimate claims he actually won the election over Joe Biden.

Schaefer was accused of entering a restricted building and attempting to impede government business.

Federal records showed he was in custody Thursday, Jan. 18, but booking information was not available; nor was information for an attorney who may be representing him.

In a criminal complaint filed in a federal district court in Washington, D.C. last week, a special agent working for the FBI’s L.A. field office investigating domestic terrorism cases said Schaefer was spotted on security cameras walking with a large crowd and taking photos inside the Capitol building “for less than two minutes.”

According to the complaint, an associate of Schaefer who traveled with him to D.C. identified him to the FBI as part of a plea deal. The associate was not identified in the complaint. Portions of the identification of the associate were redacted from the complaint.

Schaefer and the other person had planned since Dec. 28, 2020 to travel to the Capitol to be there for Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally, according to the complaint.

In text messages, the pair discussed buying small radios to stay in touch with each other once they got to the rally. They also met on Jan. 4, 2021, the day before their flight.

The day of the attack, the agent said, Schaefer entered the Senate wing of the Capitol building through a fire door just before 3 p.m. He packed into a narrow hallway with dozens of others bearing flags and wearing gear showing their support for Trump.

That was about 40 minutes after elected officials inside were ordered to evacuate, suspending the certification of the election for nearly six hours.

While he was in the hallway, Schaefer held up a phone, appearing to record what was happening. He briefly entered the office of the Senate’s parliamentarian, before police pushed Schaefer and everyone else in the hallway outside.

In the complaint, the agent further tied Schaefer to the rally after finding an account on Parler, a social media network, under the name “QPatriot420” that used a selfie Schaefer took of himself near the Washington Monument in front of a crowd of Trump supporters. The agent said Schaefer’s email and phone number were both associated with the account.

The agent interviewed Schaefer at his home in Placentia on March 28, 2023. The agent said Schaefer admitted to attending the Trump rally, then walking with the crowd to the Capitol building before they went inside.

Schaefer told the agent he left the building after “seeing a ransacked office,” according to the complaint.

“People could get in trouble for this,” the agent quoted Schaefer as saying in the interview.

An arraignment hearing for Schaefer had not been scheduled as of Thursday.

At least two dozen Southern California residents have been arrested, and many convicted, for traveling to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and participating in the assault on the building.

Ex-La Habra police chief gets 11-year sentence for role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot

List: Southern California residents accused or convicted in the Capitol insurrection

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​ Orange County Register 

DA questions Irvine chamber’s use of special tax revenues for hotel promotions

• January 19, 2024

Orange County prosecutors are looking into how the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce spent millions of dollars in tax money earmarked for promoting hotels and tourism.

Local hoteliers, suspecting that too much of the money went to chamber overhead, persuaded the city early last year to create a special board to take over management of the taxes.

Documents obtained by Southern California News Group show that Deputy District Attorney Avery T. Harrison in November asked the city for about 20 years worth of records regarding the Hotel Improvement District, established in 2002 to generate taxes for a tourism bureau. The chamber was brought in to administer the bureau, called Destination Irvine, which promoted hotels and tourism in Orange County’s third most populous city.

The district attorney’s office also is seeking, among other things, reports generated by the chamber on how it specifically proposed to use the funds, generated by the 2% tax on hotel stays..

Hotel groups had alleged that the chamber wouldn’t share with them how it was administering the money. The chamber responded that it released audited financial statements every year, showing that the overhead was “appropriate.”

News of the apparent probe, first reported by the Voice of OC, came on the heels of the chamber’s announcement Jan. 9 that Chief Executive Officer Bryan Starr left this month after seven years to “pursue a new opportunity.”

“Bryan’s service has had an undeniable impact on Irvine’s economy,” said the announcement on the chamber’s website. “His work helped bring global companies — and their jobs and investment — to Irvine. … We look forward to seeing the impact Bryan will have in his future role and wish him well.”

Starr, who could not be reached for comment, earned $238,923 in total compensation in 2021, according to the chamber’s tax filing with the Internal Revenue Service.

The district attorney’s office would not confirm or deny that it was investigating the chamber’s management of the hotel improvement taxes, which in 2021 generated $2.5 million.

The money is now administered by a seven-member board consisting of city and hotel officials, which found that the chamber was charging 60% to 70% in overhead, said City Manager Oliver Chi.

“When it came to a head, (the hoteliers) decided it was just too much money that was getting deferred away from the marketing and advancement of hotel interests. Too much of that money was going to fund chamber expenditures,” Chi said.

The chamber would consistently charge a bulk of staff salaries to the Hotel Improvement District, he said. For example, at one point, only three Hotel Improvement District staffers were funded by the district, while the entire chamber operation of 15 to 20 employees also was funded, Chi said.

Additionally, 60% of the chamber’s rent costs for its entire building were charged to the Hotel Improvement District, among other things, he said.

“For comparison purposes, the city is charging the (the district) 4% of their overall budget for overhead,” Chi said.

Tony Zand, a member of the board and general counsel for hotel developer Pacific Hospitality Group, said by taking over and cutting costs, the board has found about $1 million more in available funds.

“We had someone who isn’t in our industry acting as the middleman and not really acting on our behalf,” Zand said, adding that local hoteliers never could get any details from the chamber on where the money was going.

“The catalyst is we didn’t have a good grasp on how the administrative side was being handled,” he said. “The lack of clarity was the problem … we didn’t know what was going on.”

Documents provided by the chamber to Southern California News Group show the hotel improvement tax pays for nearly all of the chamber’s Business and Economic Division.

Laura Perdew, vice president of marketing and communications for the chamber, noted that the chamber provided the city each year with audited financial statements on the division. She said the chamber also provided to the city and hoteliers a yearly proposal on how the hotel money would be spent.

Perdew said the audited statements show that “the percentages regarding overhead were appropriate.”

The financial statements indicate that in 2022, total personnel costs for the chamber’s Business and Economic Division were $706,345. Management and general costs amounted to $240,133. Total expenses added up to $1.9 million for that division, with the Hotel Improvement District that year generating $2.5 million.

​ Orange County Register 

Idaho volleyball practice Thursday with Chris Gonzalez described as ‘weird’

• January 19, 2024

Idaho volleyball players completed without incident Thursday afternoon their first practice with head coach Chris Gonzalez since Gonzalez has been under investigation for allegedly bullying and abusing players during his two seasons at the Big Sky Conference school.

During the hour-long practice, Gonzalez did not address the investigation by a Texas law firm hired by the university or the 9,000-word December 30 Southern California News Group report that prompted an expansion of the investigation, according to players.

Only eight of the team’s 12 current members attended the practice Thursday. Three players chose not to attend after the university’s Office of Civil Rights and Investigation granted players the option of not attending practices where Gonzalez is present. Another player was unable to practice after recently undergoing surgery.

To date, 12 current or former Idaho players, six parents and three university employees maintain that Gonzalez has bullied and physically, verbally and emotionally abused Vandals players, pressured them to play or practice while injured and denied athletes food throughout his two seasons at Idaho. Gonzalez also allegedly pushed or shoved two players to the ground during practices in 2022 and improperly touched athletes, according to player interviews and university documents

The practice was also attended by Beth Ropski, the case manager assigned by the dean of students to the volleyball case, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz, the OCRI’s interim director. Ropski told players in an email on Tuesday that she plans “to attend all practices where your coach/assistant coaches will be present.”

Wernz is also a partner at Thompson & Horton, the law firm conducting the investigation of Gonzalez.

Gonzalez was “smiling, upbeat,” said Vandals player Emma Patterson. “He introduced himself to Beth and Jackie, joked with them.”

“It was weird, uncomfortable, I guess,” Patterson said.

The team resumes practice Friday morning.

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​ Orange County Register 

Galaxy excited to start over after a disappointing 2023

• January 19, 2024

CARSON — After one of the worst seasons in club history, the Galaxy kicked off its preseason this week, hoping the only place to go is upward.

The Galaxy finished in 13th place in the Western Conference, missing the playoffs for fifth time in the past seven seasons.

“After last year, we all have a little chip on our shoulder,” Galaxy midfielder Mark Delgado said Thursday. “We’re all excited to get back and turn things around. I’m excited and everyone is excited to get going again.”

While the regular-season opener is a little more than a month away – Feb. 25 against Inter Miami CF – the first preseason game is Jan. 27. There are still pieces to be added and players to arrive.

“I feel good about what we’re working toward,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. “We have some guys still recovering, in the final stages of recovering from some issues from last season, we have players still to arrive, we’re still not quite whole yet as it comes to preparing for the season, but I’m excited about the group we have.

“I think we’re going to be more dynamic, we’re going to be more active, looking forward to it and the sooner we can get everybody in, the more we can start to really get on the same page, which is going to be a key part of this as well.”

The Galaxy is closing in on additions that should bolster the attack. First is Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Pec from Vasco da Gama. Pec, 22, scored 14 goals with five assists across all competitions last season. The Galaxy has also been linked with Ghanian winger Joseph Paintsil. In the past two seasons with Genk in the Belgian Pro League, he’s scored 23 goals with 15 assists.

Galaxy general manager Will Kuntz confirmed there have been no conversations with Carlos Vela, who is a free agent after playing at LAFC. As usual, the Galaxy has been linked with several players from Europe.

“Everybody knows the Galaxy. I think the club’s history speaks for itself, our history of players is its own recruiting job and Southern California. I’m really just the guy who maybe opens up a Powerpoint or a video presentation,” Kuntz said. “Selling them on our vision, obviously, this is a very ambitious club. I think it really resonates with players that they have an opportunity to come here and help us get back to those lofty heights that we once occupied.”

The first challenge facing the Galaxy will be rebuilding a defensive presence. The club allowed 67 goals last season. Defender Martin Caceres is nearing a return after missing the majority of last season with an avulsion fracture in his left knee, free agent John Nelson joins on a two-year contract and the team added Japanese defender Miki Yamane to a three-year contract.

Gaston Brugman (torn meniscus) is also returning, which will help shore up the midfield.

“It wasn’t the season we wanted, huge disappointment,” center back Maya Yoshida said. “We need to come back as quick as possible. We need to prepare well. It’s a big season ahead for me and the team as well.”

Two of the Galaxy’s three Designated Player spots are open with the departures of Douglas Costa and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez. Riqui Puig, the third, has yet to arrive, but Vanney expects him in town next week.

After arriving midseason in a trade with Austin FC, Diego Fagundez is looking to play a larger role this season.

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“Last year was not what we wanted,” Fagundez said. “This year, we want to work on things that we weren’t good at last year. Now we can prepare in preseason and by the time season comes I think we will be ready to go.”

“As an attacking player, I think he (Vanney) wants us to create chances and score goals and that’s what I’m going to try to do this year. My goal is to get to seven goals, seven assists or more, that’s been my goal for years and last year I didn’t get that and I was very disappointed about it. So this year is a new year. I’m coming in fresh and I’m going to try to do anything to help out this team.”

​ Orange County Register