Capistrano Valley boys basketball pulls out win over Aliso Niguel in OT

• January 18, 2025

ALISO VIEJO — Capistrano Valley center Jake Davis picked a perfect time to make his first 3-point basket of the season.

With 5.8 seconds remaining in the game, Davis intercepted an inbound pass by Aliso Niguel and made a game-tying 3-point shot that sent Friday’s Sea View League game into overtime.

Capistrano Valley then took control in the extra period and beat Aliso Niguel 59-51 at Aliso Niguel High.

“It was a little bit crazy,” Davis said. “Darius (Turner) put a lot of pressure on the ball and forced them into an awful situation and I got a wide-open shot.”

Davis made 7 of 8 free throw attempts in overtime and finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds.

“Jake Davis played like a man down the stretch,” Capistrano Valley coach Brian Mulligan said. “We have a lot of seniors with some poise that never gave up. And I don’t know, maybe there may have been a little luck involved, but we’ll take it.”

The game was a testament to the expression that basketball is a game of runs. The Cougars (17-4, 2-1) went on a 10-0 run to open the second half and built an 18-point lead.

Aliso Niguel (16-6, 2-2) responded with a 20-0 run to take its first lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter.

“Honestly, I was not composed inside but I had to look very composed,” Mulligan said. “I told them we stressed being a good defensive team and we had to get some stops.”

Capistrano Valley got the stops it needed in the first half and in overtime. The Cougars held Aliso Niguel to 13 percent shooting from 3-point range in the first half and allowed only one basket in overtime.

Aliso Niguel found its shooting stroke during the 20-0 run. The Wolverines shot 50 percent from 3-point range in the second half and made 6 of 7 3-point attempts at one point.

“We got to shooters and we recovered well and maybe it was fatigue in the second half,” Mulligan said. “I told (Aliso Niguel) coach Barnett before the game, ‘you’re going to make 10 or 11 threes.’ They are so hard to guard because they have six guys who can make threes on you and that’s a difficult assignment.”

Turner had a double-double for Capistrano Valley with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Gabe Williams scored 15 points and made a crucial 3-pointer in the fourth quarter to stop Aliso Niguel’s run.

Jay Keys led Aliso Niguel with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jayden Mysin had 10 points for the Wolverines and Noah Shihad made two big 3-pointers in the second half.

The Sea View League has proven to be one of the more balanced leagues in Orange County. There are no undefeated teams in the league and every team has at least one league win.

“I think we are all very equal,” Mulligan said. “Everybody has to be on the top of their game or else you’re going to be on the bottom really quick. Or you could win a couple of games and shoot up to the top too. It’s fun.”

“There are no nights off in this league,” Barnett said. “Capo is really good. They defend at an elite level so I knew it was going to be like this tonight. It’s a test every night.”

​ Orange County Register 

Austin Reaves’ career night helps short-handed Lakers edge Nets

• January 18, 2025

LOS ANGELES — The last time the Lakers were without Anthony Davis and in need of a player to step up offensively outside of LeBron James and Austin Reaves, they got a career night out of Max Christie.

But this time, it was Reaves and James again doing the heavy lifting on Friday night, with Reaves scoring a career-high 38 points and James adding 29 as the Lakers held on for a 102-101 victory over the struggling Brooklyn Nets.

The Nets, who lost 126-67 to the Clippers on Wednesday night in a franchise-record 59-point defeat, had a chance to win it, but former Laker D’Angelo Russell missed a 3-point attempt with 2.6 seconds remaining.

Reaves, who bested his previous career-best of 35 points (done twice), shot 13 for 23 from the field (4 for 8 from 3-point range) and made all eight of his free throws. Reaves had 15 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers.

“It wasn’t a pretty game,” Reaves said. “We didn’t execute the way we really needed to. But you have so many games, it’s going to happen. And in those situations, you just got to figure out a way to win. You’re not playing the way you want to, playing up to your standards as a group. You just have to find a way to win. And we did that.”

James, who shot 12 for 17 from the field (4 for 6 from 3-point range), added eight assists, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

Reaves tied his previous career-high with a pull-up midrange jumper to give the Lakers a 97-90 lead with 4:32 left.

He made a stepback jumper on the Lakers’ next possession to set his new career high and give the Lakers a 100-92 lead with 3:45 remaining.

“That was his career high? Oh. I mean, he’s been in big moments before and he knows what to do and we needed every bucket that he had,” James said. “But just the momentum and the way he was playing was just in a rhythm. So we needed it from him.”

Reaves has averaged 22.2 points (44.7% shooting, 40.6% from 3-point range), 8.9 assists and 5.3 rebounds in his last 10 games.

“He’s in his process and he’s taking the opportunity and he’s running with it,” James said. “Literally running with it. And I love every moment that he’s given the opportunity to go out and showcase his talent with the best players in the world and he’s showing every night that he belongs. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Reaves and the Lakers, who shot 12 for 19 from the field in the fourth quarter, making five 3-pointers, went cold after his final 3-pointer.

He missed his next four shots after setting the career-high, with the Lakers’ lone basket during that stretch being a transition alley-oop from Reaves to James for a 102-95 lead with 2½ minutes left.

“I had opportunities after that to get 40. I just didn’t make them,” Reaves said. “But I’m not worried about the points. I’m worried about winning. I would say 95% of the time, if there’s a situation like that, I’m gonna throw the ball up to him. I’ve seen, my whole life, him catching lobs and dunking.

“So to be the one throwing him the ball is still cool to me, especially at his age (40). Not saying he’s old, but he’s getting up there and he can still jump way better than most people ever can. So I don’t really think it was a great pass, but to him, you know, he don’t miss many lobs.”

The Lakers didn’t score again after the alley-oop, allowing the Nets to cut their deficit to one after a Noah Clowney 3-pointer with 37 seconds left.

After Reaves missed a turnaround 6-footer, Russell had his chance at a game-winning shot, but his high-arcing attempt in the final seconds bounced off the rim and James grabbed the rebound.

Reaves and James scored 65.6% of the Lakers’ point total and 25 of the team’s 30 fourth-quarter points.

“[Reaves] and LeBron just willed us to win,” Coach JJ Redick said. “We weren’t very good [on Friday night]. But a lot of credit to those two guys.”

Gabe Vincent added 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting and three assists in 29 minutes off the bench. Rui Hachimura had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists. Jaxson Hayes started in Davis’ place and scored six points along with nine rebounds.

The Nets shot 17 for 38 (44.7%) from 3-point range to stay in the game.

Russell finished with 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds in his first game against his former team since being traded in late December. Zaire Williams and Tosan Evbuomwan scored 15 points apiece for the Nets.

Davis was a late scratch for Friday because of left plantar fasciitis – an injury designation that has lingered for the past two months.

Redick said postgame that it was his “assumption” that Davis and Dorian Finney-Smith, who missed his second consecutive game because of personal reasons, would be available for Sunday night’s game against the Clippers at Intuit Dome.

​ Orange County Register 

Jon Coupal: Information and resources for taxpayers impacted by the LA wildfires

• January 18, 2025

The terrible fires that have ravaged Los Angeles County and other parts of the Southland aren’t even fully contained and our offices here at the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association are already getting calls from victims who are ready to press on and move forward to start rebuilding. It has been an important reminder that one of the great things about living in California is the people. In many ways, they still have the pioneer spirit that built this great state and country.

But everyone has questions about how the disaster will affect their property taxes, now and after they rebuild. On this, there’s good news.

First, a property that has been damaged or destroyed by a calamity or disaster (that includes not only fires, but also earthquakes, floods, mudslides and the like) can be reassessed to a lower “taxable value” so you aren’t hit with taxes on a house that no longer exists.

To qualify for a “misfortune or calamity” reassessment, the damage to your property must exceed $10,000 of the current market value. Obviously, if your house was destroyed, you certainly qualify. But even if your house is still standing, the decline in your property values from the neighborhood being destroyed around it likely qualifies you for a “decline in value” reassessment that will provide property tax relief.

It’s also important to note that this tax relief not only includes damage to your house or business property but also business equipment, agricultural property like an orchard, aircraft, boats, and some manufactured homes. If you pay property taxes on it, it’s likely eligible.

Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang is proactively reassessing properties in the burn areas, so to get this relief, nothing is required. That said, there is a form, and it’s still good to fill it out to make sure the assessor’s office knows where to contact you. The forms to request reassessment after a disaster or decline-in-value are available on the county assessor’s website. Return the form to the assessor’s office within 12 months of the date of loss (or sometimes later, if the county allows).

Some homeowners may also be eligible for property tax postponement, an income-qualified program operated by the State Controller’s office.

Next comes the decision to rebuild or move. The good news: you can do either and keep your Proposition 13 tax base.

Here’s how.

According to the Board of Equalization, if you choose to rebuild on the same site after the property has been “substantially damaged or destroyed,” you can keep your Prop. 13 base-year assessment “if the reconstructed property’s market value is comparable to the damaged property in size, utility, and function.” 

Well, what does that mean? The BOE says that “substantially damaged or destroyed” means “that the improvement must sustain physical damage amounting to more than 50 percent of the improvement’s full cash value immediately prior to the disaster as determined by the County Assessor.” Again, if your house was destroyed, you most likely check that box.

“Comparable in size and utility” means that “the reconstructed property may not exceed 120 percent of the market value of the property prior to its damage or destruction.” So, for example, if your old house was worth $1 million, you can go up to $1.2 million without a tax increase.

If you do go over that 120 percent, don’t worry, you aren’t getting completely reassessed. The excess market value will just be added to your old value. Yes, your property taxes will go up but will still likely be well under market value.

You must rebuild within five years by law, but that has been extended in other fires to eight years and will likely be done here too, if not longer.

If you just want to move and take your Prop. 13 value with you, you can but it must be done within two to five years depending on whether the move is within your county or to another county. It also must be to a property of equal or lesser value to keep the same tax bill. You can buy a property of any value, but anything extra will be added on, just as if you were exceeding that 120 percent when you rebuild.

I know this is a lot to take in, but the good news is that you have time. There are also a lot of helpful resources that will provide greater detail as you navigate through this process.

For more information about the resources available in Los Angeles and to download the claim form (ADS-820), go to assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief or call (213) 974-3211.

The Board of Equalization also has general information for property owners affected by the fires and other disasters that may be eligible for property tax relief, go to: www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/disaster-relief.htm

State Treasurer Fiona Ma has also put together a list of helpful links for victims of wildfires and other natural disasters: https://www.treasurer.ca.gov/STO-Wildfire-Recovery-Resources-Guide.pdf

And finally, good news for everyone who resides or has a business in L.A. County: the deadline to file and pay federal and state income taxes, including estimated taxes, has been extended to October 15.

Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

​ Orange County Register 

JSerra all-league quarterback Ryan Hopkins transfers to Mater Dei

• January 18, 2025

JSerra dual threat quarterback Ryan Hopkins has enrolled at Trinity League rival Mater Dei, the junior confirmed Friday night.

Hopkins (6-3, 195) burst onto the Orange County football scene this past season as a speedy runner with a strong arm.

In his first season as a full-time starter, Hopkins earned first-team All-Trinity League honors and helped the Lions (6-5) reach the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs.

He passed for 1,111 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for a team-leading 483 yards and eight TDs.

Hopkins holds offers from Wisconsin, Washington, Michigan State and Missouri.

He is the second standout senior-to-be quarterback to transfer to Mater Dei in as many offseasons.

Before the 2024 campaign, quarterback Dash Beierly arrived from Chaparral for his senior season. Beierly led the Monarchs (13-0) to section, state and national championships and signed with Washington.

The Monarchs’ quarterback job in 2025 has been the subject of heavy speculation. The team’s top returner is sophomore Furian Inferrera, who backed up Beierly.

Hopkins transfer at Mater Dei comes on the heels of three other players recently enrolling at the national powerhouse. The players are running backs Malachi Roby of Centennial and Justin Lewis of Thousand Oaks and linebacker Mike Davis Jr. of Aquinas.

​ Orange County Register 

Crean Lutheran boys basketball beats Canyon in wild Crestview League

• January 18, 2025

IRVINE – It was unlikely that a boys basketball team would go undefeated in the Crestview League.

The five-team league is just too good and too balanced for that to happen.

Crean Lutheran made sure of that Friday with a 62-51 win over Canyon in a league game at Crean Lutheran High.

Canyon was the lone league team without a league loss going into Friday. And Cypress, the lone Crestview League team without a league win going into Friday, got its first Crestview win Friday with a victory over Foothill.

The league standings after Friday: Crean Lutheran 3-1; Canyon 2-1; La Habra 2-2; Foothill 1-2; Cypress 1-3.

All five league teams are in the Top 15 of the Orange County rankings.

Crean Lutheran, No. 10 in the Orange County Top 25, is 10-9 overall. Canyon, which, as usual, has played a difficult schedule, is 17-5.

The Canyon-Crean Lutheran game was only the second of the league’s nine games played so far that had a double-digit margin of victory.

Sophomore guard Hunter Caplan led Crean Lutheran’s balanced scoring with 14 points. Jacob Majok, a 6-7 junior forward, scored 13 points with 10 rebounds and 6-8 junior forward Will Malual scored 13 with nine rebounds.

The Saints played Friday without starting point guard Caden Jones, who was out because of the flu.

Canyon 6-6 senior forward Brandon Benjamin scored 19 points with eight rebounds. As he has been most every night of his Canyon career, Benjamin was the game’s top scorer. But that was 12 points below his season average of 31 points a game.

Benjamin on Friday was, as usual, surrounded by two or three opponents every time he touched the ball on offense. The long arms of Majok and Malual were all around him like vines on a fence.

“They move their offense around him,” Majok said. “We played zone and the emphasis was on him. We didn’t let him get the ball in the paint.”

It’s not that Benjamin, the Orange County player of the year two seasons ago, missed a bunch of shots or forced shots that are beyond his repertoire. He was 9 of 17 from the field (53 percent), all within 12 feet of the hoop. But his averages going into Friday were 22 shots per game and 12 shots made per game, and he went in shooting 58 percent.

“We knew we had guys who can compete with him,” said Crean Lutheran coach Nate Klitzing. “Will and Jacob are great athletes and solid players.

“We had a plan to try to slow him down and make him work hard, to be aware of where he is the whole time. Benjamin can score from every level. He’s crafty and smart.”

Canyon senior guard Staf Yilmazturk scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, with seven rebounds.

It was 23-23 at halftime. Malual, attacking the boards on the offensive end, scored seven points in the third quarter as the Saints outscored Canyon 16-9 to take a 39-32 lead into the fourth quarter.

Majok began the final quarter with a 3-pointer, Nez Reynolds followed with a 3 and one minute into the quarter Crean Lutheran had a 13-point lead.

Canyon has a history of fierce fourth-quarter play, and it closed the gap behind Benjamin’s eight points in the final quarter points, two 3s from Yilmazturk and a 3 by Rami Awad, whose shot got Canyon within one point, 52-51, in the final minute.

From there, Matt Ciftcikara was 4 of 4 at the free throw line for Crean Lutheran, and Majok put an exclamation point on the game with a thunderous dunk in the final seconds.

“We tried to make a statement tonight,” Majok said. “That win really helped us. We needed that.”

Crean Lutheran and Canyon play in a single-day showcase event Saturday at North Torrance. Crean Lutheran plays Damien (17-6) at 10:30 a.m. Canyon plays Inglewood (18-6), which is led by junior guard Jason Crowe Jr., who is averaging 36 points a game, at 7:30 p.m.

Canyon resumes Crestview League play with a home game against Foothill on Tuesday. Crean Lutheran’s next league game is Friday, Jan. 24, at home against La Habra.

Also in the Crestview League Friday:

No. 15 Cypress 72, No. 14 Foothill 65: Ryan Gov’s 26 points led the Centurions (15-9, 1-3) over the Knights (14-8, 1-2) for Cypress’ first league win.

​ Orange County Register 

Long Beach Cabrillo freshman dies after on-field medical emergency during soccer game

• January 18, 2025

LONG BEACH — A player on the Cabrillo High School boys frosh-soph soccer team died Friday evening following an on-field medical emergency during a home game against Long Beach Poly.

The Long Beach Unified School District released a statement regarding the passing of the unidentified student:

“We are heartbroken to share that a Cabrillo High School 9th grade student passed away after experiencing a medical emergency during a soccer game,” the district’s statement said. “Our thoughts are with the student’s family, and the entire community. Counseling services will be available when school resumes on Tuesday to support those in need. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, no further details will be shared.”

Cabrillo canceled all of its sporting events after the incident happened Friday night.

The Cabrillo boys soccer team’s Instagram page said a vigil will be held at the school on Saturday at 9 a.m.

“The hardest post we have ever had to make. Today on 1/17/25 we lost one of our kids. As a team we would like to invite everyone and anyone who would like to come, to leave flowers and candles at the field,” the post said. “We will meet at the roundabout at 9 a.m. to walk on over to field. Forever and always we will hold (the player) in our hearts.”

​ Orange County Register 

St. Margaret’s girls basketball rallies past Rosary for ‘critical’ Pacific Coast League win

• January 18, 2025

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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — The St. Margaret’s girls basketball program added another milestone Friday to its impressive resume under fourth-year coach Josh Markum and his experienced cast of players.

The host Tartans knocked off Orange County mainstay Rosary 53-42 in the schools’ first meeting in the new-look Pacific Coast League.

St. Margaret’s (15-6, 2-1) rallied from a four-point deficit at halftime behind its full-court press and clutch 3-point shooting.

“Just the history of (their) program — we have a ton of respect for (Rosary),” said Markum, who has guided the Tartans to a CIF-SS Division 3A runner-up finish and Division 5AA title the past two seasons. “And the three coaches they have over there — there’s over a 100 years of coaching experience on that bench. They know what the heck they’re doing.”

“We feel like we can compete with these higher-level teams,” the coach added. “We’ve been right down to the wire with a few Top 10 teams in Orange County (this season). … We’ve been in it but now we just need to win it. I think that’s the next phase for us.”

Count Friday as solid progress. The Tartans, ranked 15th in Orange County, used their press to spark a 7-0 run in the first minute of the third quarter to take a 25-22 lead.

Rosary (12-8, 0-3), ranked 16th in the county, tied the score 33-33 later in third but the Tartans closed the period with a 3-pointer by Lila Wohlgemuth and two foul shots by point guard Taylor Francois.

St. Margaret’s seized control with an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter. Wohlgemuth and Harper Gideons sank consecutive 3s before Francois added a breakaway layup off a steal by Addie West.

“Our defense is one of our big strengths,” said Francois, a junior who converted a 3-point play off a steal early in the second half. “We tried to get steals and score fast shots (with our press) and get back in the game.”

“On our press,” junior forward Annika Tufo added, “if you’re going to be trapping, you have to trust your teammate is going to be flying to get that steal and we really had that.”

Francois scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the third period and finished with seven rebounds.

Gideons, a senior guard, scored eight of her 14 points in the fourth to help St. Margaret’s seal the victory. Tufo chipped in 13 points to join Francois and Gideons as double-digit scorers.

Markum called the victory “critical” because it keeps the Tartans in contention for at least third place and an automatic playoff spot. St. Margaret’s lost to Portola 45-32 earlier this week and plays host to powerhouse Sage Hill on Tuesday.

“We’re stoked,” Gideons said of the win. “Every league game now that we win is a big win.”

Rosary, led by coaching veterans Rich Yoon and Leslie Aragon, started four sophomores and a junior.

Junior post Kate Duarte paced the Royals with 16 points while sophomore Kylie Yoon added 12.

​ Orange County Register 

Tustin boys basketball dominates Costa Mesa in Empire League battle for first place

• January 18, 2025

TUSTIN — Tustin’s boys basketball team stayed unbeaten in the Empire League with a convincing 67-42 win over Costa Mesa on Friday night at Tustin High.

The Tillers (18-6, 4-0) were led by the trio of Yuri Klines, Ethan Contreras and Daniel Molina.

Klines had a team-high 16 points, Contreras added 15 points and Molina finished with 12 points and four 3-pointers, all in the second half.

“Our focus, our intent and our physicality was excellent,” Tustin coach Ringo Bossenmeyer said. “But we’re only halfway through (league), so we’re taking this as an 8-mile race, and we are at mile four and we’re just trying to take one mile at a time.”

The Tillers built a 10-point halftime lead thanks to a great effort from Klines and Contreras, who scored 12 of his 15 points in the first half to help set the tone.

“He’s our leader offensively and defensively, without a doubt he’s our leader on both ends, and we are very fortunate to have him.” Bossenmeyer said.

Marlee Slone finished with a game-high 19 points and Kembe Howerton had 13 points for the Mustangs (9-14, 3-1), who entered the game trying to grab control of first place in the league standings.

“We knew their talent level, without a doubt, they had our full respect,” Bossenmeyer said. “But sometimes the night just goes your way and tonight, we earned it, but the night went our way and next time around I’m sure they’re gonna come right back at us.”

Molina helped Tustin pull away in the second half by hitting four 3-pointers.

What stood out to Bossenmeyer was Molina’s effort on the defensive end, as he helped hold senior guard Garry Slone scoreless.

“Obviously he’s got the ability to make some shots,” Bossenmeyer said, “but you go to the other side of it and he did a heck of a job on #1 (Slone) and he’s a tough cover. H’s (Molina) turning into a complete player.”

The Tillers also began the second half on a run which started with Contreras hitting a corner 3-pointer. Klines was a defensive spark and center Moe Hernandez got involved with a 3-pointer of his own and a bucket he converted after a foul.

Bossenmeyer knows things are just getting started in the league play and hopes for more of the same in the final slate of games.

“They’re going to enjoy it tonight but Calvary Chapel’s got our full attention coming in here on Wednesday,” he said of the Tillers’ next opponent.

Costa Mesa looks to bounce back next week when it hosts Godinez on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

​ Orange County Register