Mater Dei defensive lineman Kaho Tuihalamaka, an Arizona commit, transferred to Leuzinger

• October 18, 2023

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Mater Dei’s defensive line didn’t feature one of its projected standouts Friday as it faced bruising St. John Bosco running back Cameron Jones.

The Monarchs again played without nose tackle Kaho Tuihalamaka, a Hot 150 selection who was expected to be one of their most physical returning starters at 6-foot-4 and about 330 pounds.

Tuihalamaka, a senior committed to Arizona, confirmed Tuesday that he transferred to Leuzinger in Lawndale.

The CIF-SS website shows that he made a valid change of residence and was cleared to play for Leuzinger on Sept. 9, the same day the Monarchs played host to Kahuku of Hawaii.

Tuihalamaka, part of the Mater Dei program since his freshman year, has recorded stats in two games for Leuzinger (5-3), according to MaxPreps.

Jones, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound UCLA commit, rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown, and caught a 17-yard score, in the Braves’ 28-0 victory in the Trinity League showdown. It was the first loss for the Monarchs (7-1), ranked No. 1 in the nation at time.

Mater Dei’s defensive front started senior Zeus Venegas (6-4, 265), junior Semi Taulanga (6-0, 313) and sophomore Tomu Topui (6-3, 315) with junior defensive end Nasir Wyatt near the line of scrimmage.

Recent Oregon commit Aydin Breland (6-5, 295) and senior Kainoa Davis (6-3 285) were part of the Monarchs’ rotation at defensive line.

Taulanga and Davis combined for Mater Dei’s lone sack.

The Monarchs’ defense had been stout before facing the Braves, allowing only 29 points in seven games.

Please send football news to Dan Albano at [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy on X and Instagram

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​ Orange County Register 

Clippers could use a power-forward-by-committee approach

• October 18, 2023

LOS ANGELES — The Clippers played their third preseason game on Tuesday night with a third different starting power forward, a move that could determine an everyday starter. Or not.

Coach Tyronn Lue said switching Terance Mann, Robert Covington and Nicolas Batum could be something the Clippers do all season. Sort of a power-forward-by-committee approach.

“I kind of thought about it both ways,” Lue said. “I think it’s going to be one of those positions where we can just kind of sub a guy in and out depending on who we play.”

On Tuesday, it was Nicolas Batum’s turn to start alongside Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Ivica Zubac and Russell Westbrook as the Clippers took on the defending champion Denver Nuggets, who sat their stars for the exhibition game at Crypto.com Arena.

Previously, Mann had started in that forward spot in the team’s first game against the Utah Jazz in Hawaii, then Covington started against the Jazz in Seattle last week.

“All three guys bring something different to the table when we talk about defense,” Lue said. “T-Mann can start, he can guard the point guard tonight and guard the four tomorrow. Nico can guard the point guard in the four tonight and RoCo is more of an off-the-ball deflection, steals, weak-side defender type guy. So, they do some different things.

“And so, it could be by committee … every night could be something different.”

Lue sees the bevy of available talent at the No. 4 spot as a good problem to have this season. He likened it to Team USA, on which he served as an assistant coach during the summer.

“You have a lot of guys who deserve to play but you can’t play all those guys,” he said. “For me, just having the constant dialogue with the players and communicating and just letting them know that this is what I’m looking at, this is the sample size of games that I’m looking at and you just got to be ready.

Batum, a 16-year veteran, isn’t getting caught up in the who-starts-when conversation. He has started his share of games throughout his career; not starting every game isn’t going to tarnish his resume.

“I mean, the starting stuff is a coaching decision, but I want to show that I can bring something to the team,” Batum said.

What Batum brings is versatility. He can guard one through four, rebound and score. In his three seasons with the Clippers, he has averaged 7.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and added 0.6 blocked shots per game.

He played the first 8-plus minutes Tuesday and pulled down three rebounds and collected one assist. He missed his only field goal attempt, a 3-pointer, before being replaced by Covington at that spot.

“I want to be the glue guy on offense and defense, like a connection between guys,” Batum said. “RoCo and I pretty much do the same things.

The starters took a seat after the first 8-plus minutes of the first quarter. George had 10 of his 23 first-half points before going to the bench, while Zubac added eight points and two rebounds, and Westbrook had five points, two rebounds and two assists.

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Zubac returned to the court to start the second quarter and was followed by Leonard, George and Westbrook three minutes later. Covington stayed in the game, getting his chance to play with the known starters.

Batum also returned minutes later and played the final 7:47 of the first half, burying a 3-point shot that caught the attention of Covington, who gave him a “three-fingers up” sign.

“It’s not a competition, but what I want to do is show that I can guard one through five, and on offense, I can create stuff. Ty is just trying to find the right combinations and if it’s me, good. If it’s RoCo or T-Mann that’s good, too.”

Batum said the number of minutes each of the power forwards played each night shouldn’t matter in the long run. Winning games is the end goal.

“I don’t care if I start or not,” he said. “Whatever they ask me to do, I will do it. I mean, I’m at a part in my career where I’ll be like I don’t have to start. Whatever you want me to do coach, I will do.”

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

NLCS: Kyle Schwarber homers twice as Phillies crush Diamondbacks for 2-0 series lead

• October 18, 2023

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber hit two of Philadelphia’s three solo home runs off Merrill Kelly, and the sweet-swinging Phillies pounded the Arizona Diamondbacks, 10-0, on Tuesday night for a 2-0 lead in the National League Championship Series.

Trea Turner also connected and J.T. Realmuto had two hits and three RBIs as Philadelphia improved to 7-1 in the playoffs, moving closer to a second straight World Series appearance. Aaron Nola tossed three-hit ball and struck out seven in six innings.

Game 3 is Thursday afternoon at Chase Field in Phoenix. The Texas Rangers also hold a 2-0 lead over the Houston Astros in the ALCS headed into Wednesday’s game.

It was another loud night in Philly as Kelly was roasted after saying fans at Citizens Bank Park could not possibly be any louder than the ones he heard cheering for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Not just any Classic game. The one in May when Turner hit a grand slam for the United States that lifted them into the tournament’s semifinals.

“I haven’t obviously heard this place on the field,” Kelly said ahead of Game 1, “but I would be very surprised if it trumped that (WBC) game down in Miami.”

As the kids say, challenge accepted.

Kelly, a 12-game winner this season, was voraciously booed from pregame introductions to his walk to the mound, a sort of we’ll-show-you vibe from 45,412 Phillies diehards determined to shake the ballpark again in October.

How loud?

“AC/DC concert level,” loud, Turner said before Game 2.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said a rival coach told him last season that a playoff game in Philly was “four hours of hell,” and Turner sent a charge through the crowd when he clocked a four-seam fastball to left-center field for a 1-0 lead in the first.

Phillies fans this postseason have been registered as high as 112 decibels, per The Philadelphia Inquirer – the equivalent of standing next to a jackhammer – and Turner’s shot powered toward that mark.

Boisterous fans are great. So is the long ball. Schwarber’s homers in the third and sixth were Philadelphia’s 14th and 15th homers in the last four games as the Phillies continue to mash their way through October.

Pitching, though, remains the ultimate decider.

Nola, eligible for free agency after the World Series, has only fattened the numbers for his impending contract. The longest-tenured Phillie, Nola has won all three postseason starts and struck out 19. His ERA is 0.96.

Nola tossed seven shutout innings in the Wild Card Series against Miami and struck out nine against the Braves in the NLDS. Against Corbin Carroll, Christian Walker and the Diamondbacks, Nola again was spotless.

The Phillies flashed their leather to keep Arizona in check. Bryce Harper made a diving stab at first to get Carroll in the third. Alec Bohm made a diving snag at third and one-hopped the throw to get Gabriel Moreno in the second.

Kelly was booed off the mound when he was lifted for Joe Mantiply in the sixth and left a runner on base. Bryson Stott singled and Realmuto followed with a two-run double. After a two-out walk, Brandon Marsh added an RBI double for a 6-0 lead.

At that point, there was no use stretching Nola, not when the Phillies could save him for a start later in the series – or possibly, his next one against a team from Texas.

BROAD STREET BOMBERS

The Phillies have four individual multihomer games this postseason, tying the 2009 Phillies and 2002 Angels for the most by a team in a postseason.

Schwarber, who hit six for the Phillies in last season’s playoffs, has 18 career in the postseason. Only six players are ahead of him in MLB history.

Schwarber had the crowd standing in anticipation of a third homer in the seventh but he walked.

The Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves, 10-2, in Game 3 of the NLDS, marking the second time in franchise history (2009) they have scored 10 runs in multiple games in a single postseason.

OUT OF SORTS

The Diamondbacks are headed home all out of sorts. Stott popped one up 17 feet from the plate in the seventh that three fielders looked at and let drop for a single. He scored on a sacrifice fly for a 10-0 lead.

UP NEXT

The Diamondbacks will throw rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (3-9, 5.72 ERA) in Game 3 while the Phillies start left-hander Ranger Suárez (4-6, 4.18 ERA; 1-0 postseason).

​ Orange County Register 

Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch’s trust in Tackett Curtis finally pays off

• October 18, 2023

LOS ANGELES — By all indications, scout team ball carriers’ participation in defensive drills is rewarded with care. With grace. With non-threatening hits from USC headhunters. At least, from what reporters are allowed to see during the viewing portions of practice; wide receiver Brenden Rice once referred to Tuesday practices as “Bloody Tuesday.”

Regardless, in one Wednesday drill on Sept. 27, linebackers approached and tackled ball carriers as if they were bubble-wrapping pieces of fine china. The focus, of course, seemed more about the path to the ball.

Then freshman Tackett Curtis stepped up, hit an oncoming Raleek Brown, and spun him to the turf.

“I mean, that’s always been part of the reason why I like playing football,” Curtis said after USC’s victory at Arizona State, with a shy smile more indicative of his age than a 225-pound bulging frame. “There’s certain stuff you can do on the football field you can’t do in real life, so I feel like that’s just a huge part of playing football, for me.”

“Once I can hone in my aggressiveness and make sure I’m in the right spot and play that same way,” Curtis continued, “I feel like that’s (when) I reach … closer to my ceiling.”

Joe Cryer, a high school teammate of Curtis’ at Many High in Louisiana, said Curtis “always had that chip on his shoulder about playing mean.” Just was in his nature, born a little man asking his dad for a pull-up bar and just loving to hit. So mean, in fact, that USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said back in September that in instructing his players to “violently uppercut” the football as a means to force fumbles, he had to preface with Tackett that didn’t mean an uppercut at the opponent’s face.

Playing mean, though, only goes so far against multilayered offensive schemes in college football. In his second game, Curtis was ejected for targeting. In his sixth game, he got steamrolled by Arizona running back DJ Williams. Since starting the first game of the season, he’s played more snaps than any other inside linebacker aside from Mason Cobb – somewhat questionably at times. The returning Eric Gentry and Raesjon Davis both have looked better in pass coverage, and Curtis’ percentage of missed tackles is the second-highest behind Davis among USC’s linebackers thus far, per Pro Football Focus.

But after disappearing at times in the middle of the field – Curtis figuring out how to balance instinct with technique – things clicked into place on Saturday night against Notre Dame, when he made eight tackles and several one-on-one stops of Fighting Irish running backs who were trying to hit a hole.

“The biggest thing for me that I feel like I’m mostly getting a little bit better at, is getting a pass or a run read … over time, reps, I’m getting more familiar if they’re going to pass on this play or throw on this play, so I can just break faster,” Curtis said on Thursday.

Indeed, he seemed more consistently in position to be a playmaker on Saturday, a huge lift in the middle of USC’s defense. It’s been no secret that USC’s staff is high on Curtis – Coach Lincoln Riley himself made the trek down to Many during his recruitment – and the freshman just “kept swinging,” Grinch said, when asked about the coaches’ trust paying off in starting Curtis as opposed to Gentry or Lee.

“I think you saw glimpses of what that kid’s going to be,” Grinch said.

No ‘told-you-so’ from Grinch

Glimpses appeared Saturday, too, of an improved USC defense that Riley hung his public hat on last Tuesday. Curtis and Cobb patrolled the middle; Christian Roland-Wallace played the best game any member of USC’s secondary has had in 2023; Bryson Shaw and Jaylin Smith wrapped up on second-level tackles.

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Grinch, though, for all the national criticism chirping at him and his unit, didn’t take any sort of prideful stance Tuesday when asked if he felt he saw progress.

“I absolutely did, but those are hollow words,” Grinch said.

Zion Branch prepares to step up

Safeties Max Williams and Shaw, two of Grinch’s most trusted veterans in the secondary, exited Saturday with apparent injuries. Grinch said USC would “see how the week goes” with both to determine their status for this weekend against Utah, and he pivoted quickly to praising fill-in Zion Branch, who has been searching for opportunities ever since returning from a season-ending ACL injury his freshman year. That seems to indicate, then, that Branch will play an increased role against Utah.

“Definitely ready,” Branch said Tuesday.

​ Orange County Register 

Cam Talbot, Trevor Moore carry Kings to 1st win of season

• October 18, 2023

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Cam Talbot made 26 saves and the Kings beat the Winnipeg Jets, 5-1, on Tuesday night for their first victory of the season.

Trevor Moore had two goals and an assist, Phillip Danault had a goal and two assists and Arthur Kaliyev had a goal and an assist. Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored his first goal with his new team.

The Kings opened with a two-game homestand, falling 5-2 to Colorado and 6-5 to Carolina in a shootout.

Mark Scheifele ended Talbot’s shutout bid with 1:16 left.

Connor Hellebuyck stopped 24 shots for Winnipeg.

Tempers flared late in the period after Kings defenseman Andreas Englund hit Jets forward Cole Perfetti in the back and into the boards. Dylan Samberg jumped to Perfertti’s defense. Samberg and Englund got fighting majors, and Samberg was also handed a penalty for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct.

Much more to come on this story.

UP NEXT

The Kings play at Minnesota on Thursday night.

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​ Orange County Register 

New time, route and livestream for funeral services for fallen Manhattan Beach police officer

• October 18, 2023

Manhattan Beach Police Department Officer Chad Swanson’s law enforcement career and his life, both cut short earlier this month in a traffic collision, will be honored with a funeral procession and service on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

The procession, originally slated to begin at 8:30 a.m., will now start at 9 a.m. according to city officials.

The church service that follows remains the same — at 11 a.m. in Cypress.

The procession starts at 9 a.m. when the Swanson family, along with Manhattan Beach Department personnel and city staff, will join at the Manhattan Beach Police Department to “show unity and respect,” according to a police release.

Community members are invited to dress in red, white and blue as they stand along the procession route, according to the press release.

The route will begin at the Manhattan Beach Police Station at 420 15th St. in Manhattan Beach. It will head east on Manhattan Beach Boulevard to Inglewood Boulevard. The procession will continue on the 405 freeway south to the 605 freeway north, exiting on Katella Avenue as it makes its way to SeaCoast Grace Church in Cypress.

The service will take place at 11 a.m. at the church, located at 5100 Cerritos Ave. The funeral service will be livestreamed, according to city officials.

Swanson, 35, was killed in the early morning hours of Oct. 4, when a car collided with his police motorcycle on the northbound 405 Freeway around Carson.

He risked his life to save others during a mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in 2017 in Las Vegas, where he was injured by a bullet fragment, while he moved people to safety.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department thanked the community for its continued support in the period since the tragedy said Police Chief Rachel Johnson, in a statement. The city hosted a vigil two days after Swanson’s death where hundreds gathered at the Manhattan Beach Pier.

“Your presence will provide solace and comfort to Officer Swanson’s family and fellow officers,” Johnson said, of the community gathering for the funeral procession. “Together we can turn the pain of loss into a beacon of resilience, showing the world that even in our darkest moments, our unity shines brighter than ever before.”

Swanson is survived by his wife and three young sons. There is a fund set up by Fund a Hero, through the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) to support the family.

For those who can’t attend the procession or service and wish to offer financial support, visit porac.org/fundraiser/swanson-family/.

​ Orange County Register 

Gio Reyna scores twice in Americans’ rout of Ghana

• October 18, 2023

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gio Reyna scored his first two international goals since a family feud with Coach Gregg Berhalter erupted at last year’s World Cup, leading the United States to a 4-0 rout of Ghana in an exhibition on Tuesday night.

Reyna put the U.S. ahead in the 10th minute, Christian Pulisic doubled the lead with a penalty kick in the 19th, and Folarin Balogun scored in the 22nd to give the Americans three goals in a 12-minute span. Reyna scored again in the 39th for his sixth international goal and his first two-goal game for the U.S.

Reyna has been regaining fitness since fracturing a leg last June and played the first half for the second straight match. The 20-year-old midfielder’s first game under Berhalter since the controversy was in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Germany.

A son of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and American midfielder Danielle Egan, Gio Reyna was limited to a pair of substitute appearances in Qatar. Berhalter said during a management conference after the tournament he nearly sent a player home from the World Cup for lack of effort during training, remarks clearly about Reyna.

Reyna’s parents contacted the U.S. Soccer Federation about a three-decades-old domestic violence allegation involving Berhalter and the woman who later became his wife. Berhalter was replaced by a pair of interim coaches and, after a law firm retained by the USSF determined he did not improperly withhold information when he was hired in 2018, was rehired in June to resume coaching in September.

After the U.S. started his second term with four friendlies, Berhalter leads the Americans in a two-leg CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal next month.

Ghana eliminated the U.S. from the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and the Americans opened the 2014 tournament with a victory over the Black Stars. The 11th-ranked U.S. matched its highest victory margin against an African opponent, set against South Africa in 2000.

The Americans went ahead after Sergiño Dest dribbled toward goal and passed wide to Balogun, whose cross bounced off defender Nicholas Opoku. The ball fell to Reyna, who one-timed a right-foot shot from about 12 yards for his first U.S. goal since June 2021.

Pulisic converted the penalty kick for his 28th international goal after Gideon Mensah pushed Tim Weah.

Weah created the third goal when, with the U.S. pressing, Jerome Opoku failed to control a pass on a flank. Weah picked up the ball and centered to Balogun, who spun as he took a touch and scored from the middle of the penalty area for his third goal in six appearances.

Reyna got his second goal from an indirect free kick 10 yards out, awarded when Opoku sat on the ball. Reyna poked the ball to Pulisic, who tapped it back, and Reyna kicked the ball into the roof of the net.

American goalkeeper Matt Turner had little pressure but extended to parry Mohammed Kudus’ 41st-minute shot over the crossbar.

Lennard Maloney, a 24-year-old midfielder born in Germany, entered in the 65th minute for the 60th U.S. debut under Berhalter.

No. 60 Ghana was coming off a 2-0 defeat against Mexico and has lost consecutive games after a five-match unbeaten streak under Chris Hughton, who took over as coach in February. The Black Stars open World Cup qualifying next month.

The U.S. gets an automatic World Cup berth as one of the co-hosts.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County scores and player stats for Tuesday, Oct. 17

• October 18, 2023

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Scores and stats from Orange County games on Tuesday, Oct. 17

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

TUESDAY’S SCORES

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

CIF-SS PLAYOFFS

Wild-Card Round

DIVISION 6

Costa Mesa def. St. Monica Prep, 25-14, 25-21, 25-17

DIVISION 9

River Springs Magnolia def. Magnolia Science Academy, 25-12, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17

Mountain View def. Newport Christian, 25-12, 25-8, 23-25, 25-17

BOYS WATER POLO

ORANGE LEAGUE

Savanna 17, Santa Ana Valley 3

GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE

Segerstrom 15, Katella 2

Garden Grove 14, Godinez 5

Ocean View 11, Westminster 8

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Foothill 19, Yorba Linda 1

Brea Olinda 11, El Dorado 10

Goals: (Brea) Templeton 4.

Saves: Maddox (Brea) 19

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

Esperanza 18, El Modena 8

Canyon 16, Villa Park 4

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Sage Hill 13, Laguna Hills 2

Irvine 10, Northwood 8

Beckman 18, University 12

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

La Quinta 24, Rancho Alamitos 11

FREEWAY LEAGUE

Buena Park 14, Fullerton 10

La Habra 20, Sonora 2

NONLEAGUE

Woodbridge 11, Valencia 8

Schurr 13, Tustin 4

Loara 24, Gahr 7

GIRLS TENNIS

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Beckman 13, Northwood 5

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Canyon 10, Villa Park 8

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

El Dorado 14, El Modena 4

Esperanza 13, Brea Olinda 5

WAVE LEAGUE

Laguna Beach 15, Edison 3

EMPIRE LEAGUE

Cypress 13, Pacifica 5

ORANGE COAST LEAGUE

Santa Ana 12, Calvary Chapel 6

St. Margaret’s 18, Costa Mesa 0

Estancia 15, Orange 3

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Dana Hills 12, Capistrano Valley 6

TRINITY LEAGUE

Orange Lutheran 16, Rosary 2

ORANGE LEAGUE

Western 17, Savanna 1

Magnolia 14, Anaheim 4

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

Santiago 14, Loara 4

​ Orange County Register