Lakers move Austin Reaves into starting lineup

• March 23, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Darvin Ham gave a glint of a smile when asked about his starting lineup’s recent slow starts.

“We got a little something up our sleeve tonight,” the Lakers coach said.

Ham’s penchant for lineup secrecy offered a little suspense leading up to Wednesday night’s home tip-off against Phoenix, but not for long. Fresh off a career-best 35 points against the Orlando Magic, Austin Reaves was moved into the starting five.

While the second-year guard has had his cracks with the starting group – this was his 13th start of the season – Reaves hadn’t started a game since Jan. 4, before he sat out for a month with an injury. He’s largely been a bench sniper and, since Russell Westbrook was traded, a second ball handler off the bench next to Dennis Schröder.

But with LeBron James out of the lineup in recent weeks, Reaves has stepped up. The 24-year-old averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 assists in the 11 games without James while shooting 56.4% from the floor and nearly 40% from 3-point range. The Orlando game just happened to be one when he put it all together for a career night.

“I just think he’s maturing before our eyes as a high-level NBA player,” Ham said of Reaves. “We always saw the talent. We always saw the glimpses. Big moments where he played really, really huge for us. Now it’s just more on a consistent basis. He’s comfortable.”

Critically, Reaves has also been effective in lineups with Anthony Davis. Their season-long net rating is plus-9.5, according to stat site Cleaning the Glass. Reaves started Wednesday’s game 4 for 5 in the first quarter with 10 points, and ran pick-and-roll actions with Davis as his screener.

Reaves is also one of the best whistle-inducers in the league: According to CTG, he draws fouls on 20.1% of his shot attempts, one of the best marks for a guard. In crunchtime situations, Reaves has been one of the team’s consistently dependable players, especially when it comes to generating offense.

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“He knows what spots he wants to get to,” Ham said. “He understands when things are kinda off-balance for us offensively. He knows how to get to the line. He knows how to make big plays, passes. Scraps in there, draws charges. He just does a little bit of everything.”

The lineup change displaced Malik Beasley, who moved to the bench. Since being acquired from the Utah Jazz, Beasley has been cold (aside from a rip-roaring shooting night in New Orleans). In the last 11 games without James, he’s shot 32.5% from behind the arc.

Ham said he wanted Beasley to maintain his confidence even in his new role.

“Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot. Stay aggressive. Do what you do,” Ham said of his advice to Beasley. “Keep competing on the defensive end. But don’t get discouraged, man. … Just encouarging him to be aggressive – constantly be aggressive. Let him know that I’m all for him. I have his back.”

​ Orange County Register 

A mid-century modern(esque) home in Sierra Madre seeks $4 million

• March 23, 2023

A Sierra Madre home designed by noted architect John Gougeon in a minimal mid-century modern style has come on the market for $3.9 million.

The 4,030-square-foot glass-and-wood residence went up on a half-acre-plus lot with garden and mountain views in 2007. It has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a generous-sized kitchen that overlooks the lap pool and jacuzzi.

According to the listing, the home’s pared-down design inspires “health, nature, flow and function” in its occupants.

The airy interior features tall ceilings and large clerestories.

Partial walls separate the dining room from the kitchen and the kitchen from the living room with a fireplace embedded in the glass wall.

The primary suite has a walk-in closet and bathroom with a steam shower and a dry sauna.

Every room flows to the xeriscaped yard where two dry creek beds run along opposite sides of the gazebo.

There’s also a paver patio.

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“Entertaining and living in a home that connects seamlessly with the outdoors is a priority for the new luxury home buyer,” said the listing agent Melea Johnston-Avrach of Compass. “They strive for sustainability, beauty and the healing power of nature.”

Regarding sustainability, the long list includes solar power and an electric vehicle charging station.

The sellers purchased the property for $480,000 in 1999. According to Johnston-Avrach, the lot initially held a smaller ranch-style fixer. Construction on the new house began in 2003 and took four years.

Its designer, Gougeon, is known for the Pasadena Presbyterian Church sanctuary and its multi-tiered bell tower. The back of the building, completed in 1976, features a tall stained-glass window and half arch.

​ Orange County Register 

Gonzaga has familiar faces, but UCLA’s new ones could make the difference

• March 23, 2023

LAS VEGAS — Gonzaga basketball coach Mark Few had a good way of summing up the Bulldogs’ third matchup with UCLA in as many seasons.

“A lot of the same characters,” said Few, alluding to the 2021 Final Four game and last year’s early-season matchup in Las Vegas. “So, it’s the third act within kind of a small timeframe.”

The third act pits the second-seeded Bruins (31-5) against the third-seeded Bulldogs (30-5) in an NCAA tournament West Region semifinal on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena.

It will mark UCLA’s third straight Sweet 16 appearance and sixth in the past 10 seasons. It will also be the second consecutive time they’ve met in this arena – Gonzaga defeated UCLA, 83-63, on Nov. 23, 2021.

“We’ve got a lot of new guys. It’s a completely new team,” UCLA’s Jaime Jaquez said. “So, I think (last year’s) game has little effect on what we’re doing here in this game coming up.”

UCLA’s Tyger Campbell, David Singleton, Jaylen Clark and Jaquez played in the previous two matchups. Drew Timme and Anton Watson are the wily veterans for Gonzaga. But it might be the new faces that make the difference Thursday night.

Freshman Amari Bailey is averaging 17 points over the past five games, second-best on the team.

“Just trying to stay sane and trust in my work, trust in what we’ve built together collectively as a group,” Bailey said of his inspired play as of late. “Not really getting beside myself, knowing that we’re going to have to come in and compete for 40 minutes.”

Adem Bona is showing toughness, playing through a shoulder injury. Abramo Canka is ready to play at a moment’s notice, and Will McClendon – a Las Vegas native – is a champion in his role, according to Cronin.

“I know Will was a big shot-maker at (Bishop) Gorman,” Cronin said. “I know he still has that in him. We work with him every day on it, just trying to keep his confidence up. He’s just a winner. And I believe in winners. Right now in his career he’s helping us win with intangibles and toughness and defense. But I know the day is coming, he’s going to help us win with shots, too.”

Other than Bailey, fellow freshman Dylan Andrews has been blossoming since taking on more responsibility. Andrews is averaging more minutes, points and shots over the last five games. He also helped the Bruins pull away in their narrow win over Northwestern last weekend with a late second-half 3-pointer and two free throws in the final minute.

“It might sound crazy, but I expect that from (him),” Campbell said of Andrews. “Not just me, but the team expects that from him. Ever since he’s got here he’s been a dog and he’s been willing to learn.”

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Since Clark has been out hurt, Bailey’s efforts on defense have been apparent, but Andrews has been just as impactful off the bench.

“He’s young. He’s playing on a team with some great talent,” Cronin said. “And he’s embraced his role, which is the reason why (we) have a bunch of wins. It’s not the four letters. It’s not the coaching. The guys buying into what they need to be a 31-win team. And he’s a great example of it.”

Andrews is averaging 14 minutes, 4.5 points and is 8 for 21 from the field, making three 3-pointers in his last five games. Those numbers are well above his season averages for minutes and scoring.

“You could look at his numbers and say, ‘Well, he hasn’t had a great freshman year,’” Cronin added. “And I couldn’t disagree with you more. In what we’ve needed him to be this year, he’s done a great job.”

​ Orange County Register 

Tax preparer from Placentia pleads guilty to tax fraud

• March 23, 2023

LOS ANGELES — An Orange County tax preparer pleaded guilty Wednesday to submitting nearly 400 phony income tax returns that inflated his clients’ refunds without their knowledge, and then pocketing the difference between the true refunds and the inflated ones.

Raudel Sandoval, 48, of Placentia, pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to two federal counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sandoval, a licensed tax preparer, owns RSE Sandoval España Inc., a Downey-based tax preparation company. Sandoval admitted preparing hundreds of false federal and state returns for clients for the tax years 2015 through 2018. On these returns, he claimed false or inflated amounts of the child tax credit, business losses, short-term capital losses and other items to which the taxpayer clients were not entitled.

Sandoval falsified the tax returns with deductions and credits that his clients did not incur or had not informed him about. He also inflated the amounts of deductions and credits that his clients were entitled to claim, according to papers filed in Los Angeles federal court.

When he finished preparing a tax return, Sandoval gave his clients copies of their returns that were true and correct, but falsely told them he would file their true-and-correct copies with the Internal Revenue Service on their behalf, he admitted.

Sandoval then inflated his clients’ returns with false and fraudulent deductions and credits and filed the false returns with the IRS. The false returns showed a larger refund than on the true-and-correct copies Sandoval had given to his clients.

Sandoval then directed the inflated refunds to himself, causing more than $750,000 in losses to the IRS.

U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Garnett scheduled a Sept. 6 sentencing hearing, at which time Sandoval will face up to three years in federal prison for each count, prosecutors noted.

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​ Orange County Register 

Alexander: A historic weekend for UCLA’s Jaquez siblings

• March 23, 2023

LAS VEGAS — UCLA’s men’s basketball Bruins are back in Las Vegas for the second time in three weeks, hoping for a better ending after losing the Pac-12 tournament championship game in T-Mobile Arena. Meanwhile, the women’s basketball Bruins are also in the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16, this one in Greenville, S.C., against the defending champ and No. 1 overall seed South Carolina.

And Angela and Jaime Jaquez Sr. might be scrambling to see everything they need to see.

Their son Jaime Jr., the men’s Pac-12 Player of the Year, is here for Thursday’s appointment with Gonzaga. Their daughter, freshman Gabriela, is in South Carolina for her team’s attempt to topple a women’s basketball giant. So are mom and dad going to be trying to get from one to the other?

“I don’t have their flight itinerary, but I know they’re crazy,” Jaime said during his team’s media availability here Wednesday. “And they’re going to try to make both as best they can.

“My parents are very supportive. They’ve been that way since I was a kid. And I just really appreciate all the hard work that they’ve put in trying to make it and support all three of their kids in all their sports and all their games.”

Never before has a brother-sister duo reached the Sweet 16 for the same school. And just two days after the men reached the Sweet 16 by beating Northwestern in Sacramento, Jaime and his teammates were in the stands at Pauley Pavilion on Monday night to watch Gabriela’s team hold off Oklahoma, 82-73, in their own second-round game.

Gabriela, a 5-foot-11 freshman, averaged 6.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 17.4 minutes in 36 games for Cori Close’s women’s team, starting two games this season. She’s part of a dynamic freshman class, along with Kiki Rice, Londynn Jones, Christeen Iwuala and Lina Sontag, that should keep UCLA’s women in good stead in coming years.

Jaime Jr., a second-team All-American (17.5 points, 8.1 rebounds), is at the other end of the college athlete’s circle of life, since he and fellow seniors Tyger Campbell and David Singleton are among the rare players these days who see it through to the end. And as someone who has been through this before – playing in the Final Four as a sophomore (and there’s a score to settle with Gonzaga going back to Jalen Suggs’ game-winning shot from the logo in the national semifinal two years ago) and the Sweet 16 as a junior – Jaime’s calm under pressure might be indispensable Thursday night.

“Me and Tyger talk a lot after games about just trying to understand and realize the bigger picture and take ourselves out of our shoes and look at what we’ve really done as a group together,” Jaime said Wednesday when asked about how all that tournament experience manifests itself. “And we look back. And we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. Obviously, we’re still here. We’re still playing. And we’ve got a lot more to do.

“But when we look back, we’re very proud of the effort and hard work that we put into building this program to what it is today.”

He has provided guidance and support to his younger sister and is visibly proud of the progress she’s made.

“She’s tough,” he said. “I think we play a very similar style of game. I was very happy I got to watch her in the second round. I was able to go. I know all the guys were there supporting the women’s team as well.

“I’m just very proud of the work she’s put in. It’s difficult as a freshman. But she’s taken her time there and she’s making the most of it. I’m just very happy and proud of her.”

Jaime was later asked what the best part of watching her journey has been.

“I think just being able to see firsthand her growth as a player but also as a woman as well,” he said. “This is just a big transition in everyone’s life when they go to college. I think she’s handling it great.

“Obviously they’re in the Sweet 16. But I think more than that she’s learning how to live by herself, on her own, and kind of finding her own way in life. I think that’s really cool as an older brother just to see my little sister grow up in front of my eyes.”

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Funny thing, but when Close discussed Gabriela’s play following Monday night’s second-round victory over Oklahoma, she compared it to the beginning of Jaime’s own journey.

“Gabriela has been incredible for us all year long – always ready, always working hard,” Close said. “She played every position (Monday), two through five. She guarded multiple positions. She did all these things. And I remember watching Jaime Jr. his freshman year going, ‘Man, he just makes so many winning plays that don’t show up in stat sheets as a freshman,’ and now look at what he’s grown into.

“And then look at her. And I’ve watched Marcos, (their) younger brother, and the way he plays football and basketball. So it’s the same way. I want to bottle up what their family taught them.”

One of these college careers will end in the next two weeks. The other one’s just beginning. But this weekend, no matter the outcome, they make history.

[email protected]

​ Orange County Register 

Students inspire others; theater keeps people engaged … Bravo!

• March 23, 2023

Huntington Beach student’s ‘Safety Sam’ is new safety cone mascot

Miller Ruiz, a Huntington Beach student, beat out close to 2,000 peers to name a new statewide mascot.

The Caltrans and the California Office of Traffic Safety unveiled “Safety Sam” recently as their new safety cone mascot. Miller, a student at Huntington Christian School, suggested the name in a statewide contest for students in grades K-12.

In recognition of his winning suggestion, Miller received a laptop, a $500 gift card, a $500 gift card for his teacher’s classroom, T-shirts and a visit from Safety Sam. The mascot will educate Californians on the importance of moving over a lane or slowing down when they see his orange friends and highway workers.

– Submitted by Caltrans and OTS

Westminster High School student wins national computing award

Westminster High School junior and MERITS student Rachel Fernandez won the National Center for Women & Information Technology Award for Aspirations in Computing for 2023, which is based on winner’s aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing.

Throughout her high school career, she has built an impressive resume of accolades that includes receiving a software engineering internship, designing an accessible Hepatitis B diagnostic tool, leading the WHS FIRST Robotics team CyberLions, and more.

Fernandez is a semifinalist with fellow WHS student Sophie Nguyen for the MIT THINK scholarship. THINK caters to students who have done extensive research on the background of a potential research project.

“Ever since I’ve fallen in love with STEM, it’s been my mission to build up the next generation of engineers and scientists and inspire them to advocate for the subject as I do,” Fernandez said.

– Submitted by Huntington Beach Union High School District

Girl Scout Gold winner and Dragon Kim Fellow honored at Ducks women’s event

Gabrielle DeCuir, a 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout and a junior at Placentia’s Valencia High School, represented Girl Scouts of Orange County as a community hero at the recent Anaheim Ducks Women in Sports Night at the Honda Center.

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Feb. 1 and International Women’s Day on March 8, the Ducks celebrated trailblazers in women’s and girls’ sports with the goal of inspiring the next generation of athletes and leaders in the community. As part of Women in Sports Night, the Ducks raised awareness and funds for Girl Scouts of Orange County through the Anaheim Ducks Foundation.

Ducks co-owner Susan Samueli took part in an on-ice pregame ceremony to present the team’s Community Hero award to DeCuir for her sports and STEM-related Gold Award project, Hoops & Coders.

DeCuir, 16, completed her project as a member of the sixth fellowship cohort of the Dragon Kim Foundation, a nonprofit based in Orange County. She was also a finalist in the annual Dragon Challenge.

Along with project partner Shrika Andhe, also a Valencia High School student, DeCuir received a $5,000 grant to carry out their unique community service project, which used a curriculum they developed to introduce girls and young women, primarily in elementary and middle school, to computer science and basketball.

DeCuir and Andhe’s goal was to show the girls that they can achieve success in industries where women are historically underrepresented. They developed a 57-page workbook that was implemented at Higher Ground Youth & Family Services, a mentoring organization for underserved youth living in Anaheim, and the Boys & Girls Club of Brea-Placentia-Yorba Linda.

Each participant developed an app based on personal interests, including softball, music, art, sewing, languages, storytelling, baking, movies and many more. The project directly benefited 45 students and indirectly touched an additional 106 people.

The teens received an additional $5,000 grant at the challenge to continue their work.

– Submitted by Dan Pittman

OC Theatre Guild unveils list of awards nominees

OC Theatre Guild has announced nominees for the second annual OCTG Theatre Awards. Winners will be revealed at an awards ceremony set for April 17 at the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.

The Chance Theater in Anaheim received 47 nominations in total for its productions “Green Day’s American Idiot” (15), “Next to Normal” (13), “Cry It Out” (7), “Chad Deity” (6) and “Little Women” (6).

The Wayward Artist Santa Ana follows with 21 nominations for “The Toxic Avenger” (14), “Actually” (4) and “Collective Rage” (3).

Costa Mesa Playhouse garnered 12 nominations for “The Whale” (11) and “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1).

Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach snagged 11 nominations for “Kim’s Convenience” (7) and “Love Among the Ruins” (4).

Maverick Theater in Fullerton has eight nominations for “Clue” (4) and “King Kong” (4).

No Square Theater in Laguna Beach received four nominations for “Footloose.” Phantom Projects Theatre Group in La Habra received two nominations for “35mm: A Musical Exhibition.” And American Coast Theater Company in Costa Mesa received one nomination for its first submission to the OCTG Awards, “The Marvelous Wonderettes.”

Twenty-four productions with a total of 289 artists were submitted for adjudication in 2022. Fourteen organizations participated, and the results were decided by 42 voters, made up of Orange County theater artists working across a variety of theater disciplines.

OC Theatre Guild launched its awards program in 2020 to celebrate excellence for productions in Orange County theater.

To purchase tickets to the awards ceremony, to submit a show for adjudication or to become a voter, go to octheatreguild.org/octg-awards.

The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to [email protected].

​ Orange County Register 

In Irvine, a major law enforcement response along San Diego Creek in search of missing person

• March 23, 2023

Police and other law enforcement agencies in Orange County, including heavy rescue personnel, responded in force Wednesday to the San Diego Creek near UC Irvine in response to the report of a missing person.

Loud, low-flying sheriff’s helicopters hovered over the area near the intersection of Harvard and University, which is close to the Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course, for much of the early afternoon. OC Fire Authority crews, and police and sheriff’s rescue vehicles, could be seen parked on the banks of the creek, as curious onlookers watched a crew of about a dozen rescue workers positioned in the creek’s flowing water, near an inflatable boat.

Record-breaking recent storms have swollen the normally placid creek, which usually is almost completely dry, into a muddy, fast-moving body of water that would be dangerous for anyone to enter.

Orange County fire and sheriff’s personnel on the scene at San Diego Creek in Irvine on Wwednesday afternoon amid a major law enforcement response. (Photo by Mark Evans, OC Register/SCNG)

Earlier Wednesday, there were reports of a person who went missing late Tuesday near a gym that’s at the corner of Culver and Barranca in Irvine, which also happens to be near the San Diego Creek. An Irvine police community service officer spent the better part of an hour Wednesday around 10 a.m. walking along the banks of the creek in search of the person, and showing passers-by a photo of him.

,As of late Wednesday, there was no word on whether the person that authorities were seeking was found. Additional details were not immediately provided by Irvine police.

#IRVINEPDPIO – The Irvine Police Department and the @OCFireAuthority are looking for a missing person in the San Diego Creek near Harvard and Michelson. There is a significant presence of public safety personnel in the area, and a helicopter is providing support.

— Irvine Police Department (@IrvinePolice) March 22, 2023

​ Orange County Register 

Man arrested on suspicion of shooting roommate to death inside Mission Viejo home

• March 23, 2023

A man was shot to death inside a Mission Viejo home and his roommate was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of homicide, March 21, authorities said.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies were called to the 27000 block of Ruisenor in a neighborhood of single-family homes and evacuated the home, sheriff’s officials said.

The victim, identified by officials as Noah Christian Aguilar, 22, of Mission Viejo, was found dead of a gunshot wound inside, sheriff’s spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.

The man who had been detained and later arrested was Aguilar’s roommate, 22-year-old Michael Guy Levy, Braun said.

Video from OC Hawk showed deputies stationed on the street while a man and woman exited the home, with deputies placing at least the man in handcuffs.

The firearm believed to have been used during the shooting was collected at the house, Braun said.

What led up to the shooting was not known. Where the victim was found inside the house was not disclosed.

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​ Orange County Register