Cypress senior running Isaac Hurtado, Orange County’s leading rusher in 2019, will sign with Army on Wednesday.

Hurtado (6-3, 210) was the 2019 CIF-Southern Section Division 7 offensive player of the year and was an All-Orange County first team selection. He rushed for 2,631 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also had 25 receptions, six of them for touchdowns. The Centurions finished 13-1.

West Point athletics recruits do not sign letters of intent. As Army coach Jeff Monken explained, “While our recruits are not signing letters of intent, they are signing a certificate of commitment to attend the U.S. Military Academy.”

Wednesday is the first day of the regular signing period for football.

While the signing period for most sports started Nov. 13 and is ongoing through Aug. 1, signing ceremonies and events at high schools Wednesday will include non-football athletes from a variety of sports.

IRVINE — A man who has alleged in a lawsuit against the Diocese of Orange that he was molested by a Roman Catholic priest when he was 6 years old in 1994 said Monday that Diocese officials have attempted to “intimidate” him.

Last week, a judge cleared the way for the public identification of the priest, Father Edward Poettgen, who was most recently assigned to St. Boniface Catholic Church in Anaheim. The man suing him held a news conference Monday from the offices of his attorneys to say the Diocese has treated him “like an enemy of the church.”

The man, whose name was not released, said he reported the priest in January of 2019 so he could find some sort of healing.

“Instead of treating me with compassion Bishop (Kevin) Vann has treated me as an enemy of the church,” he said. “They served subpoenas on my mother, my girlfriend and my employers, hoping to intimidate me but I will not be intimidated. I find strength in knowing that my actions will protect other children.”

The man told reporters, “I’m not a scared little boy anymore.”

Poettgen has been placed on administrative leave, Diocese spokeswoman Tracey Kincaid said. She added the Diocese would not comment further on the pending litigation.

Attorney Vince Finaldi, who represents the plaintiff, said he deposed Poettgen last month, when the priest said he was still in active ministry at the church.

The plaintiff claims Poettgen molested him while he was enrolled as a student and in the parish of St. Polycarp Catholic Church in Stanton in 1994 and 1996.

“They’ve known about this for over a year and haven’t informed parishioners,” Finaldi said last week. “It’s crazy.”

Finaldi said Poettgen served on a board of consultants that decided to settle all its lawsuits in 2007 alleging clergy sex abuse.

“They say he doesn’t have any other allegations against him, but we’ve heard that before and proven it wrong,” Finaldi said. “We’ll have to see what the discovery turns up.”

A trial date has not yet been set.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts promised it two months ago, during a conversation with the media at the Winter Meetings in San Diego.

“I think that you’ve got to shuffle the deck sometimes,” he said. “…  I think that you don’t ever want to get stagnant and complacent.

“I think this is probably the most turnover we’ll have from one season to the next. I think that’s fair.”

At the time, we interpreted that conversation as a harbinger of big news during the meetings. It didn’t happen then, didn’t happen through December, didn’t happen through January, and had a restive Dodger fan base even grumpier than usual. The assumption was that Andrew Friedman and his immediate boss, Stan Kasten, cared more about room under the luxury tax than winning a World Series.

I guess not.

On Tuesday night the Dodgers went deep. Upper-deck deep.

The flurry of trades that brought 2018 American League MVP Mookie Betts to Los Angeles changed the trajectory of the offseason, and maybe changed the trajectory of 2020 in its entirety.

This is big, and it is nervy, given that (a) Betts is determined to be a free agent after this season regardless, and (b) the Dodgers made this trade without getting a negotiating window first to see if Betts would be willing to sign an extension.

Why should he? Betts will get Mike Trout-level money, or maybe even more, from somebody next winter. If that’s the case, it means he’s done his job here. And if he’s helped bring the Dodgers a championship parade in the process, their fans should be OK with whatever happens.

And if you’re thinking this is similar to the way the Lakers are rolling the dice with Anthony Davis knowing that he’ll be a free agent this summer … well, let’s give our local teams credit for thinking high risk, high reward instead of staying timid.

For the moment, incidentally, we will set aside talk of whether he had undue assistance in that 2018 season while leading the league in runs (129), batting average (.346) and slugging percentage (.640) and WAR (10.9) and registering a 1.078 OPS and 186 OPS+.

His WAR is 33.8 the last four years. Trout’s in that span is 35.6. So if we stipulate that Trout, the 2019 AL MVP, is the game’s best player, Betts is in the conversation.

(And can we also stipulate that summer evenings in SoCal will be even more dynamic than before, with three of the game’s last four MVPs playing for the home teams?)

There is another factor here. Friedman and club president Stan Kasten really do hear the voices of the fans. It’s fair to assume – heck, Kasten all but came out and said it – that they’re sick and tired of the assumption that they care less about winning a World Series than the fans do. This move should put that meme to rest for a while.

And Friedman accomplished this without touching the club’s very best prospects, as he has done consistently in major deals. Middle infielder Gavin Lux and hard-throwing right-hander Dustin May are still Dodgers, as are the top prospects lower in the system.

To do that required taking on most, if not all, of the three years and $96 million remaining on David Price’s contract. Price is not the pitcher he was when he signed that contract before the 2016 season. But if healthy – and he hasn’t been completely so the last two years – he still can be a serviceable left-hander in a rotation that will look much different in 2020, with Hyun-Jin Ryu in Toronto and Kenta Maeda and the recuperating Rich Hill in Minnesota.

So yes, there’s been some serious deck shuffling. Fan favorites have been sent elsewhere. It will be weird seeing Verdugo in a Red Sox uniform, and stranger seeing Joc Pederson in Angels red. (Can we assume the Dodgers will be setting up their rotation to throw all left-handers during the Freeway Series?)

However, before we announce that the Dodgers won the offseason and anoint them the favorites to end that 32-year championship drought, one caution. Until proven otherwise, the bullpen will remain the subject of so much fan angst. A Blake Treinen returning to anywhere close to his 2018 form may yet be the most crucial acquisition of the Dodgers’ offseason, Betts or no Betts.

But hey, maybe Mookie can pitch, too.

Each week, publications from the The Southern California News Group’s 11 properties (Orange County Register, L.A. Daily News, Press-Enterprise, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Beach Press-Telegram, The Daily Breeze, San Bernardino Sun, Daily Bulletin, Redlands Daily Facts, Whittier Daily News and Pasadena-Star News) nominate Athletes of the Week for their respective region.

Each nominee is entered into the overall Southern California Athlete of the Week county-wide vote.

Click on the newspaper links below the athlete’s name to read about their performance from last week, and then vote for who you think is the best athlete this week.

Readers are allowed to vote multiple times. Voting ends at midnight, but final totals aren’t always immediately reflected due to processing.

BOYS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK VOTING

The overall winner will be announced on Friday, Feb. 7

Voting poll at bottom of the page.

Jadyn Lee, Peninsula: Lee helped lead the Panthers to two wins in the Bay League. The freshman guard had 20 points in a 50-41 win over Leuzinger and followed that with a 19-point effort in a 78-41 win over Centennial. The wins moved Peninsula into a tie for second place heading into the final week of the regular season.

Nicole Dallin, Paloma Valley: Dallin scored three goals as the Wildcats defeated Riverside Poly 4-0 to remain undefeated in the Ivy League and clinch the league title. It was Dallin’s seventh hat track of the season and the 17th of her career. Dallin, who has signed with Arizona, has scored 32 goals this season. She scored 55 goals as a sophomore and was The Press-Enterprise’s Player of the Year that season.

Krystle Medrano, Don Lugo: Medrano had a big week last week in wins over Ontario and Montclair and a nonleague loss to Burbank Burroughs. She averaged 15.7 points in the three games, making four 3-pointers in each game. The Conquistadores are 8-0 in the Mt. Baldy League.

Libbie McMahan, Saugus: McMahan has been the catalyst for Saugus’ unbeaten run in the Foothill League. She tallied 16 points, five assists and five steals in a lopsided win against Golden Valley in just 23 minutes. In a victory against West Ranch, she had 13 points and four steals in just 11 minutes. The week prior, in a showdown with Valencia, McMahan scored 29 points in Saugus’ victory. McMahan’s top sport isn’t even basketball. The standout athlete is committed to UC Davis to play softball.

Sydney Brumfield, Pasadena: Brumfield scored a game-high 19 points and had five steals in a 49-40 home victory over Burroughs that catapulted the Bulldogs into first place in the Pacific League standings. The junior is averaging 17 points a game while filling in for the injured Kamesha Moore.

Aniah Cutler, Long Beach Poly: The striker had a hat trick in a 3-2 victory against Wilson in the Moore League. Her winning goal against the Bruins, which was her 27th of the season, came in the second minute of stoppage time. She also had a goal and two assists in a 5-0 win over Jordan.

Mackenzie MacMillan, Santa Margarita: The Boise State-committed forward scored twice to help the Eagles upset first-place Mater Dei 3-2 in the Trinity League. She also had two goals and one assist in a 4-0 triumph against Rosary. Santa Margarita (13-2-2, 6-2) is in second place in the Trinity League.

Each week, publications from the The Southern California News Group’s 11 properties (Orange County Register, L.A. Daily News, Press-Enterprise, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Long Beach Press-Telegram, The Daily Breeze, San Bernardino Sun, Daily Bulletin, Redlands Daily Facts, Whittier Daily News and Pasadena-Star News) nominate Athletes of the Week for their respective region.

Each nominee is entered into the overall Southern California Athlete of the Week county-wide vote.

Click on the newspaper links below the athlete’s name to read about their performance from last week, and then vote for who you think is the best athlete this week.

Readers are allowed to vote multiple times. Voting ends at midnight, but final totals aren’t always immediately reflected due to processing.

GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK VOTING

The overall winner will be announced on Friday, Feb. 7

Voting poll at bottom of the page.

Emilio Franco, Corona Del Mar: He went 4-0 with four pins as the Sea Kings won the CIF-Southern Section Dual Meet Division 6 championship on Saturday. Franco, the team captain, is 41-6 with 33 points this season. and placed in all of his tournaments this season. Franco is a two-time Sunset Conference champion.

Jonah Sanchez, St. John Bosco: The junior played a pivotal role as the Braves won the CIF Southern Section Division 1 dual meet championship. He pinned two opponents and posted a major decision in St. John Bosco’s victories over Norco (quarterfinals), Villa Park (semifinals) and Servite (championship match). Sanchez is 14-10 this season.

Andre Henry, St. Francis: Henry has had several outstanding games this season, but none was more important that his 28-point effort that led St. Francis to a 71-55 victory over Loyola that clinched second place in the Mission League. The Knights improved to 22-6 overall and 4-2 in league and will take that record into the playoffs next week.

Kyle MacLean, Westlake: MacLean’s play led the Warriors to their first Marmonte League title since 2014. He scored 32 points in a win over Calabasas before leading his team with 20 points in a victory against Oaks Christian. The Warriors are 7-0 in league and ranked second in this week’s CIF-SS Division 3AA poll.

Mohammad Awad, Bloomington: Awad averaged 25 points, four rebounds and two steals while playing only the first half of blowout wins over Colton and Fontana last week. Bloomington is 8-0 in the Sunkist League and has clinched a share of the league title.

Jeremiah Minegar, Linfield Christian: Minegar scored 29 points as the Lions handed Aquinas its first loss in Ambassdor League play. Linfield Christian snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Falcons. Minegar also scored 18 points and 14 points in games against Western Christian and Rubiodux last week. He is averaging 22.1 and six rebounds per game.

Caike Godoy, Redondo: Godoy had 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and four steals in a 69-30 win over Centennial and 12 points and six rebounds in a 72-65 win over Palos Verdes. The Sea Hawks head into the final week of the regular season 16-9 overall and 6-2 in the Bay League.

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SANTA ANA – Another season, another league championship.

Mater Dei’s boys basketball team clinched the Trinity League championship Tuesday with a 60-54 win over St. John Bosco at Mater Dei.

The Monarchs are 8-1 in league, guaranteeing at least a share of the league championship. St. John Bosco is 7-2 in league. Both teams have one league game remaining – Mater Dei at JSerra on Thursday, St. John Bosco at Santa Margarita on Thursday.

Mater Dei has won 37 league championships over Coach Gary McKnight’s 38 seasons at the school and has won a CIF Southern Section-record 32 league titles in a row. The leagues the Monarchs have been in during that period are the Angelus, South Coast, Serra and Trinity.

Juniors Devin Askew and Wilhelm Breidenbach each scored 22 points for Mater Dei (21-6 overall), which is in its usual No. 1 position in the Orange County top 25. Askew scored 12 points in the fourth quarter. Breidenbach had seven rebounds.

Harrison Hornery, another Mater Dei junior, scored eight points with nine rebounds.

Wynton Brown scored 23 points for St. John Bosco (21-6).

Mater Dei went through some struggles in the first half of January but seem to have righted the ship. The Monarchs were crisp on offense, active on defense and aggressive on the boards.

“It really helps get open shots when everybody’s moving around,” Breidenbach said. “We really rotated well on defense, rebounded and pushed it. We got back to our style of basketball.”

McKnight said he was pleased by the effort as much as the result.

“That was vintage Mater Dei basketball,” said McKnight who has coached the Monarchs to 23 CIF Southern Section championships. “It reminds me a lot of the old wins. We came through in the fourth quarter and played well as a group.”

The Monarchs trailed 44-42 going into the fourth quarter in which they would outscore the Braves 18-10. Askew made a 3-pointer to put Mater Dei on top to stay 49-46. He next blew through the lane for a layup and followed with a steal and pass to teammate Ryan Evans, who was fouled on a layup attempt, made the resulting free throws and it was 55-46 with 4:21 remaining.

The Monarchs lost to St. John Bosco 70-62 on Jan. 17 at St. John Bosco.

St. John Bosco is No. 6 in the state rankings compiled by CalHiSports.com. Mater Dei is No. 10 in the state top 20.

Both teams are among the 13 teams on the “watch list” of 13 candidates for the CIF Southern Section Open Division playoffs. Selections to the Open Division will be announced Friday. Playoffs brackets will be released Sunday.

A man struck by gunfire in Fullerton died Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting along the 3100 block of Pearl Drive, near Quartz Lane, at about 5:55 p.m., Fullerton Police Sgt. Eric Bridges said. First responders encountered a man suffering from a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later declared deceased.

Details regarding what led up to the shooting or a description of any possible suspect were not immediately available. Detectives were in the process of interviewing possible witnesses as of 9:30 p.m., and were expected to remain in the area well into the night, Bridges said.

The identity of the man who died was not made public as of Tuesday evening.

California home prices are 250 percent above the national average, while monthly rents are about 50 percent higher. The median price of a house in the Golden State exceeds $600,000.

This is not only a California problem. New research shows that extremely high housing prices in regions of the country hurt all workers no matter where they live.

Driven by innovations in finance, high tech, and biotech, New York, San Francisco, and San Jose have experienced some of the strongest gains in labor productivity during the past five decades. When labor productivity is dispersed geographically, both economic growth and aggregate output can be increased if some workers move from low-productivity areas to high-productivity areas. Even workers who do not move will benefit from the relocation because their salaries rise as competitors leave.

If barriers such as high local housing costs prevent workers from relocating to high-productivity areas, then output and incomes will be lower than they could be.

Economics professors Chang-Tai Hsieh at the University of Chicago and Enrico Moretti at the University of California, Berkeley, examined data on 220 metropolitan areas in the United States from 1964 through 2009 to see if labor is misallotted due to housing constraints, and if so, how much poorer workers are as a result. Their findings were published in “Housing Constraints and Spatial Misallocation” in the American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics in 2019.

The researchers concluded that growing variation in residential housing prices fuels growing differences in labor productivity across the United States. Strict zoning laws in some regions of the country create artificial housing scarcities that drive up prices, reducing the number of workers who can live in the most productive cities.

If the housing stock were increased in New York, San Francisco, and San Jose by relaxing land-use restrictions to the level of the median U.S. city, the growth rate of output would jump a stunning 36 percent, raising average annual incomes nationwide by nearly $4,500. With unlimited labor mobility, annual incomes across the country would increase by $10,680.

As it stands, a typical U.S. worker is losing out on tens of thousands of dollars during a career due to housing barriers in highly productive areas of the country. Hsieh and Moretti conclude that the “effect of more housing in Silicon Valley” would be “to raise income and welfare of all U.S. workers.”

Increasing the pace of housing development in California, however, is a challenge.

Abusive environmental lawsuits block housing construction in already-developed “infill” areas.

Zoning rules discriminate against multifamily structures.

Outrageously high and inconsistent local “development impact fees” and rigid building codes eradicate low-cost housing for low-income people, worsening homelessness. And rent controls, affordable housing mandates, union protections, and notoriously slow permitting cause housing entrepreneurs to flee California to build elsewhere.

Despite much hand-wringing and pronouncements by California politicians to “fix the problem,” fewer residential building permits were issued in 2019 than in 2018. Given the growing human tragedy of homelessness and the vanishing dream of homeownership, the decline in permits is immoral. On the other hand, the best fix is not complicated.

California should adopt a “right to build” constitutional amendment allowing an individual or private entity to build, on private land, residential housing that complies with fire codes. Such an amendment would result in rapid housing development, dramatically lower housing costs, and a much deserved pay raise for all U.S. workers.

Lawrence J. McQuillan is a senior fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, Calif., and the author of How to Restore the California Dream: Removing Obstacles to Fast and Affordable Housing Development.

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A roundup of the Orange County boys basketball highlights on Tuesday:

Capistrano Valley beat defending league champion Trabuco Hills in a defensive battle Tuesday to clinch the outright South Coast League championship.

The Cougars (25-3, 7-0) last won a league championship in 2018, when they were in the Sea View League. They went on to win the CIF-Division 2AA championship that year.

Conner Gleason had 11 points, but he was the only Cougars player to score in double-figures. Langston Redfield had nine points and eight rebounds and Zach Roberts and Spencer Egbert each added eight points.

The 43 points was the third lowest point total for Capo Valley this season. The Cougars scored 41 points in a win against Mission Viejo on Jan. 8 and scored 36 points in a loss to St. Augustine this past Saturday.

In other games Tuesday:

Portola 60, Woodbridge 39: Portola routed Woodbridge to clinch a share of the first basketball league championship in school history.

Portola (16-11, 8-1) finished in third place in the Pacific Coast League last season, its inaugural varsity season. If the Bulldogs beat Irvine on Thursday, they will be outright league champions.

Beckman can win a share of the league title if it beats Northwood on Thursday and Portola loses to Irvine.

Mohsen Hashemi had a game-high 19 points for Portola and Robert Giraldy scored 10 points.

Steven Mimpiya had a team-high 10 points for Woodbridge (5-20, 3-6).

No. 11 Santa Margarita 63, No. 9 Servite 46: Santa Margarita kept its playoff hopes alive by routing Servite in a Trinity League game at Santa Margarita High.

Santa Margarita (12-14, 3-6) was forced to forfeit a win in November and will need to finish with a record of .500 or better to be eligible for an at-large berth. The Eagles have two games remaining this week, against Sage Hill on Wednesday and St. John Bosco on Thursday, and must win both to be eligible for an at-large berth since they won’t be an automatic qualifier.

Andrew Cook led Servite (16-11, 2-7) with 16 points. Kunal Bagga and Tajavis Miller added 14 and 10 points, respectively.

No. 2 JSerra 73, No. 12 Orange Lutheran 61: JSerra kept its second-place hopes alive by cruising to a win in a Trinity League game at Orange Lutheran High.

If JSerra beats Mater Dei on Thursday and St. John Bosco loses to Santa Margarita, the Lions will tie Bosco for second place in the Trinity League standings.

Max Bowman had a game-high 27 points for JSerra (21-6, 6-3). Isaac Peralta had 12 points with three steals and Justin Williams had 10 points and 10 assists.

The Lions out-rebounded the Lancers 34-20 and made 40 percent of their 3-pointers.

No. 6 Canyon 81, Esperanza 40: Canyon had a lot of success with the 3-pointer in a blowout win over Esperanza that clinched a share of the Crestview League championship.

The Comanches have two players in the top 10 in the county for 3-pointers made, and they both delivered Tuesday. Nathan Williams made three 3-pointers and had a team-high 16 points. Jake Martin scored 15 points on five 3-pointers.

Martin has made a county-high 96 3-pointers this season.

Canyon (18-9, 5-0) will play Villa Park on Thursday. If Villa Park wins, the two teams will be co-league champions.

Tustin 47, Pacifica 32: Tustin kept its second-place hopes alive by beating Pacifica in an Empire League game at Tustin High.

Tustin (18-9, 5-4) can finish in second place in the Empire League with a win against Kennedy on Thursday and a Crean Lutheran loss. Crean Lutheran plays at Pacifica on Thursday.

Bradley Burdick finished with nine points and 10 rebounds. Jason Naranjo scored eight points for the Tiller,s and Benjamin Ahinaquah had seven points and nine rebounds.

No. 19 Cypress 63, Kennedy 58: Elijah Vaielua had a career-best game to help Cypress clinch the outright Empire League championship.

Vaielua had 19 points and a career-high 22 rebounds. Eddie Spencer scored 14 points and Christian Chai added 13 points for Cypress (22-5, 9-0).

Cypress has won three straight league championships and 29 consecutive league games.

Los Amigos 52, Loara 43: Los Amigos beat Loara at Los Amigos High to win the outright Garden Grove League championship.

The league title is the first for Los Amigos (17-8, 8-1) since 2002.

Brian Pacheco had a game-high 18 points for the Lobos and Ata Khalil added 10.

Dakota Nanthavong led Loara (9-18, 4-5) with 11 points.

No. 24 Aliso Niguel 60, No. 10 Mission Viejo 55: Aliso Niguel upset Mission Viejo to keep its third-place hopes alive in the South Coast League.

Aliso Niguel (15-12, 3-5) will likely get an at-large berth in the Division 3AA playoffs, but can become an automatic qualifier if San Clemente loses to Trabuco Hills on Thursday. The Wolverines play a nonleague game against El Toro on Thursday.

Sophomore Tyler Weaver had a game-high 26 points and made five 3-pointers. Brandon Novida scored 12 for Aliso and Jacob Morris added 11.

Mission Viejo (22-5, 4-3) will end the regular season against league champion Capistrano Valley on Thursday. The Diablos lost to Capo Valley 41-40 on Jan. 8, the closest league game for the Cougars this season.

No. 23 Dana Hills 52, El Toro 45: Dana Hills is still in contention for the Sea View League championship after beating El Toro at Dana Hills High.

The Dolphins need to beat San Juan Hills on Thursday and need league-leading Tesoro to lose to Laguna Hills in order to force a tie for first place. If Dana Hills (18-7, 5-2) loses to the Stallions, they will fall into a tie for second place, but 18 wins make the Dolphins a strong at-large contender in Division 3AA.

Miles Ettinger led the Dolphins with 17 points and Harrison Wiese added eight.

El Toro (15-11, 3-5) will finish the season in fourth place in the Sea View League and hopes to earn an at-large spot in Division 2A. The Chargers play a nonleague game against Aliso Niguel on Thursday.

NEWPORT COAST Players and coaches from the Sage Hill and St. Margaret’s girls basketball teams stood in the middle of the court, locked arms and bowed their heads. The San Joaquin League schools were no longer rivals.

They were were brothers and sisters.

Sage Hill and St. Margaret’s, two Orange County high schools rocked to the core by the Calabasas helicopter crash on Jan. 26, leaned on each other Tuesday night.

“It was really emotional,” Sage Hill forward Emily Elliott said. “For today especially, it was really important that we went out and played our hearts out. Not only playing hard but also having fun — to honor them.”

“Them”, of course, meant the nine victims of the helicopter crash that struck the Mambas youth girls basketball team and its families, coaches and a pilot.

All the victims were remembered Tuesday. Lakers great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, 13. Payton Chester, 13, and her mother Sarah. Alyssa Altobelli, 14, and her parents John (Orange Coast College baseball coach) and Keri. Mambas assistant coach Christina Mauser (Edison). Pilot Ara Zobayan.

Sage Hill lost plenty in the accident. Bryant’s oldest daughter Natalia is a junior student-athlete at Sage Hill. Classmates have written cards for Natalia and stayed in touch with text messages.

Bryant often brought his Mambas team to Sage Hill to practice. The Mambas were there so often, the Lightning players had been watching Gianna, Alyssa and Payton grow up.

St. Margaret’s lost plenty. Payton was an eighth grader at St. Margaret’s, where her brothers Hayden and Riley attend high school

“It’s definitely really emotional for everyone,” said Sage Hill guard Isabel Gomez, who wears No. 24 for Bryant and Sixers legend Bobby Jones. “Just all the layers of sadness there built up.”

But the teams helped each other through the pain.

In warm-ups, players from both squads wore black T-shirts that read on the front: “MAMBA. FOREVER”

The teams held a 45-second moment of silence for the victims. They picked the 45 in a nod to the jerseys of Gianna (No. 2), Alyssa (No. 5), Payton (No. 14) and Bryant (No. 24) added to together.

After the moment of silence, the two teams gathered for a combined break on “Family.”

At the start the game, both teams took shot-clock violations to honor the victims. Gomez placed the ball on the floor with 24 seconds left. St. Margaret’s placed the ball on the court with 14 seconds left.

“This is our community and we just felt like this was the right thing for our community,” Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters said. “We’re two communities that are very similar that just want to make sure our kids are taken care of.”

Sage Hill won the game 51-34. Gomez scored 18 points and Elliott added 13 points, seven steals and two blocks for the playoff-bound Lightning (15-7, 3-2).

Gomez, a sophomore, also had six rebounds and four steals. She played for Mauser at Harbor Day School, a feeder for Sage Hill, and was her student.

“She was intense. She was happy. And she always just wanted the best for you,” Gomez said of Mauser. “She a wonderful, wonderful person. … It’s really hard (now).”

Mandy Taylor scored 15 for the Tartans (10-15, 2-6) in their season-finale.

“They girls played hard and put their heart into the game,” St. Margaret’s coach Nicole Riscica said.

But Tuesday wasn’t about the final score.

As the back of those Mambas T-shirts read, it was about moving forward any way possible, no matter the circumstances.

“we don’t quit, we don’t cower, we don’t run. We endure and conquer.” – Kobe Bryant

The good news for the Iowa Democratic Party is that California will soon knock it off its perch atop the list of worst 2020 election meltdowns.

The long-awaited Iowa caucuses — the first-in-the-nation presidential contest — dissolved into chaos Monday night when a new app that the party was using to communicate the results of the vote utterly failed to work.

Technology, as everybody knows, is like that sometimes. It’s why product names are followed by version numbers. If you’re buying a baseball bat, you don’t have to check online every 20 minutes for news about the soon-to-be-released Louisville Slugger 8.0 before you plunk down the money to buy the LS7, and you don’t have to wonder if your old baseballs will still work if you switch over to Rawlings.

After what just happened in Iowa, Nevada state Democratic Party Chairman William McCurdy II announced that his team will not be using that same app for the upcoming Nevada caucuses, even though the party paid tens of thousands of dollars for it.

California has spent a lot more than that on new election technology. Our statewide primary isn’t run by party leaders, it’s run by state and county elections officials. They bought a cluster of new voting technology and adopted new procedures, one on top of the other, amounting to an entirely new election system that is untested under the stress of real-world conditions. California is plunging into the 2020 presidential primary with Version 1.0.

Associated Press reporter Janie Har noticed that counting California’s primary ballots could take longer than ever before due to the new state law that allows Californians to register to vote at the polls all the up to and including Election Day. It “could mean a surge of last-minute ballots, including last-minute provisional ballots that take longer to count,” Har wrote.

However, same-day registration at every polling place is only one of the new, modernized voting procedures. Just wait until poll workers throughout the state try to check in voters using brand-new electronic pollbooks, all connected simultaneously to the state voter database in Sacramento.

In Los Angeles County there are nearly 1,000 “vote centers” where voters can go to cast a ballot. Unlike the familiar local polling places, where printed-on-paper rosters were used to check in voters, poll workers at vote centers will have only the electronic pollbook system. There will be no paper rosters to use as back-up in case the electronic pollbook system goes down.

Could it fail just like the app in Iowa?

What happens if hundreds of thousands or even millions of people try to vote on Election Day and the voter check-in system locks up, slows to a crawl, or crashes and refuses to work?

There will be no way to check in voters. Everybody in line to vote will have to leave without voting.

Probably the whole election would have to be thrown out and a re-vote conducted. It’s a good thing we moved the primary from June to March; it gives us time to move it back to June.

Fifteen of California’s 58 counties will be using vote centers in this election, up from just five counties that tried it in 2018. Los Angeles County, with 5.4 million registered voters (about 25% of the voters in the state), will be trying vote centers, electronic pollbooks and new touch-screen ballot-marking devices, all for the first time. Record turnout is expected in 2020. This will be interesting.

In California, voting goes on for a month and counting goes on for a month. Iowa’s Democratic Party should be grateful. We’re going to knock them out of the record books.

Susan Shelley is an editorial writer and columnist for the Southern California News Group. Susan@SusanShelley.com. Twitter: @Susan_Shelley

Information about the coronavirus that first appeared in China is spreading across the internet faster than the virus itself, leading to worldwide alarm about an outbreak that has infected nearly 8,000 people and led to more than 170 deaths so far, mostly in Asia.

A few cases have been identified in the United States as public-health officials try to sort fact from fiction.

Before donning a face mask and stocking up on food and supplies, it would be wise to take a deep breath, look at credible information from the Centers for Disease Control and spend less time reposting unverified Facebook posts. There’s reason for concern, but no cause for fear and panic.

The Chinese government has quarantined 50 million people, as Buzzfeed explains, and banned travel “following a small number of air travel-related cases, all nonfatal, which have spread to more than a dozen countries.”

If you haven’t been to Wuhan lately, haven’t been in contact with cobras and bats, and don’t work in the health field, your chances of infection are quite small.

For perspective, the latest influenza season has claimed 10,000 lives in the United States and has resulted in the hospitalization of 180,000 people. Commentators have pointed to other sobering statistics. In the United States annually, 650,000 people die of heart disease, 170,000 die from accidents and 600,000 people die from cancer.

Other high-profile emerging diseases — e.g., Ebola virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), avian flu — have been contained with amazing speed. Based on past experience, our public-health systems will figure out this one’s causes and precautions soon.

If you’re really concerned, we recommend following the CDC’s advice — wash your hands frequently, seek medical attention if you have developed a respiratory illness (especially if you just returned from China) and take similar precautions to those used to avoid spreading the flu.

And try not getting infected by half-baked social-media information, which will leave more time to worry about the botched Iowa caucuses and other political absurdities.

LOS ANGELES — It’s officially hang-onto-your-hat season in the NBA, with the trade deadline bearing down at noon PT on Thursday.

As the Miami Heat prepared to face the Clippers on Wednesday at Staples Center, word came – via an Adrian Wojnarowski tweet – that veteran forward Andre Iguodala was on his way from Memphis to Miami, where he will receive a two-year, $30 million extension. He was said to be part of a three-team, multi-player deal that also includes Oklahoma City.

The Clippers (and Lakers) reportedly were among the teams that coveted Iguodala, a three-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors.

“I cannot discuss anything right now,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said minutes after notifications began chiming on phones of NBA followers everywhere. “This is all rumor. I’m just here to talk about the game. I’m the coach.”

Miami started a lineup of Jimmy Butler, Kendrick Nunn, Bam Adebayo, Duncan Robinson and Kelly Olynyk (in place of the injured Meyers Leonard.) The Heat’s inactive list included forward Justise Winslow, who had played only 11 games this season because of injuries and was one of the players reportedly involved in the swap.

A season ago, the Clippers did some heavy lifting at the trade deadline, dealing away Tobias Harris, Mike Scott, Boban Marjanovic, Avery Bradley and Mike Muscala (whom they’d just acquired for Harris, Scott and Marjanovic) in a series of moves. They brought in Landry Shamet, Ivica Zubac and JaMychal Green, as well as Garrett Temple and Wilson Chandler and some key draft picks. And they waived Marcin Gortat.

It all helped set the table for this past offseason, when they traded for Paul George and acquired Kawhi Leonard in free agency.

And now, what did the Clippers have in store in the 18 hours between Doc Rivers’ regular pregame chat with the media on Wednesday and the deadline? In addition to Iguodala the Clippers also were said to have interest in Robert Covington (who was dealt to Houston) and Marcus Morris (for whom the New York Knicks were said to want Landry Shamet in return, an ask that Wojnarowski reported was a non-starter for the Clippers).

And if a move is made, what might that do to the team’s fledgling continuity? That nebulous thing that’s developing in earnest at last as the Clippers enjoyed a fully healthy roster Thursday for just the fourth game all season?

“I got a feeling it will be the same,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, “but you just never know.”

Times sure have changed, though, Rivers said.

“This is a different generation,” said the 21st-year head coach, who played from 1983 to 1996. “We didn’t have social media, we didn’t have all this stuff. When we found out we got traded, Stan Kasten would call our house and you would say, ‘Hey, what’s Stan calling for?’ And he would tell you you’re traded.

“But now everyone knows everything, there’s no secrets in the league. I would guess it’s a lot tougher on players now than it was 10 years ago for sure.”

Clippers reserve guard Rodney McGruder said there isn’t much that players can do.

“Control what you can control,” he said. “Whatever’s gonna happen, is gonna happen. You have no control over it, so just come out here, compete, stay focused, stay sharp and that’s all you can control.”

“I want to win,” he said with a smile. “That’s the objective of the game, you know? You want to win and compete and I’m sure they want to do the same.”

PAUL GEORGE’S NOSE

Paul George said at shootaround Wednesday that he was still feeling the effects of having been elbowed in his nose by DeMar DeRozan in Monday’s victory over San Antonio.

“It’s bad,” George said of his swollen nose. “Hopefully at some point, it’ll go down, but it’s bad right now.

“It hurts. It’s hard to breathe a little bit, little stuffy from it. It’s a little pain, but I missed enough games, man, I’m gonna keep it rolling.”

With the @NBA trade deadline coming up tomorrow, Doc Rivers gives his brief State of The @LAClippers address 50 games into the season.#ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/xFTo21scPT

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 6, 2020

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Football Club has been without some of its most important players to this point in preseason training. LAFC had six players away on international duty, most engaged in the CONMEBOL Olympic qualifying tournament that will decide which under-23 teams will compete in Tokyo during the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Midfielder Jose Cifuentes rejoined the team earlier this week after Ecuador’s elimination, but Diego Rossi and Francisco Ginella remain with Uruguay while Eduard Atuesta and Eddie Segura are still with the Colombian U-23s.

Center back Walker Zimmerman’s time with the U.S. national team was not spent vying for Olympic glory; Zimmerman was with the U.S. senior team for its annual January camp in Qatar, which ended over the weekend after an exhibition match against Costa Rica in California.

Zimmerman played all 90 minutes in the Americans’ 1-0 victory. Now back in LAFC training, Zimmerman has limited time to adjust before LAFC’s CONCACAF Champions League match against Leon on Feb. 18 in Mexico. His time with the national team has Zimmerman feeling physically match fit, but there are other challenges the 25-year-old defender faces as he settles into the LAFC backline.

“January camps are a good chance to get things started early. I know this year was a similar timeframe for LAFC because of Champions League, but it’s a kickstart to try and build your fitness before getting with your club and preparing for the season,” Zimmerman said after practice on Wednesday. “I’m excited to be back with LAFC, excited to see all my friends and a lot of new faces as well. I’m trying to get to know them on a personal level. It’s a lot of culture-building conversations.”

During his time at LAFC, Zimmerman has established himself as a leader in the locker room. Learning his new teammates and building those relationships outside of the game ahead of the regular season are important goals for him. Setting his fitness level aside, Zimmerman feels his transition from the U.S. backline into LAFC’s defense is still something that requires considerable work on his part. Between his time with FC Dallas and LAFC, Zimmerman is no stranger to juggling the football ideas of the national team program and his league club, but he concedes that it’s not yet a simple as flipping a switch.

“There’s a little bit of difficultly there, just transitioning from doing things a certain way. (Going from team to team) it varies, it changes. That part is an adjustment. The fun part is getting to know new players. Learning their tendencies will take a bit of time,” Zimmerman said. “‘What foot are they? Are they fast? How do they like to receive the ball?’ I don’t know these things because I haven’t been around. Picking up on their tendencies will be a process as well.”

While Zimmerman and Eddie Segura have been away, the depth of LAFC’s backline has been on full display. Zimmerman says the time that Dejan Jakovic, Diego Palacios, Mohamed El Munir and even Latif Blessing have gotten on the backline during the preseason is a positive for the team as Champions League play and the regular season approach.

“It’s always about trying to get better. The good news about having me and Eddie gone, it’s a great opportunity to get everyone plugged in right away,” Zimmerman said. “It’s a great chance for them to get those reps, get those games under their belt. We’re going to need everyone, so them getting that exposure, it only helps us.”

Zimmerman doesn’t expect to play in Thursday’s match against FC Dallas, the third of LAFC’s preseason. If he doesn’t appear against his old club, then Zimmerman will only have one match, the preseason finale against Toronto FC on Feb. 12, to prepare for Leon. The accelerated pace is a challenge that Zimmerman is eager to meet.

“In terms of match fitness, my ability to finish 90 minutes, I’m confident with where I am. When it comes to the acclamation from the national team to LAFC, that’s what I’ll have to adjust to the quickest,” Zimmerman said. “I’m excited to see what that looks like next week. Hopefully, it’ll come quickly.”

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Previews of the top boys basketball games on Thursday, Feb. 6.

NO. 6 CANYON (18-9, 5-0) VS. NO. 7 VILLA PARK (24-3, 4-1)

Where, when: Villa Park, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Stakes: Crestview League championship

Outlook: Canyon routed Esperanza on Tuesday to clinch a share of its third consecutive Crestview League championship. If the Comanches lose to Villa Park, the two teams will share the league title for the second straight year.

The Comaches are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the county. Seniors Nathan Williams and Jake Martin are in the top 10 in Orange County in 3-pointers made. Martin leads the county with 96 3s.

Villa Park has won its last two league games by an average of 35 points. Riley Schroeder is the Spartans’ leading scorer and Villa Park also gets big contributions from Damien Parker and 6-foot-9 Garrett Andre.

Canyon beat Villa Park 53-52 on Jan. 24 in one of the most exciting games of the season. Martin made six 3-pointers and had a game-high 24 points.

This is one of the best rivalries in Orange County basketball and this is the best game of the night.

NO. 8 SONORA (22-5, 9-0) VS. NO. 16 LA HABRA (19-8, 8-1)

Where, when: La Habra, Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Stakes: Freeway League championship

Outlook: Sonora has already clinched a share of the league championship by beating Buena Park on Tuesday. La Habra won the league championship last season with an unblemished record.

La Habra gave Sonora its toughest league game of the season on Jan. 21. The Raiders outlasted the Highlanders 59-56 in a game that came down to the final possession. Tobin Igros made a free throw to extend Sonora’s lead to three with 14 seconds remaining. La Habra attempted a 3-pointer at the buzzer but missed.

Igros had a team-high 14 points for Sonora in that game and Daniel Esparza and Ian Jones each scored 13.

Dylan Damico had a game-high 19 points for La Habra, and Erik Howland scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half.

This is also one of the bigger rivalries in high school basketball and will be played in front of a capacity crowd.

NO. 23 DANA HILLS (18-7, 5-2), VS. SAN JUAN HILLS (10-17, 4-3)

Where, when: San Juan Hills, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Stakes: Second place in Sea View League

Outlook: These are two of the most unique teams in Orange County this season. Dana Hills has been widely considered to be a good team that would beat up on bad teams and lose to anyone with a winning record. The Dolphins shattered that reputation by beating Tesoro on Jan. 24.

San Juan Hills coach Jason Efstathiou has been coaching with neuropathy, a disease that attacks your nerves and affects just one percent of diabetics.

The Stallions have had close losses against highly ranked teams like Santa Margarita, Cypress, Newport Harbor and Tesoro.

Adam Weingard leads the Stallions and scores in double figures regularly. John Mcfadden had a game-high 12 points when San Juan Hills beat Dana Hills on Jan. 10. Cooper Kitaen, Niko Trimino and Ryan Perucci are always threats to have a big game as well.

Dana Hills is a lock for a playoff spot in Division 3AA. The Dolphins have an experienced lineup full of seniors who have started multiple years. Harrison Wiese is 6-foot-7 and the team’s best player. Miles Ettinger and Grayson Holtby have played well in league play and Chris Na is a point guard who runs the offense.

NO. 1 MATER DEI (21-6, 8-1) VS. NO. 2 JSERRA (21-6, 6-3)

Where, when: JSerra, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Stakes: JSerra can earn second-place finish with a win and St. John Bosco loss

Outlook: It’s usually exciting when the top two teams in the county play each other, but the first meeting between the two teams was a blowout and the anticipation for the second meeting has been tepid.

Mater Dei jumped to a 31-point lead at halftime and beat the Lions 64-27 on Jan. 22. Five Monarchs scored in double figures with Devin Askew leading the pack with 16 points.

JSerra shot just 27 percent from the field in that loss, but the Lions have been playing better as of late. Utah signee Ian Martinez has been out with an injury but the young Lions have picked up the slack. Mac Bowman scored 27 points in a win against Orange Lutheran on Tuesday and made seven of 12 3s. Justin Williams had 10 points and 10 assists.

Mater Dei has the size advantage with Wilhelm Breidenbach, Nick Davidson and Harrison Hornery, all of whom are at least 6-foot-8. It’s difficult to score inside on the Monarchs, but JSerra should shoot better than it did in the first meeting and make it a more competitive game.

NO. 10 MISSION VIEJO (22-5, 4-3) VS. NO. 3 CAPISTRANO VALLEY (25-2, 7-0)

Where, when: Capistrano Valley, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Stakes: None. Just a fun matchup.

Outlook: Capo Valley is the best public school team in Orange County this season and it’s not close. The Cougars had a 17-game winning streak before losing to St. Augustine of San Diego in the Nike Extravaganza last weekend. Capo bounced back and beat Trabuco Hills to clinch the outright South Coast League title Tuesday.

The last time Capo Valley won a league title was in 2018 when they won the Sea View League and went on to win the CIF-SS Division 2AA championship with All-County guard Dawson Baker. The Cougars have a mixed offensive attack this season with contributions from Conner Gleason, Langston Redfield, Zach Roberts, Brody Sumner and Spencer Egbert.

Mission Viejo has guaranteed a second-place finish in league, but will share it with San Clemente if the Tritons beat Trabuco Hills on Thursday and the Diablos lose. The Diablos suffered an upset loss to Aliso Niguel on Tuesday, but are a virtual lock to make the CIF-SS Division 2AA playoffs with 22 wins.

Mission Viejo is led by experienced seniors Nathan Hewitt, Griff Higgins, Rey Cabiling and Jake Conerty, who have all started at least two years for coach Troy Roelen. Junior Presley Eldridge is also a key contributor for the Diablos.

The Diablos gave Capo Valley its toughest league test of the season in a 41-40 loss on Jan. 8. Capo Valley only scored 43 points against Trabuco Tuesday and a season-low 36 against St. Augustine. If Capo Valley has a poor shooting night, it could be ripe for an upset before the playoffs begin next week.

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NEWPORT BEACH –- Four teams tied for the Surf League boys basketball championship last season.

This season it’s only two.

Newport Harbor defeated Edison 50-29 in a Surf League game at Newport Harbor High on Wednesday, the final day of the league season.

Newport Harbor and Edison conclude the regular season as Surf League co-champions, both finishing with 4-2 league records.

Edison and Newport Harbor will compete in Division 2AA of the CIF Southern Section playoffs that begin next week. A coin flip that followed the game was won by Newport Harbor, making the Sailors the Surf League’s No. 1 representative in the playoffs and Edison the league’s No. 2 team.

Being a league’s No. 1 has advantages. As the Surf League’s No. 1 team, Newport Harbor will get a first-round home game against another league’s No. 2 or No. 3 team or perhaps an at-large team.

Edison as a No. 2 might get a first-round home game against another league’s No. 2 team or No. 3, or might get a first-round away game against another league’s No. 1 or No. 2 team.

Playoffs brackets will be released Sunday.

Newport Harbor senior Robbie Spooner, a 6-4 forward, led the Sailors (22-6 overall) with 18 points, all in the second half. Luke Bashore, a 6-7 senior forward, scored 16 points of which 14 were scored in the first half. Spooner made four 3-pointers, Bashore two.

Junior forward Connor Collins scored 10 points to lead the Chargers (17-11).

Edison, which beat Newport Harbor 60-43 on Jan. 24, shot 31 percent from the field, making 15 of 48 attempts. The Chargers, who took only two free throws, were held to single-digit scoring in the second, third and fourth quarters.

Newport Harbor was 18-for-46 shooting for 39 percent.

The Sailors, ranked No. 15 in the Orange County top 25, trailed only briefly early in the first quarter. Their 21-point winning margin was their biggest lead over the No. 14 Chargers.

Spooner was 0 for 7 in the first half. He was certain the shots eventually would fall and they did – he was 6 for 8 in the second half, including 4 for 5 on 3-pointers.

“I’m just going to keep shooting,” Spooner said. “No matter how many I miss, I’m going to keep shooting. I know they’re going to find their way.”

Newport Harbor coach Robert Torribio gave Spooner the green light and figured Bashore should launch it from outside, too, to counter other teams’ sagging defenses used against Bashore when Bashore sets up inside.

“So we said ‘Hey, Lukie, it’s your last game at home,’” Torribio said. “’Let’s go out with you firing the ball.’”

SAN LUIS OBISPO — Long Beach State battled through eight ties and nine lead changes during the first half of Wednesday night’s game at Cal Poly (SLO), but the host Mustangs used hot shooting and 17 points off turnovers to pull away in the second half on their way to a 92-75 win.

Junior Ballard led four Cal Poly players in double figures with 22 points. Tuukka Jaakkola scored 16 and Mark Crowe and Jamal Smith each scored 11 to move the Mustangs out of the Big West Conference cellar.

Ballard’s jumper with 34 seconds before halftime gave the Mustangs (6-16 overall, 3-5 Big West) a 36-34 advantage at the break. A 14-5 run in the first 3½ minutes after halftime extended their lead to 11. Chance Hunter countered for Long Beach with back-to-back 3-pointers but the visitors never got closer.

Hunter and Mark Carter III each scored 15 and Jordan Roberts had 11 for LBSU (7-17, 2-6), which is off this weekend before playing at Hawaii next Wednesday (Feb. 12). Romelle Mansel added nine points and seven rebounds for Long Beach.

LBSU got three blocked shots from Joshua Morgan during the first half, when it took an early lead on a Hunter 3-pointer then pushed its lead to 19-14 on a Morgan basket with just over eight minutes remaining.

A fast-break layup from Roberts gave Long Beach its largest lead of the night at 25-19, but it was erased with a 6-0 run from the Mustangs, and Cal Poly led at the half 36-34 after a five-point run to close the opening period.

LBSU scored 22 second-chance points, but that was offset by Cal Poly’s advantage on points off of turnovers and points in the paint.

LOS ANGELES — Something got into the Clippers’ shooters on Wednesday night – which is to say, a whole bunch of 3-pointers got into the bucket.

The Clippers made a franchise-record 24 3-pointers on a season-high 54 attempts in a rousing, zone-busting 128-111 victory over the Miami Heat at Staples Center.

It was the first time since 2016 that the Clippers made at least 20 3-pointers – which on Wednesday accounted for more than half of their 89 field-goal attempts.

The Clippers made 16 of 27 (59 percent) of their 3-point shots after halftime, when second-year shooting guard Landry Shamet went 6 for 8 from the field and 5 for 7 from 3-point range to finish with 23 points, his most as a Clipper.

No, but really: Everyone was hitting afar – even a fan was on the money, sinking a $10,000 half-court shot during a break in the second half.

“It was an avalanche in that second half of 3s,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, whose team shot 46.2 percent (12 for 26) from distance. “And we just couldn’t get a handle on it. Whether it was man or zone, that was one of the better 3-point shooting displays I have been on the other end of, probably the biggest one.”

That shooting showcase helped the home team – fully stocked for just the fourth time this season – put away their banged-up, tough-nosed, never-say-die visitors.

Miami (34-16) was performing with the uncertainty of being at the center of a major, multi-team trade shaking out as they battled on the court. Adding adversity, All-Star Jimmy Butler went to the locker room in the second half with a sore shoulder.

Nonetheless, early on, it looked to be the Clippers (36-15) in disarray. They missed each other on passes (nine first-half turnovers) and were missing the mark on the majority of their shots, shooting (10 for 27 in the first quarter).

“We came in at halftime, watched film and seen some things that we could change to get more points,” said JaMychal Green, who went for 4 for 7 on Wednesday, a breakthrough for the floor-spacing forward who was shooting 28.9 percent from behind the arc in his previous 12 games.

“And then we started swinging the ball. This was a big night for the whole team, got the franchise record for 3s, and they came at the right times, when we needed ’em. … We took advantage of it.”

But after an uneven first half, Coach Doc Rivers’ squad established itself, lifted largely by nine third-quarter 3-pointers, the Clippers’ most in a quarter this season.

It was the 13th time in team history that eight players finished in double figures, and the first time this season the Clippers recorded 35 assists. Seven Clippers made at least one 3-pointer:

Paul George (23 points and a season-high 10 assists) hit five 3s and Kawhi Leonard (14 points, nine assists and seven rebounds) made four.

Moe Harkless (11 points) added three 3s and Lou Williams (14 points) and Patrick Beverley (who left the game early with a sore right groin) added one 3-pointer apiece.

“It’s always been that it’s just a matter of finding our rhythm,” said Shamet, who had only three field-goal attempts – to Rivers’ chagrin – in the Clippers’ win over San Antonio on Monday.

“That’s what we’re trying to step into now,” Shamet continued. “Trying to figure out the best version of our balance, the best way for us to play. I think we were trying to search for it early in the year and I think we’re still trying to search for it.

“Overall, we’re starting to find it.”

“I don’t think (Shamet) made his first (four shots) but he kept shooting the ball, being aggressive,” said Leonard, who had a “Black Panther”-inspired bobblehead figure given to fans at Staples Center on Wednesday.

“He made plays for others and he helped us win, you know what I mean? It was a good team win tonight. Everybody did things great on the floor.”

The Clippers’ shooting lifted them in Miami too. The Heat have lost only five times this season at home, including once to the Clippers, who went 16 for 35 from deep in their 122-117 victory there on Jan. 24. Shamet finished that game 6 for 12 from 3.

Rivers remembered that before Wednesday’s start.

“We move the ball, we shoot the ball well, we drive the ball, and those three things I think help when you’re going against zones and when you’re getting trapped a lot, so that’s what we did well,” he said of facing Spoelstra’s Heat. “They’re tough, they move, they play at times like an inverted offense where the point guard is a 5 and you gotta really guard from their cuts, their movement, and their 3.”

Apparently, those lessons still were fresh for the Clippers, who improved to 22-5 at home on the eve of the NBA trade deadline.

Doc Rivers reflects on tonight's franchise record night from three-point land, which included a 16-27 mark (59%) in the second half.#ClipperNation • @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/AAkDLEIz77

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 6, 2020

"That's the best version of basketball we can play… When the ball is moving & we're sharing it"

Landry Shamet (23 points) talks with @Kristina_Pink after the W.#ClipperNation • @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/S3ZtkZv9LW

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 6, 2020

Shots were falling tonight from distance

It was a franchise-record 24 made threes tonight for the @LAClippers!#ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/tQXFiU40dy

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 6, 2020

"I just know we're dangerous when we play like that"#ClipperNation • @LAClippers pic.twitter.com/3atCiZAxjw

— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) February 6, 2020

FULLERTON — In order to beat UC Riverside on Wednesday night, Cal State Fullerton basketball coach Dedrique Taylor figured the Titans needed to perform better in a number of statistical areas.

The Titans checked them off one by one, adding up to a 61-48 victory at Titan Gym.

The Titans (9-15 overall, 4-5 Big West Conference) shot better from the floor, and particularly the 3-point line. They forced more turnovers and collected more rebounds, exactly the way Taylor drew things up after Fullerton lost last week by one point in overtime at Cal Poly and by 30 at UC Irvine.

“Really, really proud of the way they responded and showed some resiliency, showed the ability to do the things that we’re asking them to do,” Taylor said. “Statistically, all of the categories that we look at, and deem necessary to win, we won those statistical categories, thus we won the game.”

Fullerton senior guard Brandon Kamga, who came in averaging 17.9 points in conference play to take over as the team scoring leader (14.2), scored 19 points to lead the Titans.

“My teammates were trusting me to make plays,” he said. “It’s all about that, just trusting your teammates because everyone works hard. We’re in this together, so if something’s not going right, someone else is going to pick it up and vice versa.”

Jackson Rowe added 14 points and five assists, and Davon Clare (10 points, eight rebounds) and Wayne Arnold (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Titans, who had lost to the Highlanders 65-59 on Jan. 11 at UCR.

“That was literally our game plan, was to make sure we played together with energy,” Rowe said. “We actually did it tonight.”

UCR’s 48 points was the fewest a Fullerton team has allowed in a Big West game since a 77-47 win at UCR on Jan. 7, 2008.

Callum McRae, a 7-foot-1 sophomore center, and Khy Kabellis scored 10 points each to lead UCR.

The Highlanders (14-10, 4-4) were trying to stay in the top half of the conference standings after posting their best nonconference record since entering the Big West in 2001, but they were off from the start.

Riverside coach David Patrick took a quick timeout after Fullerton scored the first six points of the game, four directly off turnovers.

“It kind of set the tone for the game, and that hasn’t been how we’ve been playing, at least for the last month or so,” Patrick said. “We’ve been taking care of the ball better.”

Riverside committed three of its 17 turnovers in the first three minutes overall, but settled in and scored the next seven points for a 7-6 lead.

They continued to exchange the lead until Arnold and Rowe made back-to-back 3-pointers to move the Titans ahead 20-15 and they never trailed again.

Fullerton extended the lead to as many as eight before taking a five-point lead into the break.

Riverside scored the first four points of the second half and had a chance to take its first lead since the midway point of the first half, but the Titans answered with nine straight points to take their biggest lead at 41-31 with 15:21 left in the game.

Riverside made one more push to get within four at 41-37, but the Highlanders couldn’t get any closer.

“We cut it back in the second half, but turnovers again there hurt us,” Patrick said. “We’ve just got to get back to the drawing board and take care of the ball better.”

UP NEXT

Cal State Fullerton hosts UC Davis on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

UC Riverside plays at Cal State Northridge on Saturday at 7 p.m.

.@CSFCoachTaylor, Brandon Kamga and @JacksonRaw on tonight’s win over UC Riverside. #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/Z0K7t5IQ0X

— Titans Men's Basketball (@FullertonMBB) February 6, 2020

Less than three weeks from the NHL’s trade deadline, the last-place Kings made the first of what could be several significant trades on Wednesday night as they look to rebuild.

The Kings sent forward Kyle Clifford and goaltender Jack Campbell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward Trevor Moore and two third-round draft picks (one in 2020, and a conditional pick in 2021).

Longtime fan favorite Clifford, 29, was set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 10-year veteran has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, producing 60 goals and 69 assists in 660 games. The two-way forward, who has six goals and eight assists in 53 games this season, played on the Kings’ Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2012 and 2014. The Kings also will pay half of the remainder of Clifford’s $1.9 million salary this season.

Campbell, 28, has been the Kings’ primary backup goalie for the last two seasons and likely will serve the same role for a Toronto team that finds itself just two points out of playoff position despite inconsistent play in goal. After signing a two-year contract extension this summer that kicks in next season, Campbell was 8-10-2 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 20 games (all starts) this season. He broke into the NHL by appearing in one game for the Dallas Stars in 2013-14, then returned to the league in 2016-17 with the Kings, for whom he has played parts of four seasons.

The Kings receive the 2020 third-round pick that originally belonged to the Columbus Blue Jackets as well as the conditional 2021 third-round pick. The conditional 2021 third-round selection reportedly could become a second-round selection if Clifford re-signs with Toronto this summer or if Campbell wins six regular-season games this season and the Maple Leafs make the playoffs.

It will be a homecoming for Moore, who was born in Thousand Oaks and grew up playing amateur hockey in the L.A. area before going to the University of Denver. The winger was signed as an undrafted free agent following his junior season with the Pioneers.

Moore, 24, played 9 minutes, 32 seconds in the Maple Leafs’ 5-3 road loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday. He has three goals and two assists in 27 games this season after getting two goals and six assists in 25 games as a rookie for Toronto last season.

Forwards Tyler Toffoli and Trevor Lewis and defensemen Derek Forbort, Ben Hutton and Joakim Ryan are all on expiring contracts for the Kings and are candidates to be moved before the Feb. 24 deadline.

The Kings, who are 2-9-1 in their past 12 games, have the lowest point total in the Western Conference.