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Articles by Lance Smith
Who should be The Sporting News California high school football Team of the Week (Week 4)?
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Here are the candidates for The Sporting News California high school football Team of the Week for Week Four (Sep. 18-20). Vote as many times as you'd like until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, and the results will be announced in the following days. Edison (Huntington Beach): The Chargers defeated Fountain Valley 34-7 for their 21st consecutive Bell Game victory.
Live score, updates, highlights from California high school football game
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Orange Lutheran hosts Sierra Canyon on Thursday at 7 p.m. in a battle of California's No. 7 and No. 6 high school football teams. Stay tuned and refresh for updates as The Sporting News keeps you posted with live scoring, updates, and highlights from the game from kickoff to postgame. FIRST QUARTER: The game will kick off shortly.
Live score, updates, highlights from high school football game
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Ready for what might prove to be the 2025 high school football national championship game? That's how much is on the line on Friday as St. John Bosco (2-0) hosts St. Frances Academy (1-0) in a highly-anticipated West Coast-versus-East Coast battle. If you're looking for live scoring, updates, and highlights, you've come to the right place. Check back in at kickoff and scroll down for a pregame overview followed by live results.
Live score, updates, highlights from California high school football game
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, It's time for one of the absolute most exciting NorCal-versus-SoCal regular season high school football matchups in a while as Folsom travels to Mission Viejo. If you're looking for live scoring, updates, and highlights, you've come to the right place. Check back in at kickoff and scroll down for a pregame overview followed by live results.
Live score, updates
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Grant (Sacramento) takes on Central East in a battle of one of NorCal's top teams versus Central California's top dog. If you're looking for live scores and updates, you've come to the right place. Scroll down for an overview of the game followed by live game results from kickoff to postgame. Time for one of California high school football's most highly-anticipated intersectional games of 2025.
Corona Centennial's Ty Plinski makes Odell-like touchdown catch, goes No. 1 on SportsCenter
California's high school football season is only in Week Zero, but we may already have our play of the year. Corona Centennial, ranked third in California and 11th in the country, had a handful of breakout performances on Friday in a season-opening 42-14 rout of Servite. Among the list of new stars was senior wide receiver Ty Plinski, who entered 2025 with a career varsity total of one reception for four yards.
Live score, updates, highlights from California high school football game
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Two of California's preeminent programs are jumping right in tonight as high school football season kicks off. Corona Centennial will be the host and heavy favorite as Trinity League power Servite comes to town ready to take a swing at the No. 11 team in the country. Entering the season, The Sporting News has Centennial ranked No. 3 in California and Servite at No. 12.
Live score, updates, highlights from California high school football game
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Santa Margarita hosts Mission Viejo (at Trabuco Hills High School) tonight in a battle of two of California's premier high school football programs. The battle features the two best wide receivers in California in our book, Mission Viejo's Vance Spafford (Miami) and Santa Margarita's Trent Mosley (USC). Both are seniors and 4-star recruits.
Billy Carlson (Corona) picked 10th overall by Chicago White Sox in 2025 MLB Draft
After an electrifying high school baseball career for national powerhouse Corona (CA), shortstop Billy Carlson has been selected 10th overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2025 MLB Draft. Carlson helped lead Corona to a 28-3 record and CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title as a junior in 2024 and 30-3 record and finals appearance as a senior. This spring he hit .365 with career-highs in home runs (six), RBI (34), OBP (.517), slugging (.647), OPS (1.164), steals (nine), and runs scored (33).
Matthis Dritz, 4-star senior forward, transfers to Fairmont Prep
One of Southern California's premier high school girls basketball stars is on the move. Mathis Dritz, a 4-star forward/wing in the Class of 2026, will play her senior year at Fairmont Prep in Orange County after spending her first three seasons of high school two counties away at Westlake. Dritz was the Ventura County Star Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2023-24 for leading the Warriors to an 18-7 record, a sweep of the Marmonte League, and a CIF-Southern Section 2AA playoff berth.
Crespi boys basketball wins Section 7 Crest Insurance bracket title
Crespi Carmelite boys basketball looks a little different than last season with the graduation of Peyton White (Nevada) and Jayden Xu, but a few things are still the same. Former Los Angeles Laker Derek Fisher is still at the helm, twins Carter and Isaiah Barnes are still rising stars in the Class of 2027 helping run the show, and the team is still a lock to contend amongst California high school basketball's upper ranks.
Maximo Adams goes off, Sierra Canyon win Section 7 Delano bracket title
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Sierra Canyon boys basketball has won no shortage of championships of many kinds throughout the last decade or so. Maximo Adams made sure the Trailblazers picked up another one before the 2025-26 season even started. The 4-star senior small forward led the way as the reigning CIF Division I state champions more or less rampaged their way to a Section 7 title in the Carolyn and Todd Delano bracket. Presenting your Section 7 Carolyn & Todd Delano Bracket Champions.
Salesian (Richmond) boys basketball wins Section 7 AIA bracket title
Salesian College Prep (Richmond, CA) already had the CIF-North Coast Section on notice for the 2025-26 season before heading to Section 7. After all, the Pride went 27-4 and made the NCS Open Division finals a year ago led mostly by juniors and sophomores, and finished the season with a top-100 national ranking from MaxPreps. And after last weekend, there's no doubt that they're ready to build on it.
Cedar Valley (UT) girls basketball wins Section 7 Carolyn and Todd Delano bracket title
Utah high school girls basketball fans probably already know, but look out for Cedar Valley this season. The Aviators went 16-7 last season without any seniors, and last weekend (June 13-14) they went 4-0 at Section 7 to a claim the crown in the Carolyn and Todd Delano bracket. They beat Sunnyside (AZ) 32-26, Bingham (UT) 41-32, and Rigby (ID) 46-43 before blowing out Coronado (NV) 63-41 in the finals. Presenting your Section 7 Carolyn & Todd Delano Bracket Champions. Congratulations Cedar Valley.
Eagle (ID) girls basketball wins Section 7 Cache AI bracket title
The Mustangs of Eagle High School ID emerged out of a competitive bracket last weekend to take home a 2025 Section 7 Cache AI bracket title. They won 75-55 over Campo Verde (AZ), 64-34 against talented Southern California heavyweight Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 59-52 against Higley (AZ), and 48-41 over Westlake (UT) to take home first place. Other top teams in the bracket were Pinnacle (AZ), Louisville (CA), and reigning New Mexico champion Sandia.
Shadow Hills (Indio, CA) girls basketball thrashes way to Section 7 Crest Insurance Group bracket title
Shadow Hills, one of the more underrated high school girls basketball programs in Southern California, absolutely dominated the Crest Insurance Group bracket last weekend for a Section 7 title. The Knights emerged atop a pack of 16 West Coast teams, the majority of them prominent basketball programs in their areas, winning every game by at least 24 points. Presenting your Section 7 @CrestInsurance Bracket Champions. Congratulations Shadow Hills.
Top players to watch at California Live 2025 high school girls basketball tournament
One of high school girls basketball's most highly-anticipated offseason events every year, California Live 2025 is hours away from tipoff in Roseville. Roughly 120 renowned programs will participate, primarily teams from Northern California but also from SoCal and other West Coast states.
Girls California Live basketball 2025 schedule, brackets, teams
Roughly 120 standout high school basketball teams from Northern California and beyond are set for battle this weekend as Girls California Live returns to Roseville for its 2025 installment. One of the nation's premier summer high school girls basketball tournaments will take place from Thursday through Saturday, June 12-14, with four brackets in action at the Roebbelen Center @the Grounds.
Section 7 high school girls basketball tournament 2025 brackets, teams, schedule
One of the nation's top summer high school girls basketball tournaments is back it at this week in Arizona. The girls portion of Section 7 takes place on Friday and Saturday, June 13-14 at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, which will run 16 games at the same time in one facility. It marks a change in venue from the event's first three iterations, which took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. An estimated 144 high school girls basketball teams will be in action across nine brackets.
How to watch Westlake vs. Eastlake in California (CIF) regional high school softball semifinals
Sadly, California high school softball season is down to its last two days. Saturday brings 10 regional softball championships across the state, eight of which are already locked in. In two divisions, NorCal Division IV (San Leandro vs. Aptos) and SoCal Division II ( Westlake vs. Eastlake), Friday brings a semifinal on one side of the bracket. The clash of Westlake (20-14) vs. Eastlake (21-11-1) just sounds prophesied to be a good game. How could "Westlake vs. Eastlake" not be entertaining?
CIF (California) high school softball regional championship schedule
It's time to say goodbye to the 2024-25 California high school sports year. But before it's officially over, softball and baseball regional championships will send us off into the summer. MORE: Regional baseball championship schedule After Thursday, eight of Saturday's regional softball championship games are set while two remaining semifinals - Westlake vs. Eastlake in SoCal Division II and San Leandro vs. Aptos in NorCal Division IV - will be played on Friday.
How to watch CIF-Southern Section high school softball championships
It's high school softball championship weekend across the CIF-Southern Section. With half of 2025's section finals having been played on Friday, Saturday brings a 12-hour, four-game extravaganza for Southern California softball fans. As usual, it takes place at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine's Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, adjacent to Irvine Civic Center.
How to watch De La Salle vs. Petaluma in CIF-NCS high school baseball playoffs
It's been a memorable season for Petaluma baseball. The Trojans went 19-6 against a strong regular season schedule and got bumped up to the CIF-North Coast Section's top division as the seventh seed. In round one of the NCS playoffs, they stayed hot, getting off to a fast start and never looking back in a 5-1 victory over No. 10 Castro Valley.
How to watch Vidalia Heritage Academy vs. Flint River Academy in Georgia (GIAA) high school baseball playoffs
By Lance Smith via www.sportingnews.com, The Georgia high school sports year is down to its final weeks, which means it's time for playoff baseball. Vidalia Heritage Academy and Flint River Academy collide in the GIAA Class A quarterfinals in a battle between teams that have had very different seasons. Flint River Academy (16-2) has consistently dominated all season, outscoring opponents 197-64 on the year.
Schedules, pairings for California Southern Section high school softball playoffs
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, The high school softball postseason is here throughout much of California, including the state's largest and strongest section - the CIF-Southern Section. The CIF-SS's 2025 softball playoff brackets have officially been unveiled, and all divisions open up on Thursday, May 15, with the first of five rounds. Championships will take place throughout the weekend of May 30-31.
How to watch De La Salle vs. Foothill (Pleasanton) in EBAL high school baseball semifinals
There's been almost no stopping De La Salle (21-3) baseball in 2025. The Spartans came up short in their first two games of the season and have since won 21 of 22 games, including a current 11-game winning streak filled with blowout victories. De La Salle is now two wins from an EBAL tournament title, but its next foe, Foothill-Pleasanton (19-5) will be one of its biggest tests of the season. WATCH: De La Salle vs. Foothill on NFHS Network Foothill almost beat the Spartans once already this season.
How to watch De La Salle vs. Foothill (Pleasanton) in EBAL high school baseball semifinals
There's been almost no stopping De La Salle (21-3) baseball in 2025. The Spartans came up short in their first two games of the season and have since won 21 of 22 games, including a current 11-game winning streak filled with blowout victories. De La Salle is now two wins from an EBAL tournament title, but its next foe, Foothill-Pleasanton (19-5) will be one of its biggest tests of the season. WATCH: De La Salle vs. Foothill on NFHS Network Foothill almost beat the Spartans once already this season.
How to watch Enterprise vs. Dothan in Alabama high school baseball
At 26-1, Enterprise baseball is ranked top-100 in the country and unbeaten in 7A Area 3 play. The Wildcats are on a 10-game winning streak and appear to be a couple games from locking up the area title. But Dothan, despite having a slightly less shiny record at 19-8, is also undefeated in area play and can take home the crown with two wins in three tries this week against Enterprise. To boot, Dothan won 11-9 last week against Providence Christian, the only team to beat Enterprise in 2025.
Live updates, score, highlights from 2025 Chipotle Nationals girls basketball finals
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, For what's not the first time and probably not the last, the final game of high school girls basketball season comes down to rivals Montverde Academy and IMG Academy at Chipotle Nationals.
New Canaan vs. Notre Dame & Darien vs. Simsbury
High school boys ice hockey fans are in for a treat this week with the Connecticut (CIAC) state championships. In Division 1, both semifinal games take place on Wednesday consecutively at the same venue, M&T Bank Arena - which happens to be the home of the 2023 NCAA national campion Quinnipiac Bobcats.
Brayden Burries breaks single-game scoring record in third quarter for Roosevelt in California finals
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, 5-star senior guard and McDonald's All-American Brayden Burries is going out with a bang in his last high school game. And he's trying to make sure his Mustangs do so as a whole. At halftime of the CIF Open Division state championship, Burries had 27 points on 10-13 shooting through one half against Archbishop Riordan, which has one of the premier defenses in high school boys basketball. Roosevelt led 44-33.
Live updates, score from California (CIF) high school girls basketball championship
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Etiwanda (27-5) and Archbishop Mitty (27-3) will play in the CIF Open Division girls basketball state championship for the third year in a row on Saturday at Golden 1 Center. The teams are ranked No. 4 and No. 15 in the nation, respectively, despite dealing with injury issues. Representing the CIF-Southern Section, reigning national champion Etiwanda beat the Monarchs of the CIF-Central Coast Section 69-67 in the 2022-23 finals and 60-48 a year ago in Sacramento.
Live updates, score from high school girls basketball regional championship
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Ontario Christian girls basketball is one win away from going undefeated on the year against Southern California competition. But to cement the CIF Open Division Southern Region title and state finals appearance against either Archbishop Mitty or Clovis West, the Knights must get through Etiwanda for the third time in three tries.
How to watch Morris Catholic vs. Pope John XXIII in New Jersey high school girls basketball sectional championship
New Jersey high school girls basketball season comes down to this - the NJSIAA sectional and state championships. The state's top-ranked team, Morris Catholic (26-0), takes on Pope John XXIII (21-6) in the North Jersey Non-Public A finals on Monday after winning Non-Public B (followed by a state title) the previous two seasons. WATCH: Morris Catholic vs.
How to watch Etiwanda vs. Mater Dei high school girls basketball in California quarterfinals
Etiwanda and Mater Dei have had many outstanding girls basketball playoff battles in recent years. That includes two Saturdays ago, when Etiwanda outdueled the Monarchs 63-60 at home in an instant classic for a spot in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship. So, why not run it back in the state quarterfinals? WATCH: Etiwanda vs.
Wisconsin (WIAA) high school girls basketball playoff brackets, pairings, scores
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Wisconsin high school girls basketball all comes down to this - the WIAA postseason. And it will soon be underway. Play-in games for bottom seeds take place on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The first regular round of the playoffs is on Friday, Feb. 28, and the postseason culminates with state finals on Mar. 14-15. Scroll below to find complete playoff brackets for each of the WIAA's five divisions.
How to watch Crosby-Ironton vs. Ogilvie in Minnesota high school girls basketball
Crosby-Ironton High School girls basketball (24-0) is one win away from completing an undefeated regular season. Heading into the last game of the regular season, the Rangers have outscored opponents 2,025-970 and are ranked 12th in Minnesota by MaxPreps. They have gone essentially unscathed, as their second-to-last win, 50-41 over Proctor, was their first single-digit finish of the season.
How to watch Roselle Catholic vs. Bergen Catholic in New Jersey high school boys basketball
Two of New Jersey's preeminent high school boys basketball programs will go at it on Thursday when Roselle Catholic (12-3) hosts Bergen Catholic (17-4). Bergen Catholic rolled to a 72-46 win when the teams met in the regular season a year ago. But look for a closer battle this time with Roselle Catholic back inside New Jersey's top five teams in 2024-25 and hungry to defend the home floor on senior night.
Incarnate Word breaks record for consecutive wins
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, With double-digit wins over Blue Valley North and Whitney Young, Incarnate Word Academy set a new record with its 139th and 140th victories in a row - and cracked the top 10 in our national rankings. Here are the national high school girls basketball rankings from The Sporting News for the week of Jan. 13. READ: Last week's rankings (Jan. 6) 1.
Who was the Defensive Player of the Year in California high school football?
California high school football is filled with hundreds of outstanding defensive players, from the Northern Section to the Southern Section. We scoured the state to find the best of the best, and now we want to hear from you: Who should be the Defensive Player of the Year in California high school football? The voting will conclude on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 11:59 PT, and the winner will be announced on Friday, Jan. 17.
No. 1 Archbishop Mitty suffers key injury (1/6/2025)
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, What was supposed to be one of the most exciting and significant games of the 2024-25 high school girls basketball season ended up a disappointment at best. Just three weeks after Archbishop Mitty defeated Ontario Christian 58-34 in the Nike TOC championship, Ontario Christian got revenge in a 61-44 victory as the nation's top two teams went at it again on Saturday at the SI 20 Showcase.
Archbishop Mitty No. 1 after winning Nike TOC (12/23/2024)
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, It's not even Christmas yet, but high school girls basketball season now has its fourth No. 1 team following Mitty's dominance at the Nike TOC. Here are the national high school girls basketball rankings from The Sporting News for the week of Dec. 23. READ: Last week's rankings (Dec. 16) 1. Archbishop Mitty (CA) (8-0 - 7th last week) Mitty beat the top-ranked team in the country to win the Nike TOC behind dominance from McKenna Woliczko? Seems like deja vu.
Recap from UIL 5A D1 championship
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, Smithson Valley is now a Texas high school football state champion. In their fifth finals appearance, the Rangers shut out Highland Park in the second half to win 32-20 in the UIL 5A Division I title game at AT&T Stadium. They ran for 297 yards of their 361 yards of offense, with QB Cade Spradling rumbling for 147 yards and two touchdowns and RB Brad Sowersby picking up 152 yards on the ground.
Top high school football recruits, commit flips, predictions
By Lance Smith via @sportingnews, The early national signing period for college football starts Wednesday, and we've got you covered with live updates and the latest news on the top high school recruits across the country. The three-day early signing period continues through Friday, but most top prospects will sign on Wednesday. Here's a look at the nation's top uncommitted high school football recruits who are expected to sign on Wednesday.
Etiwanda jumps to No. 1 on final week of season
It was a long wait for Etiwanda to wrap up its first national high school girls basketball championship. And the Eagles can thanks the 2023 national champions for the much-appreciated help. Long Island Lutheran (New York), which entered last week as the top team in the country, was upended by Montverde Academy (Florida) in the semifinals of the Chipotle Nationals, 79-78.
Kennedy Smith is SBLive's 2024 CIF-Southern Section girls basketball Player of the Year
Kennedy Smith is one of the most complete players you will find at the high school level. The sixth-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024 can score in any way possible, and that's just the start. She can also pass, rebound, and defend every position while owning passing lanes and protecting the rim. And now, she has one of the most complete resumes you'll find in modern California high school hoops history.
Kaleena Smith is SBLive's 2023-24 CIF-Southern Section girls basketball Offensive Player of the Year
Heading into the 2023-24 season, it was well-known that Ontario Christian's Kaleena Smith was going to be one of the best freshmen in California and beyond. Turns out she was one of the top point guards in the entire country from the get-go of a legitimately generational freshman campaign.
Long Island Lutheran (New York) No. 1 entering Chipotle Nationals
All that remains between Long Island Lutheran (New York) and a national girls basketball championships is one more high-profile tournament. Moving into the top spot this week after previous-No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (California) lost to Etiwanda in the finals of CIF State Open Division playoffs, the Crusaders open next week's Chipotle Nationals in Indiana as the tournament's top seed. They play the winner of Sidwell Friends- Montverde Academy, the past two national champions.
Smith named president of Firstar Bank
Business, News Firstar Bank announced that longtime Roland resident Lance Smith has been promoted to President. He most recently served as Southern Market Regional President. this is a test{"epopulate_editorials":"Epopulate"}{"sequoyah-county-times":"Sequoyah County Times"} Lynn Adams Staff Writer  Spring cleaning is not limited to households. For Sequoyah County Commissioners Ray Watts, in District 1, and Beau Burlison, in District 2, their crews are doing some spring cleaning of their own.
Live updates: Etiwanda vs. Sierra Canyon
By Lance Smith, SBLive Sports via highschool.si.com, It's time for another installment of the most exciting postseason rivalry in Southern California girls basketball. For the sixth time in three seasons, high school hoops fans will tune in from across the Southland - and country - on Tuesday to watch Etiwanda and Sierra Canyon play for an Open Division championship.
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