Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 297

November 12, 2024

Steph Curry steals the show for Warriors in emotional Klay Thompson homecoming

SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry and Draymond Green each hugged Klay Thompson after a heartfelt pregame tribute to their former teammate.

It was all love. Then the ball was tipped. It didn’t take long for Curry and Green to treat Thompson like they would any other opponent: with ferocious competitiveness.

Curry defended Thompson, and both he and Green hit early 3-pointers over the four-time champion. Their lifelong brother had his moment with a sold-out Chase Center crowd, but it was all business after that.

Teammates for over a decade suddenly on opposite sides, Thompson and Curry delivered moment after moment. Thompson stole Curry’s shoulder shimmy celebration. Curry forced a Thompson airball in a one-on-one situation. Curry pointed at Thompson after canning a 3 over him.

Back and forth they went. A charged-up Chase Center crowd couldn’t take their eyes off them, and why would they?

In Thompson’s first game against the franchise he spent his first 13 years with, he matched his Mavericks scoring high, including eight points in the fourth quarter. But Curry got the last laugh with spectacular shot-making down the stretch, lifting the Warriors to a victory. It was emotional, intense, euphoric, and ended with a 120-117 score.

“Something I’ll never take for granted,” Thompson said postgame about hero’s welcome.

Thompson finished with 22 points, including six 3-pointers. His splash brother Curry stole the4 show with 37 points and nine assists, outdueling both Thompson and Luka Doncic (31 points), The Warriors (9-2) won their first Emirates NBA Cup group stage game.

“I couldn’t imagine a better night all the way around,” Curry said postgame. “Shoutout to Klay for everything he meant to our organization. We don’t have any banners without him. He knows that, everybody knows that. When I go back and watch tonight, I’ll probably get goosebumps just with what the crowd was able to do to acknowledge him.”

In the front of the Chase Center, the massive screen displayed rotating pieces of artwork from local artists of Thompson. One showed him driving his boat accompanied by his dog, Rocco. Another showed 12 different characters of Thompson — “The Multiverse of Klays” — including him wearing a Jackie Moon jersey and another of him holding a water gun.

The Bay Area rallied around Thompson as much as any athlete in the modern era. Oakland and San Francisco wrapped their arms around his charismatic, eccentric personality. They fell in love with his competitiveness and toughness. They tried to lift him up when consecutive leg injuries sidelined him for 941 days in what should have been the prime of his career.

Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) acknowledges fans after a tribute video on his honor before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Thompson, who played 13 years for the Warriors, winning four titles and accomplishing other records, returned to the Warriors Nation for the first time since he moved to the Dallas Mavericks home. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) and Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) hug one another before the tipoff of the NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Thompson, who played 13 years for the Warriors, winning four titles and accomplishing other records, returned to the Warriors Nation for the first time since he moved to the Dallas Mavericks home.

Fans with Captain Klay hats hold up signs in honor of Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Thompson, who played 13 years for the Warriors, winning four titles and accomplishing other records, returned to the Warriors Nation for the first time since he moved to the Dallas Mavericks home. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) hug one another before the tipoff of the NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Thompson, who played 13 years for the Warriors, winning four titles and accomplishing other records, returned to the Warriors Nation for the first time since he moved to the Dallas Mavericks home. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) drives to the hoop against Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins (22) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) goes up for a basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins (22) makes a dunk against the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (77) in the second quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) and Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) fight on a rebound in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) lays up a three-point basket in front of Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody (4) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ DeAnthony Meltom (8) dives for a loss ball after Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) slapped the ball away from Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (77) in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) dribbles around Dallas Mavericks’ Naji Marshall (13) in the third quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford (21) and Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson (31) disagree with the referee’s call after an offensive foul on Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) lays up a three-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with his nite-nite gesture after making a three-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Buddy Hield (7) and Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) celebrate Curry’s three-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of an NBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

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At his homecoming, over 18,000 of them saluted Thompson and gave him a standing ovation for over a minute during pregame celebrations. They showered the franchise icon with appreciation.

Everyone, from Curry, Green and Steve Kerr to Thompson’s new backcourt mate Kyrie Irving, had hoped Thompson would feel the love.

“I want him to be present as much as possible, to really receive the love, receive the flowers that he deserves,” Irving said at morning shootaround.

Love he did receive. Then it was game on.

Thompson opened the game by going at Curry in the post, drawing two free throws. Curry returned the favor by hitting a 3 over Thompson’s late contest — pointing at Thompson when the ball sank through nylon — and Green did the same shortly after. Curry stripped Thompson in the post, and the charged-up Chase Center crowd went wild.

Dallas called a timeout four minutes into the game after Green blocked a Naji Marshall 3-pointer and saved it from going out of bounds, leading to a De’Anthony Melton layup. Golden State only led by five, but the Chase Center was rocking like it was a playoff game, so the Mavericks wanted to quell the momentum.

Curry upstaged his splash brother early, dropping 12 points in the opening quarter. Thompson got on the board with a patented transition 3 on the right wing from Luka Doncic, but the Warriors targeted him defensively. Buddy Hield, Thompson’s replacement, stared at Golden State’s after draining a 3 over Thompson.

Early in the second quarter, Moses Moody blocked a Thompson 3-point attempt, then nearly stuffed a dunk over him on the other end. The crowd — the most animated of the year in this building — was a few inches away from detonating.

A Thompson corner 3 capped a 21-8 Dallas run to start the second quarter, though. He also followed it up with a third triple. After the first, he did a shoulder shimmy — borrowing from Curry — and after the second he pounded his chest. At that point, Dallas led 48-41.

Behind Doncic, Dallas pushed its lead to 11. But the Warriors didn’t let themselves fall out of it. Curry forced a Thompson airball in isolation, then Jonathan Kuminga sparked a fast break with a long rebound and quick outlet pass, resulting in an Andrew Wiggins dunk. Then Curry finished a cinematic and-1 through Thompson, with Thompson shaking his head after the play.

Thompson, who scored 11 first-half points, added a fourth triple after making Wiggins fly by him with a pump fake. But he shot another airball as Golden State ripped off a 13-3 run. Curry threw a right-handed fist pump after Dallas called timeout because of his third 3.

The Warriors held the Mavericks to three points in six minutes, turning a four-point halftime deficit into an 11-point lead. It was the kind of third-quarter Warriors run Thompson had been on the right side of for a decade.

Golden State dominated with curry on the court, but bled points whenever he sat. The bench that has been fantastic for the Warriors in their strong start had an uncharacteristic off game. By the time Curry checked back in with 8:33 left, the Warriors’ lead had turned into a 100-100 score.

Thompson sank a corner 3 to give Dallas a lead and then blew by Wiggins for a finger roll, giving him 19 points. Two minutes later, he gave Dallas a 110-105 lead with a sixth 3, making goggle eyes in front of Curry afterward.

Thompson helped put Dallas ahead by seven, but the Warriors had another run in them. Curry hit a pull-up shot from the elbow extended, then canned a 3 off a screen.

Then with two minutes left, Curry drove past Doncic and bounced in a finger roll, reclaiming a one-point lead. Thompson borrowed his shimmy earlier, and he stole Thompson’s patented snarl.

“Some of it was competitive, some of it was fun,” Curry said.

The Chase Center crowd cheered after Thompson misfired on a 3, and then Curry delivered the dagger. Over Dereck Lively in a switch, Curry rainbowed in the game-sealing 3. He didn’t need to steal any more of Thompson’s celebrations, instead opting for his own night-night.

Curry and Green gave each other a bear hug by midcourt. If it wasn’t already clear, this one meant more.

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Published on November 12, 2024 21:45

Splash Brothers take — and give — their best shots in Klay Thompson’s first game against Steph Curry and the Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — Given their history — the four championships they both captured, the shooting records they both set, the thousands of 3s they both splashed — the moment bordered on surreal.

As the second quarter’s final seconds evaporated away, Stephen Curry found himself guarded by Klay Thompson. The night, one where the Warriors beat the Mavericks 120-117 in their first game of the , belonged to Thompson. This moment — and many others — belonged to Curry.

After receiving a toss from Draymond Green, Curry drove strong to his right. Thompson couldn’t stay in front. Curry, understanding the advantage, stopped, jumped and tossed up a wild shot. It was more of a shot put than a true floater. It found net, regardless.

Thompson picked up the foul; Curry stared him down. This was not a mean mug. This was not a side-eye. Curry hunched over, tensed his body and looked wide-eyed in the direction of Thompson, who finished with 22 points and made six 3-pointers. For all the love that Thompson received in his return to Chase Center — and there was a lot of love — there was still a game to be won. There was still trash to be talked. As Curry has proven on countless occasions, sentimentality owns no real estate on the hardwood.

But off of it?

“That’s my guy. That’s my friend, my road dog for 13 years,” said Curry, who finished with 37 points and nine assists. “There’s a lot of history, so you’re going to have to have a lot of back and forth. Some of it was competitive, some of it was fun. Thankfully we were all able to just focus on the game and hoop and compete. It was an unreal night all the way around.”

When winning time arrive, Curry and Thompson, as they did so many times together, took center stage. With a little over five minutes remaining in regulation, Thompson hit a 3-pointer that extended the Mavericks’ lead to five points and forced head coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout.

Curry responded in the following minutes with a midrange jumper, a 3-pointer and a go-ahead finger roll, one that gave the Warriors a 115-114 lead with 1:48 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Thompson clanked a go-ahead 3-pointer. With a little under 30 seconds remaining, Curry hit Dereck Lively II with a series of moves before hitting his fifth 3 of the evening. Curry hit the “night night” celebration, jumped up and chest bumped Buddy Hield, then roared straight into a television camera. When asked what he said, Curry replied that he “really had no idea.”

“I gotta go look at it myself,” said Curry, who outscored the Mavericks, 12-3, in the final three minutes. “That type of moment with all that angst, that much raw emotion, I really don’t know what I said.”

“It hurts to be on the other side of one of his flurries,” Thompson said. “Guy got hot at the end and made some ridiculous shots.”

Curry admitted that the “night night” celebration was premature. Following a Mavericks timeout, Quentin Grimes hit a three-pointer over Curry that trimmed Golden State’s lead to one point with 20 seconds left. The early celebration could’ve very well backfired, but Curry sank a pair of free throws after being fouled and Luka Doncic missed the game-tying, step-back 3-pointer.

The in-game bouts between Curry and Thompson began well before the fourth. On the very first play of the game, as if it was preordained, Curry and Thompson were matched up against one another, the latter posting up the former.

Thompson, owning the height advantage, spun towards the rim and went up for the layup. Curry picked up the personal, and Thompson earned two free throws. As Thompson sank both shots from the stripe, the capacity crowd serenaded him with a cacophony of cheers and jeers.

“I literally blacked out,” Curry said. “I felt like I was back in training camp again.”

“We did our pregame scout and we went through the matchups. It’s almost surreal saying, ‘Steph, you’ve got Klay,’” said head coach Steve Kerr. “Steph smiled as soon as he saw the matchups. I looked over at him and he smiled and shook his head like, ‘This is weird.’ It was a strange night in that regard.”

Curry soon had a response. On the game’s second play, Curry received a pass from Draymond Green at the left wing and knocked down a 3-pointer over Thompson’s outstretched arms. As Curry jogged back, he pointed in Thompson’s direction.

Those first 30 seconds of game time foreshadowed the drama that awaited the thousands of fans donning white Captain Klay caps.

A little under three minutes into the game, Thompson sprinted to the paint on a fastbreak and sealed Curry under the basket. Curry, in turn, swiped the ball from Thompson and ignited an explosion of cheers — cheers that quickly turned to groans when Curry airballed a 29-foot transition 3-pointer.

With a minute-and-a-half remaining in the first quarter, Thompson received a pass on the right wing in transition and splashed home his first 3-pointer of the night. Midway through the second quarter, Thompson knocked down his second and third 3s of the night on back-to-back possessions, forcing Kerr to use a timeout. Thompson hit Curry’s signature shimmy; Curry and Green both described the attempt as “awful.”

“That’s the competitive nature,” said Green, who finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks. “You don’t win four championships together without that competitive fire. He has that. We’ve known that forever. We have that, and he’s known that forever. So, that’s always going to happen. … When you play against somebody you’re close with, you want to beat them even more.

“I couldn’t imagine it going any other way,” Curry said. “He played well, the crowd got an amazing show, it went down to the wire. Can’t really draw it up any better.”

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Published on November 12, 2024 21:42

High School volleyball: Flu ridden Salinas advances in state tournament

SALINAS — If making preparations for an unknown opponent wasn’t enough of a challenge, the flu hit a handful of players during the day and into Tuesday’s volleyball match.

Mixing lineups became a pattern for Salinas coach Chloe Goldman as players were forced to exit to the locker room during the State Northern California Division III opener.

“It started happening during the day,” Goldman said. “I had a red-faced looking players. I told them do what you can do. If you can’t go, there are people that will have your back. I asked players to step up and do things they hadn’t done before.”

In the end, it was an ill Jenny Rivera stepping up and collecting 11 kills in the fourth set, propelling the Cowboys to a 25-19, 25-15, 17-25, 25-23 win over Vista del Lago of Folsom.

The win earns No. 4 seed Salinas (25-10) another home match, as it will face No. 5 Aragon of San Mateo — 3-0 winners over Ripon in their opening match — on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Northern California bracket.

The two faced each other earlier this year in a tournament on October 12 with Aragon — Central Coast Section Division II runners-up — prevailing 2-1.

“It’s a good matchup for us,” Goldman said. “It’s someone we know. I’m comfortable with who we’re playing. We’re a different team since we faced them.”

For starters, Goldman has her defensive specialist back in the back row in Indy Aguilar. And the two-time reigning Central Coast Section Division I champions are also riding a 13-game winning streak.

“I was nervous tonight,” said Goldman, who is also nine months pregnant and due any day. “I believe in them. But when you’re sick like that, you can’t predict how someone will react. The lineup was continuously switching tonight.”

The Cowboys showed no signs of illness in the first two sets, jumping out quickly behind Rivera and Makenzie O’Hara en route to securing a pair of wins.

“We were playing good volleyball in the first two sets,” Goldman said. “We just made errors in the third set and did not have a lot of speed. I said ‘Lets forget that happened. Lets win one more set and keep this season alive’.”

With Rivera unloading 11 of her 18 kills in the final set, Salinas had 10-point lead before Vista del Lago could get a time out to stop the momentum.

“It was almost like we used the third set to conserve our energy,” Goldman said. “We came out in the fourth set determined not to play a fifth set.”

Runner-ups in the Sac Joaquin Section, the Eagles were able to get back into the set, getting as close as two before Salinas ended the match to extend its season.

Since Goldman switched attacks, setter Cadee Guzman has been the springboard to Salinas’ second half turnaround, finishing with 44 assists and 14 digs.

In addition to Rivera’s heroics, Aguilar also overcame a bout with the flu to secure the back row, finishing with 20 digs. Bella Storelli added 14 kills, with the sophomore O’Hara compiling 10.

The last time the Cowboys won more than two matches in the Northern California tournament, they went on to play for a state title in 2009.

A win Thursday could earn a rematch with top-seed Branham of San Jose, who Salinas defeated in the four sets in the CCS Division I semifinals six days ago.

“I need to see more contributions from my outsides,” Goldman said. “I need them to score a few more points. We have to be better on defense. We didn’t have a sense of urgency. We need that if we want to move on. You lose and your season is done forever.”

CCS girls water polo

Soquel 11, Stevenson 7: Landing in the Open Division, the reigning two-time Central Coast Section Division II champion Pirates were knocked out in the semifinals by perennial power Soquel.

The loss, however, does not end Stevenson’s season as it will be seeded Sunday into the State Northern California tournament, likely returning to Division II, where it is the defending champions.

The Gabilan Division champions earned a spot in the Northern California tournament — which begins next Tuesday — by capturing their CCS Open Division quarterfinal match last Saturday.

The loss snapped seven game CCS playoff winning streak for Stevenson.

Anna Mitchell collected 11 saves between the pipes for Stevenson (19-9). Arielle Dale, Emmerson Ferriera and Charlotte Morrow all produced a pair of goals, while Miranda Salinger added one.

CCS tennis

Stevenson 4, Aptos 3: The Pirates doubles team of Jessie Chen and Karen Baker posted a 6-2, 6-0 win to help them advance into the Central Coast Section team quarterfinals.

Tereza Kostkova, Lynn Fu and Delara Gholami were straight set winners in the singles competition for Stevenson, who won the Gabilan Division title this year.

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Published on November 12, 2024 21:22

Klay Thompson showered with love during pregame celebration in return to Chase Center

SAN FRANCISCO — At 4:19 p.m., Klay Thompson walked into the Chase Center with his teammates and ran into to about 400 Warriors employees forming a tunnel and donning captain’s hats.

Thompson had downplayed the significance of this night, saying his first game against the team he spent the first 13 years of his career with was just another game. But at that moment, it hit him as cameras flashed in his face. He put his hands together as a sign of gratitude.

“To be one who hangs four banners and does it in a way that captures the hearts of the fans,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said pregame. “It’s not just the skill with Klay, it’s not just the commitment to the organization, the competitive desire. There’s just something, there’s an aura about him that connected our fans to him right away. That’s what it takes. That’s pretty rare, for someone to do all of that and have that kind of impact Klay had.”

Roughly three hours later, the real festivities began.

A sold-out Chase Center crowd, all wearing white captain’s hats, erupted when the Warriors’ public address announcer declared Thompson back. They saluted their caps after a 45-second video montage played, ending with a “Thank You, Klay” message. Both the Warriors and Mavericks players and coaches craned their necks to watch the tribute.

When it ended, Thompson, the four-time champion and Bay Area legend, felt the love. Warriors fans gave a raucous standing ovation for at least a minute.

Never one to hide his emotions, Thompson took a moment to himself in the far corner of the Chase Center court. He clapped his hands over his head to thank the crowd and threw up a left-handed fist pump.

Steph Curry had planned to take the microphone and address the crowd, but he and Thompson talked about it Monday night and decided it wouldn’t be necessary.

Thompson has been at the center of several emotional nights in Warriors history. Perhaps most memorably, when he returned to the court in 2022 after injuries forced him to miss 941 days.

“That was a welcome back,” Kerr said. “We knew there were a lot of good times ahead. In fact, there was a championship six months later. This one is obviously more of a goodbye. The first time we’ll have seen him…It’ll feel very strange, but it will be a different vibe, I think. More of a thank you and a goodbye.”

Andre Iguodala, Festus Ezeli and Zaza Pachulia were among former Thompson teammates in attendance to say goodbye. They were some of more than 18,000 people in the building to shower Thompson with appreciation.

Thompson left the Warriors over the summer to seek a fresh start with the Mavericks, who won the West last year. Even though he performed well for the Warriors after returning from his career-threatening injuries — helping win the 2022 title and leading the league in 3s the next year — Thompson wasn’t the same player as he was before his Achilles and ACL injuries and had to mentally deal with that.

He had to grapple with his basketball mortality, Kerr said multiple times last season. The Warriors moved him to the bench for stretches last year and didn’t guarantee him a starting spot if he chose to return.

“What he overcame is almost unprecedented,” Kerr said. “Being out for two years in the prime of his career was devastating for him. I think the last couple of years after he came back, he struggled reconciling all that. Losing those prime seasons. We all saw that. We saw him struggle with it emotionally. We saw him fight to get his game back.”

“We wished that this had gone forever, that Klay would finish his career with us,” Kerr added. “But circumstances always dictate these things. In the end, I think he made the right choice. I think he needed a fresh start. I think he needed a new set of surroundings. That was apparent last year. He was not happy, and that was hard to see. Because he deserves to be happy. At his core, he’s a very happy person, so it was tough to see him struggle with the repercussions of those injuries.”

He sure seemed happy at the reception. He got what everyone wanted.

Then on the first possession of the game, he went right at Curry in the mid-post, drawing two foul shots. Shortly after, Curry nailed a 3-pointer over Thompson’s late contest. Then Green nailed a corner 3 over his former teammate. Game on.

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Published on November 12, 2024 19:27

High School golf: Stevenson finishes second to advance to state championships

EL CERRITO — No one walked off the golf course pleased with their individual results. Yet, as a team Stevenson celebrated an historic moment.

The drive back from El Cerrito Monday was one of emotion, excitement and fatigue, as for the first time in 17 years, the Pirates are headed to the CIF State golf championships.

“I’m not in her heads,” Stevenson coach Jason McArthur said. “Outside looking in, there were bits and pieces of nerves. These have been five and six hours grinds on the golf course the last three weeks. We finally got over the hump.”

The Pacific Coast Athletic League Gabilan Division champions put their efforts together to finish second as a team at the Northern California finals at Berkeley Country Club, finishing five shots off the pace of team champion Valley Christian of San Jose.

“I don’t think any one of us shot how we wanted or what we could have,” senior Nikki Iniakov said. “But we fought for every single shot. We put our hearts out there.”

Iniakov, who has been to the state tournament three straight years as an individual, had set a goal before the season started to get to the state championships as a team.

“I told them today was just a practice round to get all the bad shot outs for state,” Iniakov said. “I felt we left a lot of shots out there on the course. It’s not a defining tournament.”

Perhaps.

But for the last three years, it’s where the Pirates season has ended, often in disappointment after coming into the tournament with high expectations.

“The biggest part in the growth of this team is no one blew up,” McArthur said. “I don’t think it lingered all day long when a shot did not go in. We handled situations better. All the little things added up today.”

The Pirates are one of six teams left that will compete for a state championship, which will be held next Wednesday at San Gabriel Country Club.

The last time Stevenson went to the state finals, it finished second as a team, where current LPGA star Mina Harigae was a senior on the Pebble Beach campus, along with Sydney Burlison, who finished fourth overall.

“Our next goal is to win state,” Iniakov said. “There are a lot of smaller goals that need to occur. We need to make better decisions on the golf course and make sure we get every shot we can.”

Iniakov, who shot an 83 on the par 72 course, estimates that she and her teammates left as many as 18 shots out on the course. If it converts half of them, it puts Stevenson in the conversation for a state title.

“We talked about how bad we played together,” Iniakov said. “There were shanks, chunks, missed putts. I believe we all left at least three shots out there. If we can play to our abilities, state is a reality.”

While five different players have earned medalist honors in meets throughout the season, just once have the Pirates played well as a unit, shooting 2-under in a 9-hole league match.

“Hopefully we can tap into that,” said Iniakov, one of two seniors on the team along with Coco He. “I don’t remember the course that well, other than everything is out in front of you and flat. I’m excited to go back to SoCal next week.”

Central Coast Section runner-up Lucinda Wu and freshman Isabella Sun both carded 76’s for Stevenson, while Ashley Gettleman shot a 78 and Allison Chan an 81.

The state championships do allow players to get in a round the day before the event, which will enable Stevenson to familiarize themselves with the course.

“It will be nice to get a feel for the course, get the rust out in a practice round,” McArthur said. “We will have a day to get adjusted to the weather and conditions.”

Despite no one shooting under par, the Pirates were just five strokes of the pace against Valley Christian, who defeated them at the Central Coast Section finals as well.

“We missed a title by five strokes,” McArthur said. “But if you asked me ‘do you want to play your best golf this week or next week’, I will take next week. We will use this as a steppingstone for state.”

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Published on November 12, 2024 17:36

What to know about the NBA Cup as Warriors begin tournament quest

The big headliner for Tuesday night’s game at the Chase Center is the Bay Area return of Klay Thompson, who’s set to play against the Warriors for the first time since leaving for Dallas this past summer.

But it’s also the first night of the Emirates NBA Cup.

This being the second annual in-season tournament, here’s a refresher on how it all works.

What’s the format?

The tournament runs from Nov. 12 through Dec. 17.

It starts with the group stage, in which every team plays four games — two at home and two on the road. Each “pod” of five teams, all from the same conference, is created based on last year’s regular-season records. Those group stage games are Tuesdays and Fridays for the next few weeks.

Eight teams qualify for the quarterfinals depending on their group stage performance. Those games will be played at the home arenas based on group play performance, then the semifinals and finals are held in Las Vegas.

NBA Cup games are played on unique courts which occasionally feature eye-popping colors. Margin of victory matters for tiebreakers, so teams are incentivized to run up the score.

All statistics count from the games except for in the championship game, which is curiously scrubbed from the history books.

Who do the Warriors play?

Golden State’s group includes the Mavericks, Pelicans, Nuggets and Grizzlies.

After the Dallas matchup, the Warriors’ next NBA Cup games are this Friday against Memphis, Nov. 22 at New Orleans and Dec. 3 at Denver.

Wait, it has a new name now?

One year in and the league has already rebranded.

Last season, the inaugural in-season tournament was called, well, the NBA In-Season Tournament. Now, as you may have heard from recent broadcasts around the league, it’s the Emirates NBA Cup.

Who won the tournament last year?

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Pacers in the championship game. Anthony Davis registered 41 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in the final. LeBron James was named tournament MVP.

Los Angeles was 14-9 after last year’s In-Season Tournament. They went 3-10 after the tournament and finished with a 45-36 record overall.

What happened to the Warriors last season?

Golden State didn’t qualify for the Las Vegas portion of the tournament. They would’ve entered the quarterfinals had they not choked away a 24-point lead to the Kings — a collapse that included two turnovers in the last minute.

Why is the league doing this?

One common critique of the NBA is that the regular season feels insignificant. The league wanted to introduce an in-season tournament, similar to European soccer cups, to draw more interest before the Christmas games.

Last year’s games in Las Vegas seemed a bit more intense than an average game, but that’s only anecdotal. The stakes for players are minimal, but not zero.

What do the players play for?

Bragging rights and sweet, sweet cash.

Every player from the NBA Cup champion gets a roughly $500,000 bonus. The runners-up get a prize of about $200,000. Players who reach the semifinals get about $100,000 and the quarterfinal teams get $50,000.

The sums are slightly higher than last season because prize money is tied to increases in basketball-related income.

Do fans care?

Last year’s championship between the Lakers and Pacers drew a peak of 5.6 million viewers. It was the most-watched non-Christmas NBA game in six years, per Nielsen.

Veteran NBA scribe Howard Beck posted a poll on the social media platform X to gauge fans’ excitement level in the tournament. The results were mixed: 49.5% of respondents either answered “meh” or “make it stop,” with the other 50.5% responding, “It’s cool/fun” or the most positive option of, “BREEN DOUBLE BANG.”

We really can’t agree on anything, huh?

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Published on November 12, 2024 17:00

Source: 49ers reward cornerback Deommodore Lenoir with big bucks

SANTA CLARA — Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir strutted out to Sunday’s pregame warmups wearing his gold, gladiator-like shoulder pads without a shirt underneath. It was the perfect look to not just beat the Tampa heat but to reflect his are-you-not-entertained persona.

Lenoir also entered Sunday’s victory with an interception in each of the 49ers’ previous two games, accelerating his stock even further as his four-year rookie deal neared its expiration.

The 49ers are now paying up for more, a league source confirmed.

Lenoir is receiving a five-year, $92 million extension, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz first reported Tuesday. The 49ers have yet to announce the contract that is expected to become official Wednesday.

It’s not just that Lenoir has started every game since October 2022. It’s that he is proving invaluable as a starter at right cornerback who can prove just as adept shifting inside to cover slot receivers in the 49ers’ nickel package.

“DMo’s been a stud. He is exactly what you want of 49er to play like,” coach Kyle Shanahan said two weeks ago. “He came in his first rookie camp and stood out, got me fined for illegally jamming people too hard and putting it on the internet. So, I always mess with him for that.”

Lenoir flashed his confidence — and elite, aggressive skills — by posting an in-house practice video on social media that rookie offseason ahead of a rocky year.

“The way he came back in the (2022) offseason, kind of just possessed to get that job back and he’s kind of owned it ever since,” Shanahan added. “He’s been a stud for a while to me and he gets better each year. He’s having a hell of a year.”

The 49ers’ current regime has a successful history of extending homegrown stars, although the past two summer’s negotiations with defensive end Nick Bosa and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk lasted through the preseason slate.

Lenoir, a 2021 fifth-round pick out of Oregon and a Los Angeles-area native, is the latest among in-house stars rewarded with second contracts, including George Kittle (August 2020), Fred Warner (July 2021), Deebo Samuel (July 2022), Bosa (September 2023) and Aiyuk (Aug. 29). As for in-season extensions, linebacker Dre Greenlaw was a game into the 2022 season when he agreed to a two-year deal that expires at this season’s end.

After producing an interception in each of his first two playoff appearances two seasons ago, Lenoir responded with career-highs of three interceptions and 10 pass breakups last season. He has two interceptions and six pass defenses this year. Not to be overlooked are his 233 tackles that reflect his willingness to seek out contact as a self-dubbed “Hyena.”

Lenoir is making $3.1 million base salary this season on a rookie deal that covered four years at $3.8 million. He scored his first career touchdown earlier this season returning a blocked field goal 61 yards in last month’s loss to Arizona. His first interception this season came in the 49ers’ Super Bowl rematch to the Kansas City Chiefs, a 28-18 loss on Oct. 20.

Before getting his second interception the next Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott, Lenoir was asked days earlier about Prescott’s NFL-record contract extension paying him $60 million annually. Lenoir’s response: “I practice against a $60 million quarterback, too. He just hasn’t been paid yet. But he’s going to break the bank. Shout out to Brock.”

Brock Purdy indeed becomes eligible for an extension at season’s end, when the 49ers no longer have to worry about negotiating a deal with Lenoir, who’s emerged from the shadow of Charvarius Ward and become one of the NFL’s top cornerback tandems; Ward missed Sunday’s 23-20 win in Tampa while on leave in the wake of his toddler daughter’s recent death.

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Published on November 12, 2024 16:29

Horoscopes Nov. 12, 2024: Anne Hathaway, exploit what you love to do most

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Anne Hathaway, 42; Ryan Gosling, 44; Megan Mullally, 66; Neil Young, 79.

Happy Birthday: Expand your knowledge and interests. Engage in life and express your will through your actions. Exploit what you love to do most and turn it into a viable means to implement security and stability into your life. Stop talking and start doing, and before you know it, you’ll be heading in a direction that brings you joy, satisfaction and peace of mind. Take responsibility for your happiness. Your numbers are 2, 10, 18, 27, 33, 41, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Share your thoughts, engage in learning and put your energy into something meaningful. Follow your gut and reach out to experts or authority figures who can help you put essentials in place and prepare you for a successful transfer from one direction to another. Sign up for something informative. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Change what you don’t like. Complaining will add to your aggravation, but doing an about-face and heading in a direction that makes you feel good about your actions will do wonders for your soul. Concentrate on personal growth, gain and happiness, and let go of what holds you back. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Develop opportunities instead of letting someone else step in and take over. The way to the front of the line is to take a leadership position and offer a sound plan moving forward. Communicate precisely and move forward with enthusiasm. A financial or personal gain is apparent. 4 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take a stance; don’t be afraid to do things differently. Refuse to let uncertainty slow you down. Sticking to a budget and timeline will make the difference between success and failure. Trust and believe in your capabilities, and you’ll gain support. Don’t jeopardize your health or reputation. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Sign up for something interesting. The connections you make will help you parlay your expertise or something you want to pursue into something tangible. Speak passionately, and you will command an audience’s attention and contributions that help you gain momentum. Refuse to let the changes others make dismantle your plans. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Listen to your inner voice and head in the direction that offers opportunity. Aim for stability and distance yourself from anyone who may disrupt your plans. Choose to do the legwork yourself to avoid additional costs or setbacks. Get an explicit breakdown of events before starting something new. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Gather information, enlighten yourself in every way imaginable and voice your opinion and plans to those who may have something to contribute. Don’t jeopardize your health or physical well-being. Question what others suggest you do and take the road that offers stability and progress. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Mix socializing with business. How you relate to others will determine how well you do. A change of attitude, adopting an upbeat approach and following through with your promises will lead to success. If you are fun to be with, everyone will rally around to accommodate your needs. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Refuse to defer to someone trying to dictate what you can and cannot do. It’s best to follow your heart and take a leadership position. Whether dealing with a domestic or professional situation, showing strength along with your beliefs and plans will weed out anyone trying to interfere. 5 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Communication will help you find your tribe. Align yourself with someone who shares your enthusiasm and will go the distance alongside you. Refrain from letting emotions interfere with your decisions or the outcome. You’re wasting your time if you must force someone to agree with you. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Ask, and you shall receive. Don’t hold back if you want to bring about positive change. An energetic, organized plan will draw attention. Let your imagination lead the way, and your dialogue will impact people who share your beliefs. It’s time to join forces and get things done. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Protect your reputation. Be realistic, honest and ready to set the record straight if anyone offers false information. An exaggerated situation will spin out of control if you fuel the fire. Show discipline and live up to your promises. The goal is to earn respect and maintain dignity. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are aware, helpful and reliable. You are persevering and generous.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Published on November 12, 2024 03:00

November 11, 2024

Trump asks Rep. Mike Waltz, China hawk, to be his national security adviser

By LISA MASCARO and LOLITA C. BALDOR

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has asked U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, a person familiar with the matter said Monday.

The nod came despite simmering concerns on Capitol Hill about Trump tapping members of the House, where the final tally is still uncertain and there are worries about pulling any GOP members from the chamber because that would force a new election to fill the empty seat. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter before Trump made a formal announcement.

The move would put Waltz at the forefront of a litany of national security crises — ranging from the ongoing effort to provide weapons to Ukraine and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah.

Waltz, a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida, was the first Green Beret elected to the U.S. House, and easily won reelection last week. He has been chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on readiness and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Waltz is an ardent Trump advocate who backed efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its ongoing mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population.

He has been a sharp critic of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and has called on the U.S. to hold accountable those who bear responsibility for the deaths of the 13 U.S. service members at Abbey Gate and for “thousands of Americans and allies behind enemy lines.”

He has also repeated Trump’s frequent complaints about a so-called “woke” military that the former president has derided as soft and too focused on diversity and equity programs.

In a statement last year, Waltz said that as head of the readiness subcommittee: “I am ready to get to work to better equip our military and turn our focus away from woke priorities and back to winning wars. Our national security depends on it.”

Related ArticlesNational Politics | Elon Musk’s PAC spent an estimated $200 million to help elect Trump, AP source says National Politics | Will Trump’s hush money conviction stand? A judge will rule on the president-elect’s immunity claim National Politics | Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far National Politics | Trump breaks GOP losing streak in nation’s largest majority-Arab city with a pivotal final week National Politics | Young Black and Latino men say they chose Trump because of the economy and jobs. Here’s how and why A graduate of Virginia Military Institute, Waltz was a Green Beret. He served in the active-duty Army for four years before moving to the Florida Guard. While in the Guard he did multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa and was awarded four Bronze Stars, including two with valor.

He also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.

The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment. Waltz’s selection was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

AP writers Jill Colvin in New York and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed.

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Published on November 11, 2024 17:04

49ers’ Shanahan puts Deebo-Moody-Pepper squabble to rest

The Deebo Samuel sideline scuffle has been put to bed.

“I talked to a number of guys on the team, we squashed it and now we’re good,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday, the day after Samuel had some words for place kicker Jake Moody after his third missed field goal and ended up taking a swipe at long-snapper Taybor Pepper.

The incident occurred after Samuel said something to Moody, with Pepper stepping in to defend his place kicker. Samuel ended up taking a small swing at Pepper and all parties appeared to have put the incident behind them following a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 49ers won when Moody connected on a 44-yard field goal at the gun after the three previous misses.

In the postgame press conference, Shanahan hadn’t seen the exchange and didn’t discuss it with the team on site. That changed once the 49ers got home.

“After the game I didn’t think it was too big of a deal,” Shanahan said. “But after getting home and seeing it on SportsCenter and all that I wanted to make sure I did talk talk to the guys about it.”

Shanahan said he didn’t think the incident rose to the level of an in-house fine.

“I fine people for breaking rules,” Shanahan said. “This is just people being football players and dealing with stuff on the sidelines and I didn’t really chalk that up to a big deal at all.”

Shanahan’s version of the vents corroborated Samuel’s postgame assertion that he “hadn’t said anything crazy.” Samuel said he was urging Moody to “lock in” after his third missed field goal.

“You never want Deebo to throw a baby punch or whatever to anybody on the team, but Deebo also wasn’t saying anything bad to Jake like it sounded,” Shanahan said. “He was telling him to lock in, the same thing I’ll tell an offensive player who dropped some balls or made some penalties.

“You never sit there and belittle anybody or embarrass anyone. You try to challenge guys you believe in. You tell them to focus because you know they can do this. I like Pep’s attention on it. He’s got his kicker’s back, but I think he kind of interpreted wrong what Deebo was doing and overreacted a little bit. And Deebo didn’t like that and got him out of his face and that’s where it ended.”

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) celebrates his sack with teammates during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)

Nick Bosa (97) celebrates with his teammates following a fourth quarter sack for the 49ers Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

BOSA SEEMS OK

Defensive end Nick Bosa said after the game he had been affected by a hip injury that limited his practice time during the week. Bosa didn’t generate his usual pass rush early against Tristin Wirfs and then also against journeyman Justin Skule when Wirfs left with a knee sprain.

“I kind of knew I could push through without it getting too much worse so that’s what I did,” Bosa said. “Will definitely evaluate (Monday).”

Shanahan cited a sack and another late pressure as well defending on two running plays inside the 10 as evidence Bosa was fine.

“He came out alright,” Shanahan said. “I’m sure it’s sore, but any time you miss most of the week of practice, it’s going to affect you.”

CAMPBELL’S RISE

Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell endured some rough early games but has played better of late in wins over Dallas and Tampa Bay. He had seven tackles and a pass defensed against Tampa Bay.

“I thought Dallas was his best game of the year and I thought this game was maybe even better,” Shanahan said. “It’s just getting used to our scheme and he gets better and better each week.”

THE MCCAFFREY WORKLOAD

Shanahan refuted the idea that the 49ers overdid it with running back Christian McCaffrey after getting 19 touches and missing only eight snaps in his debut.

“It was our first game back with him and we didn’t want him to go too many series in a row,” Shanahan said. “We started taking him out, I think we did it in between two series in the first half, and once we only had one drive in the third quarter. We got into that fourth quarter, we weren’t taking him out in the fourth. So, we’ll see how the year goes with it.”

NOTABLE

— Cornerback Charvarius Ward may rejoin the team this week after missing the Tampa Bay game following the death and funeral service for his 23-month-old daughter.

“I think there’s a chance for him to come back this week just talking to him over the weekend. I haven’t got a chance to talk to him today,” Shanahan said.

— Tight end George Kittle has hamstring tightness and will be monitored this week heading into the 49ers’ home game against the Seattle Seahawks.

— Shanahan cited some tricky winds at Raymond James Stadium with regard to Moody’s three missed field goals and reiterated his strong finish with the game-winner.

“He finished it well and we’ll move on to next week with it,” Shanahan said.

— Cornerback Renardo Green has a toe injury and will be day-to-day.

— Shanahan said he doesn’t expect the 21-day practice window to be opened for linebacker Dre Greenlaw this week.

— Cornerback Nick McCloud was signed to the practice squad. McCloud is a four-year veteran of 40 games with Cincinnati (2021) and the New York Giants (2022-24). He was released by the Giants on Nov. 5.

To make room, safety Adrian Amos was released from the practice squad. Amos was signed Oct. 15 and was active for one game as a practice squad elevation.

SNAP JUDGMENTS

64: Quarterback Brock Purdy and the entire offensive line didn’t miss a snap in the heat and humidity of Tampa.

61: Safety Malik Mustapha came in with a calf strain but was one of five defenders who played every snap along with Ji’Ayir Brown, Fred Warner, Deommodore Lenoir and De’Vondre Campbell.

58: Jauan Jennings (7 receptions, 93 yards) played more than any skill position player in his debut as a full-time ‘X’ receiver.

56: McCaffrey reprises his iron-man role after three padded practices with no game action since last Feb. 11.

52: Bosa, playing with a hip injury, was invisible for long stretches until a late sack and pressure.

48: With Ward on bereavement leave, Green had his second-highest snap count of the season and had five tackles, two passes defensed an an 82.6 Pro Football Focus grade that was the highest on the team.

36: After getting a sack and two pressures against Dallas in 29 snaps, defensive end Sam Okuayinonu was blanked in both departments pursuing Baker Mayfield against the Bucs while playing six more snaps.

13: On 10 of Moody’s special teams snaps, he did not miss a field goal attempt.

12: Veteran corner Rock Ya-Sin, who has played exclusively special teams, got his first defensive snaps of the season and a made a play that forced Tampa Bay to kick a field goal in the red zone to tie the game 20-20.

10: Wide receiver Ronnie Bell had seven more snaps than rookie Jacob Cowing (3).

6: How many snaps Jordan Mason (3) and Isaac Guerendo (3) played on offense in McCaffrey’s return to game action.

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Published on November 11, 2024 16:28

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