Heat make Lakers look old

The Los Angeles Lakers once again found themselves on the losing end of yet another Christmas showdown, losing to the Miami Heat 96-80.

Once again, it was the Christmas culprit LeBron James who stuffed the Lakers' stockings with a triple double.

Miami's big three of Wade, Bosh, and James combined for 69 points, while playing stifling defense that frustrated the defending champs.

Mission Viejo wins battle of the big men over Brea Olinda

The battle of the big men definitely lived up to the billing.

Standing at 6'10" Mission Viejo's Isaac Neilson rarely has to look up at his defenders, but that wasn't the case Thursday night.

That's because all seven feet of Brea Olinda's Kyle Caudill made him work.

The Boston College commit finished with 24 points, using a wide array of moves, that certainly impressed Nielson.

"He was a big challenge. He moved me around pretty easily," Nielson said.

But at the same time, Nielson knows that playing someone as big and as thick as Caudill will only help him at BYU.

Meanwhile, Mission Viejo head coach Troy Roelen was a little worried about how his team would respond after their recent Hawaii trip. The Diablos only managed to score 26 points in the 1st half.

"Our intensity definitely picked up in the second half," Roelen said. "All in all, I was pretty happy with the effort, after spending six days in Maui."

2010 Coach of the Year: Harry Welch

Santa Margarita was dealt a huge blow before the season even started. Harry Welch, the Eagles' new head coach, announced he had prostate cancer. That didn't stop the Eagles from having a spectacular season.

2010 All-County Defense

Highlights of the 2010 selections including an interview with the offensive player of the year Josh Webb.

2010 All-County Defense

Highlights of the 2010 selections, including an interview with the defensive player of the year Matt Inman.

OCVarsity Top 10: Unforgettable championship performance

This may be the best OCVarsity Top 10 yet.

Highlights include Malik Felton's ankle-breaking runs, Drake Griffin running for 318 yards, and Josh Webb puts on a show that will never be forgotten.

4-Peat! La Habra defeats Tustin for Southwest championship

The Highlanders defeat the Tillers 35-26 to capture their fourth consecutive CIF championship. Drake Griffin rushed for 317 yards and four touchdowns.

Servite goes back-to-back, defeating Mission Viejo for Pac-5 championship

The Friars defeat the Diablos 41-27 for consecutive Pac-5 championships. Servite was led by Malik Felton and his four touchdowns. Mission Viejo managed only seven points in the 1st half, as Servite's trademark defense came through.

Garden Grove dedicates championship over Beckman to Telles

Wow! Wow! Webbsy!

With under two minutes left, and Garden Grove trailing Beckman 30-23, Webb spun the greatest touchdown of the OCVarsity season.

I still can't really describe what I saw (and I was standing a few feet away from him), so I'll just let you watch the video, and try to make sense of it yourself.

And as if that touchdown wasn't enough, Garden Grove head coach Wily Puga decides to go for two and win the game. Puga threw the book of common sense right out the window, and gambled that his best player could do it again.

So how does he try to top his last flipping touchdown? This time, he pulls off a 360 by bouncing off everybody in his way. Once again, you gotta watch the video to believe it.

"Coach told me to get over the top," said Webb. "We're a team that goes for it all."

"That's my boy right there. I love him to death," said Garden Grove running back Avery Williams.

Who wouldn't love Josh Webb after what he did tonight. I'm ready to give him the top 5 spots of the OCVarsity Top 10, without even seeing what Tustin-La Habra and Mission Viejo-Servite have to offer.

Josh Webb is the man.

OCVarsity Gridiron visits Servite for Pac-5 championship preview

The OCVarsity Gridiron gang hits the road!

Steve Fryer, Carlos Arias, and Jonathan Khamis (playing the role of Dan Albano) take their talents to Anaheim.

Fryer and Arias break down both teams while Khamis catches up with Servite players and head coach Troy Thomas.

This is a Pac-5 championship preview that you do not want to miss.

Trojan Talk Episode 14: Year in review

It’s been an interesting season, Trojan fans: NCAA sanctions, golf cart rides, heartbreaking victories, and Lane Kiffin actually behaving?! The 2010 football season was certainly unforgettable.

Michael Lev and I recap the year, as we hand out our year-end report cards. We also take a look into the future, previewing incoming Orange County recruits Max Wittek, Victor Blackwell, and Tre Madden.

Thanks to all of you who sent in your questions, and we’ll see you next year!

What's Bruin: Final grades for UCLA

The final episode of ‘What’s Bruin’ gives out our year-end report cards. Scott Reid and I breakdown the 2010 UCLA football campaign.

Topic include:

• What happened against USC?
• Will Chow and Bullough be back?
• Was the pistol too much too soon?
• What are reasons for optimism going into next year?

OCVarsity Top 10: Player runs for touchdown on birthday

Highlights include:

• State berth in girls volleyball
• Painful hit by a linebacker
• Leaping touchdown
• Player who rushes, throws, and receives a touchdown
• Birthday touchdown run and more!

Servite Survives Scare! Friars defeat Alemany in Classic

Thank you Alemany.

Thank you for fighting hard until the last whistle.

Thank you Vernon Adams for putting on an absolute show.

But most of all, thank you for giving us Mission Viejo vs. Servite next Saturday night!

The Diablos have been licking their chops ever since their 19-18 loss in last year's Pac-5 semifinals.

One year to the day, the Friars advance to their second straight Pac-5 championship game, defeating Alemany 28-21.

But all anybody could talk about was the rematch next week.

"Everything we've worked for was to get to this game," Servite quarterback Cody Pittman said. "Mission has some beef with us, after we knocked them out last year."

Servite running back Malik Felton shared the same sentiments.

"They've been talking about it the whole entire time," Felton said. "But we know we're prepared, and we're going to get ready for this."

Servite head coach Troy Thomas knows Mission Viejo will bring it Saturday night.

"They're a heck of a team, all the way around," Thomas said. "I think they're well balanced...and they're used to winning so that always presents a challenge."

Mission Viejo uses 2nd half surge to blitz past Mater Dei

Mission Viejo advances to their first ever Pac-5 championship game defeating Mater Dei 42-21. Your move Servite.

All year long, OCVarsity fans and staff alike have dreamed about a possible matchup between No.1 and No.2. I think Bon Jovi said it best: "We're halfway there...livin' on a prayer."

Servite has to defeat a tough Alemany team to do it, but Mission Viejo's players are excited about a possible rematch.

“I hope we play them," Tre Madden said. "We feel like we matchup good against them, and it would be fun.”

“If they want it, they can get it," Mission Viejo wide receiver Frank Randal said. "If they’re calling our names, they got us.”

But leave it to the 'ol ball coach to downplay the possibility of an epic county battle.

“I don’t care, we'll play either one of them," Mission Viejo coach Bob Johnson said. "Two different teams. One plays a lot of offense and not a whole lot of 'D', and one plays a lot of 'D', and they play offense too. I’m glad we’re there and we’ll play ether team.”

Can Mater Dei's defense shut down Mission Viejo's offense?

Mission Viejo takes on Mater Dei in the Pac-5 semifinals on Friday. The Diablos feature a high-powered offense, while the Monarchs' defense has shut teams down recently.

It's a classic battle between offense and defense.

Interviews with Bruce Rollinson, Max Wittek, and Victor Blackwell.