San Juan Capistrano

Super Pets in Orange is closing at the end of February 2026 after a 12-year run. The pet store at 1807 E. Chapman Ave. is at the corner of Tustin Street and Chapman Avenue, next door to Grocery Outlet. (Samantha Gowen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Status Update: Super Pets closing in Orange; slate of new retail, pickleball coming to OC

A slate of new leases will see pickleball in RSM, Panda Mart in Laguna Niguel...
A Santa Ana Police vehicle is parked outside the La Quinta Inn in Santa Ana on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 where an 11-year-old boy was stabbed and killed by his mother in one of the hotel rooms. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Woman stabbed to death in San Juan Capistrano, estranged husband identified as suspect

Sheriff’s officials said the suspect was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
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Boys basketball playoffs: Crean Lutheran, Canyon, JSerra advance to quarterfinals

OCVarsity's roundup has the highlights from the boys basketball games Friday in the CIF-SS playoffs.
San Juan Hills senior Eliza Walburger had four goals and an assist in a 16-8 loss to visiting Glendora in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

San Juan Hills girls water polo cooled off by Glendora in CIF-SS quarterfinals

Roundup: San Juan Hills loses Friday in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals. Northwood and Laguna...
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Girls basketball playoffs: Sage Hill, Orange Lutheran, Troy win first-round games

OCVarsity's roundup has the highlights from the girls basketball games Thursday in the CIF-SS playoffs.
Corona del Mar’s girls water polo team defeated host JSerra 12-11 to clinch third place in Group B in the CIF-SS Open Division on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and advance to the crossover round against San Marcos. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Corona del Mar girls water polo holds off JSerra to stay afloat in playoffs

Girls water polo roundup: Corona del Mar opens a five-goal lead in the first half...
Edison guard Derick Johnson dunks the ball for the score against Corona del Mar in Sunset League boys basketball game in Huntington Beach on Monday, January 12, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

CIF-SS boys basketball playoffs have some interesting first-round matchups

Boys basketball notes: There are three first-round games between two teams that are ranked in...
Santa Margarita forward Drew Anderson lets out a yell in celebration after the Eagles won the Trinity Tournament championship at Hope International University in Fullerton on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Santa Margarita is No. 1 going into playoffs

Santa Margarita is No. 1 in the rankings at the end of the regular season,...
James Obleda (8) of Mater Dei celebrates after defeating JSerra in a Trinity League boys soccer game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Friday, January 30, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Final Orange County boys soccer Top 10: Mater Dei stays at No. 1

Mater Dei finishes at the No. 1 in the final Orange County boys soccer rankings...
Santa Margarita’s Lauren Lim heads the ball during a 4-1 win in a Trinity League game against Mater Dei on Thursday, January 29, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Final Orange County girls soccer Top 10: Santa Margarita finishes at No. 1

Santa Margarita and Mater Dei end the regular season ranked No. 1 and No. 2,...
Corona del Mar’s Head Coach Jason Simco talks to his players during a fourth quarter timeout for a North/South Challenge boys basketball game, December 23, 2025, at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita.(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

Corona del Mar boys basketball lands in Open Division for CIF-SS playoffs

Santa Margarita is the No. 2 seed in the Open Division, Crean Lutheran is No....
JSerra goalkeeper Massimo Latini (1) moves in to make the save as Mater Dei and JSerra battle for the ball in a Trinity League boys soccer game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Friday, January 30, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Three Trinity League teams in Open Division of CIF-SS boys soccer playoffs

Mater Dei, JSerra and Orange Lutheran are in the elite Open Division of the CIF...
Maxwell Scott (1) of Corona del Mar maneuvers past Riley Bowers (2) of Los Alamitos in a game at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Monday, January 5, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Corona del Mar boys basketball is 27-1 relying on ‘unselfish’ approach

Boys basketball notes: Corona del Mar won the Sunset League title by sharing the ball...
St. Margaret’s freshman Jayden Witten is one of Dan Albano’s Fab 5 girls basketball players of the week for Feb. 5, 2026. (Courtesy of Caitlin Bunting)

Albano’s Fab 5: Orange County girls basketball standouts last week, Feb. 5

Dan Albano selects five outstanding players in girls basketball last week.
JSerra junior Godschoice Eboigbodin scored 46 points for the Lions in their win over Mater Dei on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

JSerra basketball beats Mater Dei to finish third in Trinity League tournament

Godschoice Eboigbodin scores 46 points to lead JSerra to a lopsided victory over Mater Dei,...
Santa Margarita senior guard Kaiden Bailey scored 20 points in the Eagles’ 84-56 win over JSerra in a Trinity League Tournament semifinal Tuesday, Feb. 3 2026, at Hope International University in Fullerton. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Santa Margarita basketball advances to final in Trinity League tournament

Santa Margarita beats JSerra to set up a rematch with St. John Bosco in the...
JSerra soccer player GG Szczuka, who is committed to SMU, is the Orange County girls athlete of the week for Feb, 3, 2026. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County girls athlete of the week: GG Szczuka, JSerra

The forward scored three goals to lead JSerra's soccer team to a pair of victories...
Mater Dei senior guard Luke Barnett scored 24 points in the Monarchs’ win over Orange Lutheran on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mater Dei boys basketball advances in Trinity League tournament

Mater Dei, coming off two tough losses last week, to beat Orange Lutheran on the...
Mater Dei’s girls basketball team defeated visiting JSerra 60-46 on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026 to finished with an undefeated Trinity League title. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mater Dei girls basketball beats JSerra for undefeated Trinity League title

Rachel Goran and Harmony Golightly each score 14 points as the short-handed Monarchs finish 6-0...
Crean Lutheran head coach Austin Loeb calls out instructions to the team in a Crestview League boys basketball game against La Habra at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Crean Lutheran has a long break before boys basketball playoffs begin

Boys basketball notes: Crean Lutheran must endure a long break between its last regular-season game...
Orange Lutheran guard Josh King shoots a 3-pointer during a Trinity League game against JSerra on Friday, January 9, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Orange Lutheran rises after big win

Orange Lutheran moves up in the Orange County boys basketball rankings after a big win...
Santa Margarita’s Felicity Nguyen makes a cut with the ball during a Trinity League game against Mater Dei on Thursday, January 29, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County girls soccer Top 10: Santa Margarita No. 1 entering league finale

Santa Margarita enters its Trinity League finale at Orange Lutheran on Monday needing a win...
The pay-to-play cafe Check N’ Play opened Jan. 28 at the Brea Mall. The business model was created by Steffanie Balsells Najera to be a safe, “screen-free play café” for children under the age of 6. The cafe has a number of attendant-monitored play zones for children, plus an actual cafe for parents. (Photo courtesy of Check N’ Play)

Status Update: Kids play cafe new at Brea Mall; Warby Parker opens in Laguna Niguel

Check N’ Play was created by Steffanie Balsells Najera to be a safe, "screen-free play...
The South defeated the North 17-7 in the Orange County North vs. South All-Star Football Classic on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 at Newport Harbor High. The South extended its winning streak to 11 games in the series. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

San Juan Hills’ Timmy Herr rallies South in OC all-star football game

The senior tosses two TDs in the second half to help the South extend its...
JSerra guard Jaden Bailes, center, tries to get by Santa Margarita guard Jacob Sears, left, and guard Kaiden Bailey, right, in a Trinity League boys basketball game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Fryer: Basketball playoffs approach, but first come some league tournaments

Two Orange County boys basketball leagues will have league tournaments before the CIF Southern Section...
Chef Gino Choi behind the omakase sushi counter at Omakase by Gino in Santa Ana (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Didn’t book a $1,500 dinner at Noma? Try these 7 OC restaurants instead

If you yearn for the gastronomic experience minus the booking bloodspot, check out the following...
Sage Hill basketball players, from left, Amalia Holguin, Eve Fowler and Addison Uphoff helped the Lightning clinch the Pacific Coast League title with a 65-50 win at Rosary on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sage Hill girls basketball pulls away late to beat Rosary for league title

Girls basketball roundup: Sage Hill makes a 9-0 run the middle of the fourth quarter...
Sage Hill’s girls basketball team and sophomore center Eve Fowler are ranked No. 1 in Orange County for the second consecutive week on Jan. 27, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County girls basketball Top 25: Streaking Sage Hill remains No. 1

Sage Hill remains No. 1 in the Orange County girls basketball rankings, ahead of Mater...
Joseph Ojeda (21) of Los Alamitos shoots over the defense of Caden Sanchez (3) and Oliver Nakra (4) of Corona del Mar in a game at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Monday, January 5, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Orange Lutheran, Servite enter Top 10

Orange Lutheran and Servite enter the Top 10 of the Orange County boys basketball rankings.
Newport Harbor’s girls water polo team defeated Mater Dei 12-6 in the finals of the Newport Invite on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at Newport Harbor High. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Newport Harbor girls water polo beats No. 1 Mater Dei in tournament final

Girls water polo roundup: Emerson Mulvey scores three of her four goals in the first...
Cathedral Catholic’s Honor Faalave runs for a touchdown against Mission Hills on Nov. 14, 2025. (Charlie Neuman, For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Fryer: Schools react to claim that Trinity League teams made offers to star player

A San Diego County star football player said he was offered illegal incentives to transfer...
Esperanza’s Alexa Muller, left, and Avery Kame are among Dan Albano’s Fab 5 girls basketball players of the week for Jan. 21, 2026. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Albano’s Fab 5: Orange County girls basketball standouts last week, Jan. 21

Dan Albano selects five outstanding players in girls basketball last week.
Harmony Golightly (5) of Mater Dei takes a shot over Janaya Williams (35) of Santa Margarita in in a girls basketball game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mater Dei girls basketball cools off Santa Margarita in Trinity League duel

Harmony Golightly scores 20 points and freshmen Nelly Strong and Legend Tyler combine for 24...
AC Coltman (35) of JSerra kicks the ball over Nico Pacelli (10) of Servite in a boys soccer game at JSerra Catholic High in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County boys soccer Top 10: Orange Lutheran rises to No. 2

Orange Lutheran ascends to No. 2 in this week's Orange County boys soccer rankings.
Sage Hill guard Amalia Holguin protects the rebound in the Troy Classic Tournament against San Clemente in Fullerton on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County girls basketball Top 25: Sage Hill takes over No. 1 ranking

Sage Hill climbs to No. 1 in the Orange County girls basketball rankings on the...
La Habra guard Acen Jimenez, right, has a tough time getting as shot over Canyon forward Zach Cutler in a Crestview League boys basketball game in Anaheim on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

La Habra’s Acen Jimenez contributing in multiple ways to team’s success

Boys basketball notes: The senior guard's scoring, passing and defense have kept La Habra in...
Santa Margarita forward Drew Anderson, left, grabs the rebound in front of JSerra forward Godschoice Eboigbodin in a Trinity League boys basketball game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Santa Margarita hangs on at No. 1

Santa Margarita retains the No. 1 position in the Orange County boys basketball Top 25...
The Santa Margarita boys basketball team celebrates after scoring a basket at the buzzer to win the game over JSerra in a Trinity League boys basketball game in San Juan Capistrano on Friday, January 16, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Santa Margarita boys basketball beats JSerra with basket at the buzzer

Rodney Westmoreland's bank shot at the buzzer gives Santa Margarita a thrilling win in the...
Santa Margarita girls basketball coach Seyram Bell, far left, along with players Madi Lam, Grace Anderson and Elle Palmer at the Orange County girls basketball media day Nov. 11, 2025 at Crean Lutheran. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Santa Margarita girls basketball tops No. 1 JSerra in Trinity League opener

Elle Palmer scores 20 points with 10 rebounds and Madi Lam adds 13 points to...
Mater Dei seniors James Obleda, left, and Santiago Schelotto have been top contributors for the Monarchs, who have sole possession of first place in the Trinity League. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mater Dei boys soccer solidifies first-place standing with win over JSerra

Mater Dei improves to 10-0 overall and has sole possession of first place in the...
San Juan Hills football coach Robert Frith, center, stands next to Orange County Fire Authority firefighter John Rowlands, second from left, during a recent visit to Orange County Fire Authority Fire Station 59 in San Clemente. Frith credits Rowlands for saving his life after he collapsed while playing pickleball Dec. 19. (Photo courtesy of OCFA)

San Juan Hills’ Robert Frith credits firefighter with saving his life

The San Juan Hills football coach says the quick aid of an off-duty firefighter saved...
Carter Biondolillo (6) of JSerra is called for a foul after tripping up Nico Pacelli (10) of Servite in a boys soccer game at JSerra Catholic High in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County boys soccer top 10: Mater Dei moves into No. 1 position

Mater Dei moves into the top spot this week in the Orange County boys soccer...
Los Amigos senior Mekhi Belote is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder. (Courtesy of Los Amigos High School)

Los Amigos on track for another strong boys basketball season

Boys basketball notes: Los Amigos is hoping to surpass the success it had last season...
Santa Margarita guard Kaiden Bailey, left, and St. John Bosco guard Gavin Dean-Moss, center, look for the the loose ball in a Trinity League boys basketball game in Rancho Santa Margarita on Friday, January 9, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: La Habra moves into Top 10

Santa Margarita stays on top in this week's Orange County boys basketball rankings while La...
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Orange County girls soccer Top 10: Big league clashes on deck this week

Santa Margarita, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, will play at No. 4 JSerra in...
The Griffin Center, Los Alamitos High School’s new 34,000-square-foot gym in Los Alamitos on Monday, January 5, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Fryer: Los Alamitos’ new gym as good as it gets in OC high school athletics

The new gym at Los Alamitos is a state-of-the-art high school sports facility.
Gregg Gonzalez (22), center, is joined by Brandon Santos (23), left, and Nico Pacelli (10) of Servite as they celebrate a goal by Gonzalez in a boys soccer game against JSerra at JSerra Catholic High in San Juan Capistrano on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Servite beats No. 1 JSerra with strong defense, 2 goals from Gregg Gonzalez

No. 4 Servite knocks off the top-ranked boys soccer team in Orange County and takes...
JSerra junior Kayla Rice, pictured right with teammate Vivian Grenald, is one of Dan Albano’s Fab 5 girls basketball players of the week for Jan. 7, 2026. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Albano’s Fab 5: Orange County girls basketball standouts last week, Jan. 7

Dan Albano's selects five outstanding players in girls basketball last week.
JSerra soccer players, from left, Finn Wilkins, Carter Biondolillo and Hudson Garner in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, December 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County boys soccer: JSerra trying to build another championship team

Boys soccer notes: The Lions have several talented players back from last season's team that...
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Orange County boys soccer Top 10, Jan. 7

Trinity League rivals JSerra and Mater Dei occupy the top two positions in the first...
Mater Dei’s James Obleda battles with Loyola’s Josh Gallagher during a CIF-SS Open Division playoff game at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana on Saturday, Feb. 15. (Photo by Scott Smeltzer, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys soccer: 10 players to watch

Steve Fryer's list of the 10 boys soccer players to watch during the 2025-26 season.
JSerra’s girls basketball team defeated Fairmont Prep 51-33 in the Premier Division final of the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in San Diego. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County girls basketball Top 25: JSerra rises to top spot

JSerra climbs to No. 1 in the Orange County girls basketball rankings after beating Fairmont...
Cypress’ Ryan Gov (1) scores as Corona del Mar’s Aiden Cole (12) tries to block in a boys basketball game last week at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita.. Gov was a tournament MVP for Cypress as the Centurions won their division at the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic.(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

It’s time for league action in Orange County boys basketball

Boys basketball notes: Tournament action gives way to league play, and this week there are...
Santa Margarita forward Brayden Kyman shoots a layup during a 92-85 win in a nonleague game against Village Christian on Friday, December 12, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Santa Margarita still on top

Santa Margarita is still No. 1, while Mater Dei and Los Alamitos move up in...
JSerra’s girls basketball team defeated Fairmont Prep 51-33 in the Premier Division final of the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, in San Diego. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

JSerra girls basketball slows top-ranked Fairmont Prep for tournament title

Girls basketball roundup: JSerra defeats Fairmont Prep in the finals of the SoCal Holiday Prep...
New Years Eve revelers celebrate during the Annual New Year’s Eve Orange Drop in downtown Redlands on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. The Orange Drop happened at 9 p.m. so families with children could attend. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Free fun things to do on New Year’s Eve in Southern California

Want to ring in the new year without spending a fortune? Here are our best...
Irvine High School senior Summer Wilson at the school’s track in Irvine, CA, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Wilson is the Orange County Register’s girls cross country athlete of the year for the 2025 season. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

All-County girls cross country: Summer Wilson is the OC athlete of the year

The Irvine senior is the Orange County girls cross country athlete of the year. The...
Aidan Antonio is the boys cross country athlete of the year. He is a junior at Woodbridge High School in Irvine, CA. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

All-County boys cross country: Aidan Antonio is the OC athlete of the year

The Woodbridge junior is the Orange County boys cross country runner of the year. Plus,...
Cypress’ Logan Cabahug (24) tries to block as Corona del Mar’s Luke Mirhashemi (0) scores in the second quarter of a North/South Challenge boys basketball game, December 23, 2025, at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita.(Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer)

Corona del Mar boys basketball holds off Cypress to remain undefeated

Corona del Mar beats Cypress to remain undefeated, plus highlights from other games Tuesday.
Mater Dei senior Layli Ostovar is the Orange County girls volleyball player of the year. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

All-County girls volleyball: Layli Ostovar is the OC player of the year

The Mater Dei senior earns the top honor on the All-County girls volleyball team for...
Ava Irwin, a JSerra freshman flag football wide receiver/safety, is an Orange County Player of the Year. She is pictured in San Juan Capistrano on Monday, December 15, 2025. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

All-County girls flag football: Ava Irwin is the OC player of the year

Irwin led JSerra to the CIF-SS Division 1 title. Also, the selections for Orange County...
A lithium battery storage facility is proposed on 13 acres off the 5 Freeway in San Juan Capistrano. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Company proposing battery storage project in San Juan Capistrano says looking at new locations

Engie was planning to purchase 41 acres of a former ranch that fronts Camino Capistrano,...
Cypress head coach Derek Mitchell calls out instructions to his team in a game against Crean Lutheran in an Empire League boys basketball game at Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cypress boys basketball stacks up wins over highly ranked OC teams

Boys basketball notes: Cypress has collected wins over some of Orange County's better boys basketball...
Mohammed el Baba #0 of Canyon gets past Hayden Hakala #2 of Villa Park during a boys basketball game at Sonora High School on December 19, 2025 in La Habra, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Cypress in Top 10 after two big wins

Cypress, Canyon, Los Alamitos make big moves in this week's Orange County boys basketball rankings....
Santa Margarita middle linebacker Leki Holani is embraced by coach Carson Palmer as they celebrate winning the CIF State Open Division football championship in Mission Viejo on Saturday, December 13, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Fryer: Santa Margarita’s football team highlights an excellent fall

Steve Fryer looks back at the fall sports season in Orange County. One team stood...
After a year of eating and drinking across Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire, our reporters dish on the best food of 2025. (Photos courtesy of SCNG staff.)

The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in 2025

After a year of eating and drinking across Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland...
Bishop O’Dowd coach Hardy Nickerson hoists the championship trophy while Austin Mahoney (27) looks on after the Dragons defeated Christian-El Cajon 37-0 in the CIF Division 5-AA state championship game on Friday night, Dec., 12, 2025, at Fullerton Union High School District Stadium. (Nathan Canilao/Bay Area News Group)

Ex-NFL player Hardy Nickerson named football coach at JSerra

The former NFL linebacker is the new head coach at JSerra High.
Le Hut Dinette in Santa Ana will offer a New Year’s Eve feast. (Photo courtesy of Le Hut Dinette)

New Year’s Eve: 5 dinners in Orange County that are worth the splurge

Take heed: Book your table sooner rather than later as these spots fill up quickly.
Newport Harbor head coach Bob Torribio gives the thumbs up to his team during a game against Los Alamitos in a Surf League game at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Newport Harbor boys basketball tops Servite in Western Showcase final

Boys basketball notes: Marcel Aguilar leads Newport Harbor to a win in the Western Showcase...
Santa Margarita forward Markee White shoots a layup during a nonleague game against Village Christian on Friday, December 12, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Santa Margarita remains at No. 1

Santa Margarita continues in the No. 1 spot in the Orange County boys basketball rankings....
Santa Margarita Eagles Head coach Carson Palmer holds up the championship plaque after defeating the Centennial Huskies 42-7 to win the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, November 28, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Fryer: JSerra’s next football coach might be another ‘big splash’ hire

JSerra might seek to duplicate what Santa Margarita did when it hired Carson Palmer as...
House congee; beef rib with sweet pork floss, fried garlic, crispy onions, shimeji mushrooms, scallions and egg yolk at Vox Kitchen in Fountain Valley, CA, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

9 Orange County restaurants serving peak cozy comfort food

From steaming, savory congee and classic chicken pot pie to tender meatballs and fragrant bowls...
Rosie Santos #5 of the Jserra drives around Jenesis Cox #10 of the Ontario Christian. Jserra played Ontario Christian for the championship of the Troy Classic girls basketball tournament on December 6, 2025 in FullertonCA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County girls basketball Top 25: Mater Dei joined by JSerra at the top

Undefeated Mater Dei and JSerra are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the O.C....
JSerra basketball player Vivian Grenald is the Orange County girls athlete of the week for Dec. 9, 2025. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

Orange County girls athlete of the week: Vivian Grenald, JSerra

The junior led the JSerra girls basketball team to a second-place finish in the Troy...
Rosary senior forward Kate Duarte is one of Dan Albano’s Fab 5 girls basketball players of the week for Dec. 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Hermosillo)

Albano’s Fab 5: Orange County girls basketball standouts last week, Dec. 8

Dan Albano's selects five outstanding players in girls basketball last week.
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Irvine’s Summer Wilson, Trabuco Hills’ girls team compete in prestigious Nike Cross Nationals

Wilson finishes in 23rd-place in the meet and the girls teams for Trabuco Hills finishes...
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Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Santa Margarita, JSerra in top two spots

Santa Margarita is 9-1 overall and in the top spot in the Orange County rankings,...
JSerra’s girls basketball team defeated nationally ranked Sierra Canyon 67-63 in the Troy Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at Troy High in Fullerton. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

JSerra girls basketball upsets nationally ranked Sierra Canyon in Troy Classic

JSerra knocks off the No. 6-ranked team in the nation to improve to 2-0 in...
Laura Bassett, an Oceanside resident, is running for the 38th Senate District in the California Legislature. The seat includes communities in Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Juan Capistrano and parts of San Clemente. (Photo courtesy of Laura Bassett’s campaign)

Republican Laura Bassett, interested in coastal issues, launches bid for state Senate seat

Bassett is vying for the 38th Senate District, represented now by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, a...
The Los Alamitos team celebrates winning the CIF-SS Division 2 football championship in San Clemente on Saturday, November 29, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Steve Fryer’s Orange County football Top 40 rankings, Dec. 2

Steve Fryer shares how he voted this week in the Orange County football rankings.
Drew Anderson plays basketball at Santa Margarita. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County boys basketball Top 25: Undefeated Santa Margarita is No. 1

The Trinity League's Santa Margarita and JSerra are 1-2 in this week's Orange County boys...
Santa Margarita Eagles Head coach Carson Palmer holds up the championship plaque after defeating the Centennial Huskies 42-7 to win the CIF-SS Division 1 championship game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Friday, November 28, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Orange County football Top 25: Santa Margarita is No. 1 in the final rankings

CIF-SS Division 1 champion Santa Margarita finishes No. 1 in the final Orange County football...
JSerra’s girls cross country team after winning the team championship in the Orange County Championships on Oct. 18, 2025, at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Summer Wilson, Aidan Antonio qualify for Nike Nationals cross country meet

The JSerra and Trabuco Hills girls teams and the San Clemente boys team will also...
Irvine senior Summer Wilson is the Orange County girls athlete of the week for Nov. 25, 2025, after setting the 3-mile national record for high school girls. (Courtesy of Darin Hurst)

Irvine’s Summer Wilson sets record at CIF State Cross Country Championships

The Irvine senior sets a state record with her time at Woodward Park; Dana Hills'...
A desalination plant proposed for Doheny Beach, shown here in an artist’s rendering. (Rendering courtesy of the South Coast Water District.)

Landfill trash could help power Doheny Ocean Desalination Project

County officials are exploring ways OC Waste and Recycling and South Coast Water District can...
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Orange County boys basketball Top 25, Nov. 24

Santa Margarita is No . 1 in the first in-season rankings of the season.
Santa Margarita quarterback Trace Johnson keeps the ball to gain yardage as he gets around an Orange Lutheran defender in the CIF-SS Division 1 football semifinal playoff in Costa Mesa on Friday, November 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County football Top 25: Santa Margarita at No. 1 going into CIF-SS finals

Santa Margarita retains the No. 1 spot in the Orange County football poll after making...
Century senior Monserrat Santillan-Silva won the Division 4 championship in the CIF Southern Section Cross Country Championships at Mt. San Antonio College on Nov. 22, 2025. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Monserrat Santillan-Silva’s fast improvement leads to CIF-SS cross country title

The Century senior and Irvine's Summer Wilson leave their mark on the CIF-SS finals, and...
Finley Campbell, left, and Adelyn Boberg helped San Juan Hills’ girls basketball team defeat West Torrance 49-43 in the semifinals of the Oxford Academy tournament Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025 in Cypress. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

San Juan Hills girls basketball beats West Torrance for early statement win

Sophomore Finley Campbell sinks a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:40 left in regulation to help San...
The Sierra Canyon girls volleyball team celebrates winning the Division 1 CIF championship against Mater Dei Saturday at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Nov. 8, 2025. (Photo by Miguel Vasconcellos, Contributing Photographer)

Mater Dei, Cypress and CVC girls volleyball teams to play for state titles

The CIF State girls volleyball championships are Saturday at Santiago Canyon College in Orange.
JSerra’s girls cross country team after winning the team championship in the Orange County Championships on Oct. 18, 2025, at Oak Canyon Park in Silverado. (Photo by Steve Fryer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

JSerra girls cross country poised to make history at CIF-SS finals

JSerra's girls cross country team goes for a fifth straight CIF-SS championship Saturday at Mt....
Mater Dei running back Kennie Leggett, right, fights his way into the end zone for a touchdown against Mission Viejo in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal football playoffs in Santa Ana on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Steve Fryer’s Orange County football Top 40 rankings, Nov. 18

Steve Fryer shares how he voted this week in the Orange County football rankings.
Cypress players celebrate their championship win over Foothill in the CIF-SS Division 3 girls volleyball final at Cerritos College in Norwalk on Saturday Nov. 8, 2025. Cypress beat Foothill 3-0. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)

Four Orange County girls volleyball teams reach CIF SoCal Regional finals

Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, Cypress and Capistrano Valley Christian play in the regional finals Tuesday.
Santa Margarita’s Trent Mosley (4) looks for running room as they play Sierra Canyon in a CIF-SS Div. 1 quarterfinal game at Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County football Top 25: Santa Margarita alone at No. 1 going into semifinals

Santa Margarita is No. 1 by itself in this week's Orange County football poll. Mater...
Los Alamitos’ Lenny Ibarra (28) runs with the ball while under pressure from San Juan Hills’ Dean Kolasinski (4) during the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 football playoffs at Veterans Stadium, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, in Long Beach, Calif. (Photo by William Liang, Contributing Photographer)

Los Alamitos football runs over San Juan Hills to reach CIF-SS semifinals

Los Alamitos advancers to the Division 2 semifinals with help from Lenny Ibarra's four touchdowns.
Santa Margarita Catholic High School basketball coach Justin Bell with players Rodney Westmoreland, Drew Anderson, Brayden Kyman and Kaiden Bailey, from left, at the school in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County boys basketball preview: Talented Santa Margarita at No. 1

Santa Margarita starts the 2025-26 season ranked No. 1 in Orange County. Our boys basketball...
Mater Dei’s Kennie Leggett (28) battles for yards during a Trinity league football game between Servite and Mater Dei at Santa Ana Stadium Saturday Oct. 18, 2025. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)

Fryer on Football: Previews and predictions for the CIF-SS quarterfinals

Steve Fryer previews this week's top CIF-SS quarterfinals for the Orange County teams, including Mission...
San Clemente’s Jaxson Rex, left, is chased down by Tustin’s Jeremiah Salvant, center, and wide receiver Rufai Azeez, right, in a season-opening football game in Tustin on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Steve Fryer’s Orange County football Top 40 rankings, Nov. 11

Fryer shares how he voted this week in the Orange County football poll.
JSerra freshman flag football player Kate Meier is the Orange County girls athlete of the week for Nov. 11, 2025. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County girls athlete of the week: Kate Meier, JSerra

The freshman quarterback led JSerra to the CIF-SS Division 1 championship in flag football.
Santa Margarita running back Jaion Smith finds a big opening in the Mater Dei defense in Santa Ana on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Orange County football Top 25: Mission Viejo, Santa Margarita share No. 1

Santa Margarita moves into a tie with Mission Viejo for the No. 1 spot in...
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