HOT OFF THE PRESS.

O.C. duo leads Parade

Jimmy Clausen and Marc Tyler were two of the six football players from California and 58 overall that were selected to Parade Magazine's 44th high school All-America team.

Clausen, who graduated early from Oaks Christian of Westlake Village and is enrolled in classes at the University of Notre Dame, shared National Player of the Year honors with Joe McKnight (1,884 all-purpose yards, 30 touchdowns) of Curtis Christian in River Ridge, La.

Clausen, who finished his high school career 42-0 as a starter, threw a state-record 146 career touchdown passes and finished second with 10,677 career yards passing. He capped his four-year run by passing for 3,428 yards and 49 touchdowns to lead Oaks Christian to its fourth consecutive Southern Section title and a Div.III state championship.

Tyler was selected Parade's top running back, despite missing the Lions' final four games after suffering a broken fibula in his left leg. The USC commit had 1,700 yards and 31 touchdowns this season to receive Gatorade's State Player of the Year award. Tyler finished his career third in state history in touchdowns (122) and points scored (742).

The full list of All-Americans will run in Sunday's Parade Magazine.

-- Erik Boal

Grant girls face big game

The Grant High of Van Nuys girls' basketball team will put an area-best 14-game winning streak on the line in a Sunset Six League matchup against visiting Poly of Sun Valley at 7 p.m. Friday.

The last loss for the Lancers (14-0 overall, 7-0 Sunset Six) came against Cleveland of Reseda in last year's City Section Invitational.

Since then, Grant has outscored its opponents by an average of 31.7 points per game, catapulting the team to No. 3 in the Daily News' rankings.

Friday's game likely is the toughest remaining on Grant's 17-game regular-season schedule.

Poly (12-8, 4-2) proved it can at least challenge the Lancers, losing just 60-51 on Jan. 17.

-- Kevin Connelly

Dazzling defense

Viewpoint of Calabasas' boys' soccer team has scored 45 goals in its past six games, but often overshadowed by the high-power scoring duo of Evan Raynr and Spencer Brown is the Patriots' defense. Viewpoint, ranked fourth in Div. VI, has posted six consecutive shutouts and allowed just four goals all season.

``Our whole back line, they've been studs,'' coach Travis Kikugawa said.

Seniors Dan Sullitzer and Kyle Hindin have been particularly impressive, and join goalkeeper Naveed Majd in providing valuable leadership for the team, which has 12 shutouts.

The Patriots will be counting on another solid defensive effort today when they play at Santa Clarita Christian, a team they played to a scoreless tie last month.

-- Heather Gripp

Reynolds honored

Rashaad Reynolds, San Fernando's starting quarterback, was named to the CalHisports.com All-State sophomore team and was runner-up for State Player of the Year.

Reynolds recently returned to San Fernando from the U.S. Army National Combine in San Antonio. The combine invites the top 500 sophomores in the country to participate in the event modeled after the NFL combine.

-- Ivan Orozco

Thacher holding court

Harvard-Westlake of Studio City junior tennis standout Ryan Thacher puts his 26-match winning streak in USTA competition on the line Saturday when he begins play in the 62nd annual Fullerton Junior Tournament.

Thacher, who has won four consecutive USTA tournaments, including the boys' 18-under title at the Winter Nationals in Scottsdale, Ariz., is the top seed in the 18-under division.

-- Erik Boal

Fabulous freshman

La Canada right-side hitter Courtney McCutchan was honored as a freshman All-American by PrepVolleyball.com.

McCutchan, a first-team All-Rio Hondo League selection, averaged 10 kills per match for the Spartans, who reached the Southern Section Div. II-A quarterfinals, losing to champion Pasadena.

-- Erik Boal

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