Wil LaFayette (left) and Christine Scalley won the 3.0 Division.
LiveBall started in 1995 on the courts at the Palisades Tennis Center and tennis pro Mike Tomas, who took charge of the public facillity at the Palisades Recreation Center in 2017, celebrated the 30-year anniversary by organizing a Challengers LiveBall tournament last Saturday.
The event featured draws for players in three skill levels (3.0, 3.5 and 4.0), with winners of each division receiving tennis bags and gear. At noon was a coaching exhibition and championship rounds began 30 minutes later.
Wil LaFayette (left) and Christine Scalley won the 3.0 Division.Level 3.5 winners Stacey Smiley (left) and Kelly Nielson.
“It was great,” Tomas stated. “People were raving about what a great time they had. We’ve come a long way and we’re planning to do a few more of these as we continue celebrating three decades here at the birthplace of LiveBall, which began with [then-owner] Steve Bellamy at Pali Park.”
After lots of rallies and points, Wil LaFayette and Christine were declared 3.0 champions, Stacey Smiley and Kelly Nielson won the 3.5 division and Damon Judah and Matt Cohen took the 4.0 title.
Tommy Pickens drives for a layup against Yeshiva on Dec. 19 in the first round of the Winter Slam Jam. Photos by Steve Galluzzo
Pali High Boys and Girls Basketball Teams Show Potential in Holiday Tournaments
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The Palisades High boys and girls basketball teams open Western League play this week and both squads are well prepared to contend for first place after participating in tough tournamnents over Winter Break.
The boys finished 3-1 in the Winter Slam Jam, overcoming a seven-point halftime deficit to beat Yeshiva 48-44 at Agoura. Mikal Sims led the way with 15 points and Eli Levi added nine. The next night, Jack Levey’s two-point jumper at the buzzer lifted the Dolphins over El Camino Real 55-54 at Grant. Tommy Pickens had 15 points, Kye Davis had 10, Levey had eight and Aten Hassan and Eli Levi each add six.
In the semifinals against Saugus in Santa Clarita, Pickens scored 16, Hassan and Levey each had 10, Levi had nine, Sims had eight, Davis had six and Devin Carey had threebut the Centurions prevailed 64-62 on a driving layup at the buzzer by Bryce Mejia. Palisades closed the tournament on a high note by outscoring Granada Hills 61-52. Pickens scores 17 points while Levey and Hassan added 10 apiece.
Alyssa Ramirez sinks a jumper against Buena on Dec. 20 at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions.
Next up was the SoCal Christmas Classic in Pasadena and Pickensimpressed in the first game, pouring in 30 points as Palisades defeated Crescenta Valley 74-61. Davis had 12, Sims had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists and Levey added 10 points and five rebounds. Alemany got the winning layup with two seconds left to nip the Dolphins 54-52 in the second round of the Platinum Division but one day later Palisades bounced back with a 58-49 triumph over Maranatha. Levey and Sims scored 12 apiece, Pickens had 10 and Carey and Julian Cunningham each added eight. In their final game of the tournament the Dolphins beat Grant 58-47, paced by Levey’s 19 points and six assists, Aten Hassan’s 10 points and eight rebounds and 10 more from Davis.
In its last tune-up before league, Palisades fell to Saugus 61-48 despite 13 points each by Levey and Pickens. At 8-5 entering Monday’s league opener versus University, the Dolphins look like an Open Division team under new coach Jeff Bryant.
Meanwhile, the girls entered league with a 5-6 record after placing fifth at their Westside Classic in early December, going 1-1 at the Burroughs Showcase in Burbank and finishing 1-2 at the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions, losing to Valencia and Buena before topping Oaks Christian 58-47 behind Elly Tierney (22 points) and Alyssa Ramirez (13 points and five steals). Tierney lit up the scoreboard again Saturday, netting a season-high 28 points in a 77-55 rout of Chatsworth at Fairfax. Olivia Lewis had 12 points on four 3-pointers, Ramirez scored 11 points and Ayla Teegardin contributed 10 points and six steals for the Dolphins (5-6), who will battle with Westchester and Hamilton for the league title.
The PGA TOUR returns to Los Angeles and greatness will be unleashed on the greens when the Genesis Invitational is held February 13-16 at historic Riviera Country Club. Tournament host Tiger Woods welcomes an elite field of golfers to the iconic venue where legacies are defined, legends are born and the stars shine brightest. The event begins with a Collegiate Showcase Feb. 10, followed by practice rounds the next day and a Pro-Am presented by Bang & Olufsen on Feb. 12.
Round One is Feb. 13 and, weather permitting, the final round will be Sunday, Feb. 16. Tickets are on sale now on the tournament website (genesisinvitational.com/tickets/).
Hideki Matsuyama lifted the trophy and pocketed $4 million after winning by three strokes last year, firing a sizzling 62 in the final round to overcome a six-shot deficit and finish at 17 under par for his 18thprofessional victory worldwide and first since a playoff win at the Sony Open in Hawaii in 2022. Luke List and Will Zalatoris tied for second, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele tied for fourth and Woods had to withdraw during the second round because of flu-like symptoms.
Freshman Erica Hamilton Courtesy of Macalester Athletics
After setting a school single-season record for goals and winning the Post Cup Award as the outstanding senior athlete at Palisades High last spring, Erica Hamilton showed she can put the ball in the back of the net at the next level too.
Hamilton, a freshman forward on the women’s soccer squad at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, played in all 17 games this season and paced the Scots in shots (28), goals (5), assists (3) and points (13). She tallied two goals and one assist in a 5-0 victory over Crown College on Sept. 4.
Hamilton racked up a total of 66 goals in 49 games in her three-year Pali High career.
The City Section released its All-City football teams last week and several Palisades High players made the Division I list after leading the Dolphins to their second finals appearnce in three years.
Quarterback Jack Thomas, who was named Western League Player of the Year in December and also earned the Joe Spector Award as Varsity Most Valuable Player, was named Division I Offensive MVP after throwing for 3,369 yards and 46 touchdowns and running for another 570 yards and 12 scores. The junior transfer from Loyola completed 197 of 353 passes with only five interceptions and posted a 122.0 rating.
Senior tackle Cole Ward, who led the Dolphins in pancake blocks,was chosen Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Joining Thomas and Ward on the first team were Palisades kicker Jack Malloy, running back Harrison Carter and receiver Max Hejazi. Malloy converted 75 of 78 extra-point tries (second-most in the state), Carter led Palisades in both rushing yards (1,124) and all-purpose yards (2,218) while scoring 18 touchdowns (10 rushing, six receiving and two on kickoff returns). Hejazi had a team-best 49 catches for 15 touchdowns.
Two more Dolphins made the first team offense—lineman Liam Giannantonio and receiver LeHenry Solomon, who had a team-high 836receiving yards and scored 15 touchdowns (12 receiving, one rushing, one on a punt return and one on a kickoff return).
Three Palisades players made the Division I Defensive first team: linebackers Jake Treibatch (146 tackles and nine pass deflections), Nico Townsley (93 tackles, three interceptions) and Cash Allen (100 tackles).
King/Drew all-purpose back Jahmir Torres, who scored six touchdowns against Palisades in the Division I championship game Nov. 30, was named City Player of the Year, defensive end Chinedu Onyeaguro got picked Defensive MVP and Golden Eagles pilot Joe Torres earned Division I Coach of the Year honors.
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The site of Pierson Playhouse on the morning of January 8 Photo by Sarah Shmerling
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
As Palisades fire grew to 15,832 acres with 0% containment on Wednesday, January 8, Los Angeles Fire Department estimated that over 1,000 structures were affected.
“While we are not yet able to conduct an assessment of structures damaged, based on the footprint of the burn area, it is estimated over 1,000 affected,” according to spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
One of the structures that was reached by the fire was Pierson Playhouse on Temescal Canyon Road.
“Too sad,” Theatre Palisades wrote on social media on Tuesday evening, January 7. “Our beloved Pierson Playhouse is gone but the heart of Theatre Palisades beats on. We will rise again.”
More than 1,100 personnel have been assigned to the incident, from LAFD and other agencies.
Evacuation orders remain in place: north to Mulholland Road, east to Kenter Road and south to Pacific Coast Highway. Westwood Recreation Center remained opened as an evacuation center.
The Palisades fire was first reported at 10:30 a.m. at 20 acres burning near 1190 N Piedra Morada Drive in The Highlands, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson David Ortiz.
By 12:23 p.m., the fire was estimated to be 200 acres, then updated to 770 acres at 2:23 p.m. As LAFD hosted a press conference around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday—where multiple government officials spoke—the fire was reported to be 1,200 acres.
The size of the Palisades brush fire, which started near 1190 Piedra Morada Drive on Tuesday morning, January 7, has been updated to 770 acres following aerial mapping, according to LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
“There are over 250 LAFD firefighters in addition to neighboring agencies,” Stewart wrote. “Approximately 30 vehicles left abandoned on Sunset and Palisades will be moved by county dozer to provide clear access.”
Evacuation orders remain unchanged. An evacuation center is open at Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 Sepulveda Boulevard, according to the alert.
Evacuation orders went into effect for Pacific Palisades in response to a brush fire burning near 1190 Piedra Morada Drive in The Highlands on Tuesday, January 7, which is now estimated to be 200 acres, according to LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
“There are now mandatory evacuation orders in place, which fall within the polygon described as: northeast is Merrimac Road west to Topanga Canyon Boulevard and south to PCH,” read the alert.
An evacuation center was opened at Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 Sepulveda Boulevard, according to the alert.
Los Angeles Fire Department is responding to a brush fire near 1190 N Piedra Morada Drive in The Highlands, according to LAFD spokesperson David Ortiz. As of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, the fire was reported to be 20 acres, the alert read.
“Those nearby should get set for a potential wildfire evacuation by gathering supplies and loved ones,” read an alert from NotifyLA. “Monitor local news, LAFD social media channels and lafd.org/alerts.”
With the new year underway, the Palisadian-Post is now seeking the first baby born to a Palisadian in 2025.
The tradition of honoring the baby born closest to 12 a.m. on January 1 began in the paper in 1954 and has been published since.
The winning family in 2024 welcomed a baby on January 2 at 7:01 a.m. It was a close call, as another baby was born on January 2 at 10:28 a.m., followed by the third closest baby on January 4 at 6:10 p.m. The year prior was a baby born on January 3, 2023, at 4:43 p.m.
This year’s contest is sponsored by Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, Busy Benny, Sanctuary Spa at Palisades, Above Bar, tawnya, The Pump Station & Nurtury and The Gray Dragon. The winning family will receive a basket of prizes from the contest sponsors, including a handmade quilt, gift cards and more.
Families who welcome a baby in the new year are invited to email mypost@palipost.com with the date and time of the birth to be considered.
Community members are invited to vote for their top picks in three categories: Best Decked Out Hall, Best Theme and Greenest Decor, which was launched in 2023 to honor a home with environmentally sustainable decorations.
This year’s sponsors include McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, Alfred, Theatre Palisades, Porta Via Palisades, Palisades Gas & Wash, and Roku Sushi.
Winners of this year’s contest will be published in the January 9 print edition of the Post. To see the entries for the contest and vote, click here.
Tickets are now on sale for Theatre Palisades’ first production of 2025: “Jest a Second!” which is set to open on Friday, January 10, at 8 p.m.
The play, written by James Sherman, is produced by Martha Hunter and directed by Jonathan Fahn. It is the sequel to “Beau Jest,” which ran from in January and February 2024 at Pierson Playhouse.
“In this follow-up to ‘Beau Jest,’ Sarah and Bob are now married and expecting their first child,” read a synopsis. “However, Sarah’s brother, Joel, is now the one having trouble admitting something to their parents—and Bob once again steps in to ‘help.’ Hilarity once again ensues as the family deals with its latest drama.”
The role of Sarah Goldman will be filled by Jasmine Haver and Claire Goldhush, with her mother, Miriam, played by Laura Goldstein and her father, Abe, played by Lou Saliba. Joel will be played by Jon Paul Burkhart, Bob by Arden Maden and Dr. Rosen by Levente Tarr.
Performances will take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., as well as Sundays at 2 p.m., through February 16. Tickets are $22 for adult, and $20 for seniors and students.
All performances take place at Pierson Playhouse, which is located at 941 Temescal Canyon Road. Tickets are available at the Theatre Palisades website or by calling 310-454-1970.
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