By BRAD PYE JR.

Notes, quotes and things picked up on the run from coast-to-coast and all the stops in between and beyond.

The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t pull off a win March 7 when they lost 96-94 to the Orlando Magic.

Kobe Bryant tried to be a hero by shooting one of his famous jumpers but missed, allowing the Magic to prevail. With 34 points, Bryant was the leading scorer, though.

UCLA’s Lady Bruins, coached by Nikki Caldwell, are No. 25 in the nation in college women’s basketball. USA Today quotes Caldwell as saying, “It’s a step, and it’s recognition on a national level.”

The Westchester High School Comets, led by Dwayne Polee Jr., beat Taft High, 70-60, to win their 11th all-city crown. Other standouts besides Polee were some of the jump shooters, including Menas Stephens and Kareem Jamar. Bryce Jones, with 29 points, was the leader for Taft.

Taft’s other standouts were DeAndre Daniels, Spencer Dinwiddie and Landon Drew.

Chante Miles led all point makers with 14 points to pace the Carson High Lady Colts to a 53-47 victory over Narbonne High March 6 at the Galen Center. Also, the girls of Inglewood High are champions of the CIF 3AA Southern Section, handing Agoura High a recent 64-49 defeat at Long Beach State.

The boys of L.A. Price High and the girls of Serra High are also celebrating championship victories. Senior guard Allen Crabbe, with 22 points, helped the Cavaliers win, 73-70, over Orange Lutheran at Mater Dei High. Price won the Southern Section Division 4AA boys’ basketball championship.

 Meanwhile Serra rolled over Valley Christian 66-47. Megan Wright and Danielle Muepo hit for 19 and 14 points, respectively.

Valley Christian won the Southern Section Division 5AA girls basketball title.

And the beat continues…

The New York Yankees are being picked to repeat as World Series champions. If they do win, Curtis Granderson could play a key role in making it happen. Granderson is coming over from the Detroit Tigers.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim didn’t show much love for third baseman and lead-off man Chone Figgins, and they let him get away. The Seattle Mariners picked him off the free agent market.

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Justin Upton is a rich 22-year-old. The Diamondbacks signed Upton to a six-year, roughly $51 million contract recently.

And the beat continues…

The big welterweight bout between Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley is set for May 1 at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas.

Will Tiger Woods ever become one of America’s favorite sons again? We’ll see.

And the beat ends.

Brad Pye Jr. can be reached at switchreel@aol.com.