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San Diego State gets bad news on the injury front

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San Diego State gets bad news on the injury front


The euphoria of San Diego State’s short-handed win against preseason No. 22 UCLA in a closed-door scrimmage was greeted by a splash of cold water two days later.

The results of a CT scan revealed that senior guard Reese Waters, the Aztecs’ top returning scorer and only member on the preseason all-conference team, has a navicular stress fracture in his right foot and will miss six to eight weeks, and perhaps longer.

The 6-foot-6 Waters has been sidelined for more than a week with a foot issue and didn’t play against UCLA. An X-ray was negative, an MRI was inconclusive, and the CT scan finally showed the stress reaction in the navicular – a boat-shaped bone in the mid-foot that helps transfer force from the ankle to forefoot.

The plan now: Put it in a protective boot for five weeks, then re-evaluate.

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Even if Waters is cleared to play then, it would probably take another week or so to get him game fit.

The good news: Doctors opted against surgery.

“If they thought surgery was the best course, I think they would have done it,” coach Brian Dutcher said. “They thought this is his best chance to heal up and get ready to go. But you can’t put a timeline on how fast he heals and how quickly he gets back to a point where he can play basketball. I never rush that process.”

Waters, SDSU’s most experienced returnee off a Sweet 16 team, averaged 9.6 points per game last season, including 22 in the win at Gonzaga and a career-high 24 against Cal. The USC transfer opened the season by making 43 straight free throws, best in the nation.

He was expected to start in the backcourt alongside redshirt sophomore Miles Byrd and Florida Atlantic transfer Nick Boyd, who’s had his own foot issues. Boyd spent two-plus months in a protective boot and only now is participating in limited practice drills.

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Waters likely will miss all six games in November, which includes No. 6 Gonzaga, No. 15 Creighton, Oregon and one other in the blockbuster Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.

The Mountain West opener is at Fresno State on Dec. 4, or six weeks from now. That’s followed by home dates against USD (Dec. 7) and Cal Baptist (Dec. 11) before a 10-day break for finals.

Next up is a neutral-court game against Cal in San Jose on Dec. 21, which is 8½ weeks away. The conference home opener, Dec. 28 against Utah State, is 9½ weeks away.

“We scrimmaged UCLA without three or four guys and played pretty well,” Dutcher said of the 72-67 win Sunday at Pauley Pavilion. “Obviously we’re at our best when Reese is on the floor. But the encouraging thing is hopefully we’ll get him back on the floor.

“Over the years, of all the teams in our conference, we’ve been able to survive injury more than anyone. We’ve got good players in this program. We want to be at 100% and be healthy, but we can’t sit there and obsess if we’re not. We’ve got players. It’s the cliché: next man up.”

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That likely means more minutes for sophomore BJ Davis, who appeared in only 12 games last season and scored 14 total points but exploded for 28 in the UCLA scrimmage with Waters, Boyd and USD transfer guard Wayne McKinney III all sidelined.

“BJ got an opportunity because all the other guys were hurt, and he made the most of his opportunity,” Dutcher said. “That’s what sports are all about. When given an opportunity, what do you do with that opportunity?”

McKinney III provides veteran relief, assuming he can shake the nagging hamstring problem that has twice sidelined him during the preseason. So does Brown grad transfer Kimo Ferrari, who can stretch defenses with his 3-point range. Freshman Taj DeGourville started against UCLA and played 34 minutes, finishing with five points and four rebounds (and only one turnover).

“It seems like it’s forever,” Dutcher said, “but most teams around the country would say, if we get one of our best players back by conference, that’s really good. … Now it’s the healing process. We’ll do another CT scan in five weeks and see what it looks like.”

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Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title

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Francis Parker captures Open Division girls basketball title


OCEANSIDE — The Frontwave Arena scoreboard showed 23 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Up 16, Francis Parker’s win over Westview High School for the CIF San Diego Section Open Division girls basketball championship was secure.

“No, no, no!” Parker head coach Courtney Clements screamed to freshman guard Jordan Brown, telling her there was no need to score.

So Brown walked the ball up the floor, from the backcourt, across midcourt, a 1,000-watt smile etched across her face.

With no Wolverines defending her, Brown dribbled from side to side across the logo. Then, a fraction of a moment before the final buzzer sounded, Brown flung the basketball high toward the rafters, then was engulfed by teammates.

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The job was complete. Parker’s first Open Division title in program history was secure, the final reading 66-50 on Saturday night.

Of those final seconds, said Brown, who scored 23 points. “It was a surreal moment, knowing we worked for this all year long. It’s amazing.”

One reason it was amazing was because the top-seeded Lancers (21-7) were a decided favorite, but were stressed by the sixth-seeded Wolverines (20-9). Led by UC Santa Barbara-bound senior guard Sarah Heyn (18 points in the first half), Westview led 35-28 early in the third quarter.

“I just knew I had to do whatever it took to win,” said Brown. “Whether that was defense or offense. I just wanted to win, period.”

Sparked by its defense, Parker closed the quarter on a 14-0 run.  Westview’s final 11 possessions of the quarter ended with five missed shots and six turnovers.

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Still, the game wasn’t over. Heyn cut the deficit to 48-44 with just over six minutes to play on a bucket. But with 5:47 to play, Heyn was whistled for her fifth foul on a reach-in.

“Knowing their best player fouled out, we sealed the win,” said Brown.

As for Heyn, who finished with 23 points, she sat on the bench and pulled her jersey over her eyes, hiding tears.

Clements’ thoughts when Heyn fouled out? “I hope we can put this game away now.”

Francis Parker High’s Jordan Brown shoots against Westview High during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

That the Lancers did, outscoring Westview 18-6 down the stretch.

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The Lancers’ players and coach were effusive in their praise for Heyn, a four-year starter.

“She’s a great player,” said Brown.

“She played phenomenally,” said Clements. “She played the way you would think a senior would play in a championship game. She played desperately. She played every possession like it was the last 20 seconds of the game. She was extremely impressive. (Heyn buried five 3s, missing only once from deep.) She should be proud of herself.”

Clements was proud of her team for another reason. After blowing out two-time reigning Open Division champion Mission Hills by 26 in the semis, some thought Parker might cruise in the title game.

“I figured it was going to be a fight, and it was,” said Clements. “It was good that our girls had to come together, had to stick together. That’s what this is all about, developing character via the sport of basketball. When the kids face adversity, they have to make a decision. Who do they want to be? They showed the best version of themselves. That’s what I want to remember from a game like this.”

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Francis Parker’s primary color is brown, which is fitting for the girls basketball team. They are led not only by the freshman Jordan Brown, but also junior Brieana Brown, a strong, aggressive and athletic 5-foot-11 wing.

Brieana Brown scored 25 points and yanked down a team-best eight rebounds.

About the team in brown being led by the Browns (who are not related), Jordan Brown said: “It’s super cool. I love Bri and our story. So many people think we’re related, that we’re siblings. In reality, we’re not, but we play like it.”

Francis Parker High's Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Francis Parker High’s Brieana Brown shoots against Westview during the CIF Open Division championship at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Francis Parker defeated Westview 66-50. (Kristian Carreon / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Francis Parker and Westview both will advance to the Southern California Regionals.

Earlier in the season, Clements — who was dressed in all black for the championship game — confessed she wasn’t crazy about Parker’s primary color. Her mood shifted Saturday night.

“Brown’s doing well for me now,” she said.

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Asked if Lancers’ Brown squared tandem represents the best one-two girls basketball punch in the San Diego Section, Clements gave the questioner a “What do you think?” smirk.

“That,” said the coach of the Open Division champions, “is a no-brainer.”



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5 things to know about Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei

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5 things to know about Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei



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Joan Endres – San Diego Union-Tribune

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Joan Endres – San Diego Union-Tribune



Joan Endres


OBITUARY

Born January 1939 in Cincinnati Ohio. Died February 14, 2026, in San Diego, California, with her sons at her side. Her beloved husband Dean passed away in 2010.

Joan was the only child of Thomas and Edna Palmer. In 1943, the family moved to San Diego, where Joan graduated from Helix High School in 1956.

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In 1957 Joan married Dean Endres of San Diego, where they raised two sons. Joan followed her two great passions outside the home, the Arts, and Gardening. Both activities being a way to bring beauty to others and to the community.

Joan received a degree in Environmental Design from San Diego State University, and afterwords worked at UCSD, for the Campus Architect.

As an artist, Joan worked in various media, especially ceramics. She was active in many cultural and arts organizations, eventually becoming President of the Combined Organization for the Visual Arts (COVA). Later she turned to gardening, with the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca Community College and the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County.

Joan is survived by her son Jeff and wife Katrin, grandson Jackson, and son Todd Endres, all of La Mesa, and sisters Alice Buck of Phoenix, Elaine Kennedy of San Diego, Nancy and husband Don Jones of Vista, Eva Budzinski of Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and their children and grandchildren.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Joan in the near future. Those who wish to attend should contact celebratejoanuvart@gmail.com to receive details when they are confirmed. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests a donation to the Water Conservation Garden or the Diego Visual Arts Network (SDVAN).

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