Coach Jim McManus is hoping this already monumental year for Granite Hills cross country gets even better today. Granite Hills has its boys and girls teams competing at CIF-SS finals at Mt. San Antonio College, with the hopes of advancing both to state.

Defending CIF-Southern Section Central Division champion Rancho Cucamonga had a scare in Friday's 27-24 overtime loss to Etiwanda, losing senior quarterback Greg Watson to a leg injury with 7:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. But Cougars coach Nick Baiz said Watson has recovered quick, and will play when they visit Glendora on Friday in the first round of the playoffs. "It looks OK," Baiz said.

THE Philippines' oldest conglomerate is setting aside half of its available cash at end-September this year for a crack at the M&A game. Of the P26.4 billion available cash of the conglomerate, half of it, or P13.2 billion will be used for the purpose, Eric Francia, Ayala Corp. managing director for corporate strategy, told reporters.

WALNUT -- Apple Valley and Rim of the World boys cross country teams battled it out all season long for Mojave River League supremacy. Even though they were in different Division 3 heats at Saturday's CIF-Southern Section prelims, it was only appropriate that those two teams battled for the final spot at CIF-SS finals.

THE country's oldest conglomerate said its profit grew by double digits in the third quarter of the year, as its business units remained resilient despite the difficult operating environment. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Ayala Corp. said its profit grew 13 percent to P1.7 billion in the July to September period from P1.5 billion in the same three months of last year.

Having players sign letters of intent to Division I schools has become a tradition for the young Summit girls basketball program. Point guard Adrienne Thomas signed with Arizona State while forward Maiya Michel signed with the University of Denver.

It's put up or shut up for the Glendora High School football team today. Win, and the Tartans are in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs and gain a piece of the Sierra League title.

Nogales High School will be in somewhat uncharted territory today. The Nobles, who finished second to Walnut in the San Antonio League, will play their first CIF-Southern Section water polo playoff game since 1994 when it hosts Pasadena in a first-round Division 6 game at 3:15 p.m. "It's very exciting for us," Nogales coach Alex Matal said. "It's great to be playing at home.

Crespi's 38-25 victory over Bishop Amat on Friday not only ended the Lancers' perfect season, it put their playoff hopes in jeopardy and set up a wild scenario in the Serra League finale. The Lancers will host defending league champion Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on Friday for a piece of their first Serra title since joining the league in 2002.

CHINO HILLS -- Ayala didn't get the opportunity to go for two this year. When the clock expired on Chino Hills' 14-7 victory, Ayala was still going for six. Chino Hills is a victory over Diamond Bar away from at least a share of the Sierra League title after holding off a late charge from the Bulldogs a season after Ayala won this matchup on a late two-point conversion.