SoCal Wildfire Singes Ventura;NBA Semis Set

More than a thousand firefighters have been battling a Southern California wildfire since Thursday morning.The Springs Fire began near Camarillo in Ventura County and swept down through the Santa Monica Mountains to the Pacific Coast Highway just Northwest of Los Angeles.As of Friday night,the blaze had consumed 28 square miles and was 20% contained.
Fifteen residences and five commercial properties had been damaged by the fire as of Friday morning,but no injuries were reported.Cal State Channel Islands had been evacuated,and the University said it would probably remain closed till Sunday evening.A portion of Point Mugu Naval Base was also evacuated.The Sycamore Canyon area along the PCH was evacuated as well.
The fire was being swept along by the infamous Santa Ana winds through the hot and dry scrubby terrain,difficult of access for firefighters with its scarce roads and lack of water sources.The weather is predicted to improve Saturday,with cooler and more humid conditions making the firefighting easier.
The conference semifinals of the NBA playoffs are now set,with the New York Knicks to take on the Indiana Pacers on Sunday,while the Oklahoma City Thunder play the Memphis Grizzlies;the Chicago Bulls will meet the Miami Heat;and the Golden State Warriors face the San Antonio Spurs.The Knicks managed to survive a late Boston Celtics rally Friday night at Madison Square Garden,bumping the Celtics out of contention by a score of 88-80.
At the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte,North Carolina,Phil Mickelson's incredible putting sent him to the top of the leader board with his nine under par 67 in second round action Friday.Mickelson sank a 40 foot putt,as well as two 15 footers,and scored back to back birdies.He didn't miss any putts within 10 feet.
Others in contention at the Quail Hollow Golf Club include Australian Scott Gardiner at -7;Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy;and England's Lee Westwood ,both at -6.
Mickelson and Nick Watney finished the third round Saturday tied for first at -8 after play became extremely choppy in abnormally cool weather,with many shots veering into the spectators.

McDowell Leads in Thousand Oaks;Orangemen Overcome Razorbacks

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell established a comfortable lead in the World Challenge Presented By Northwestern Mutual at Sherwood Country Club,Thousand Oaks,California.McDowell shot a cushy second round  9 under par 66,praising the golf course's undulating backdrop.It's a fun course,he said,noting that his win there in 2009 was a prelude to his successful 2010 season.
The course is set in the scrubby beauty of the Santa Monica Mountains.After the tournament,McDowell plans to take ten weeks off to spend time with his family and work on his game for 2013.The PGA 2013 season begins with the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii from January 4-7.
In college basketball,Syracuse handled Arkansas 91-82 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.James Southerland came off the Syracuse bench for a career night,scoring 35 points with 6 rebounds.Arkansas' B.J. Young posted 25 points with 5 rebounds,while teammate Marshawn Powell added 19 points and 7 rebounds.
The Orangemen's victory puts the Big East over the SEC 5-2 in the conference Challenge.#6 Syracuse is 5-0,while Arkansas is 3-3.
A zonal flow jet stream pattern is keeping most of the cold and snow locked up in Canada,ensuring a generally mild to moderate week ahead for most of the US.