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ByChipThompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com @editorchip on Twitter PARADISE The Corning Cardi- nals needed one more victory Fri- day night to cap off a perfect reg- ular season at 26-0 and, while they got it, the Paradise Bobcats did ev- erything in their power to tarnish the Cardinals record. In a game in which neither team led by more than 7 in regulation, the Cardinals pulled out a 75-66 win in overtime on the road. "I've said this for two years, this group of kids knows how to win," said coach Kurt Wilkins. "They work hard, they're committed, they play together and they find ways to win. You can't replace that." Throughout the season Wilkins has made sure his team remains focused on the "biggest game of the year," the next game on the schedule, and it's no different with the Cards heading into the playoffs at home Tuesday. When asked about 26-0 being the best finish in program history, Wilkins said, "Best start in pro- gram history. We're not finished yet." The Cards' Brendan Hoag got the scoring started and Corning led most of the first period, but the Bobcats rallied for a 7-point run late in the period to go up 21- 15 after one. The Cards scratched their way back in the second before Marco CORNING CARDINALS HOOPS PERFECTION Cardscloseregularseason26-0,looktoplayoffs Corning'sNoahZoppigoestotherimFridaynightagainst Paradise. PHOTOS BY CHIP THOMPSON — DAILY NEWS Corning's Marco Tapia drives to the basket Friday night against Paradise. By Josh Dubow The Associated Press Sacramento general manager Vlade Divac headed into All- Star weekend convinced it was finally time to part ways with ultra-talented center DeMarcus Cousins. Befitting a franchise that ap- pears headed to a 11th straight season without a playoff berth, the Kings even seemed to botch that. Sacramento dealt Cous- ins and forward Omri Casspi to New Orleans in exchange for Tyreke Evans, 2016 first-round draft pick Buddy Hield, Langs- ton Galloway and first- and sec- ond-round draft picks this sum- mer. When asked Monday why he didn't wait for a better of- fer closer to Thursday's trade deadline, Divac gave a curious response that raised more ques- tions than it answered. "Most likely we would get less because I had a better deal two days ago," Divac said. "I don't want to go into details. I don't want to discuss the process." Cousins will now team with another former Kentucky big man who has developed into an NBA All-Star in New Orleans' Anthony Davis. Cousins is av- eraging 27.8 points and 10.6 re- bounds this season and can be- come a free agent in 2018 unless the Pelicans can sign him to an All-Star caliber extension. The Kings have not won more than 33 games in a season since drafting Cousins fifth overall in 2010 and grew tired of his antics that included frequent run-ins KINGS Cousins traded, giving Pelicans dominant duo By Janie McCauley The Associated Press SCOTTSDALE,ARIZ. Buster Posey leans on the back of the batting cage under Arizona's blue skies, one leg crossed over the other as he watches his teammates take their cuts while awaiting his own turn. The star catcher chats up athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and talks hitting with manager Bruce Bochy. "Hi, Buster!" hollered 6-year- old Jordan Larocco, a first-grader from Peoria who attended Mon- day's workout with father Michael and 1-year-old brother, Sebastian. Posey immediately turned and of- fered a wave and smile. Gearing up for the World Base- ball Classic and his ninth major league season in an already dec- orated career, Posey is perfectly happy to leave last year behind. He is unable to put a finger on why his power numbers fell or say for certain whether fatigue was a factor. He cleared the fences for the fewest times when playing a full season in his eight years as a big leaguer. "Oh, you feel worn down at the end of every year regardless if you have power numbers or not. You usually feel a little bit better when you are hitting a few more hom- ers, just the way it goes," Posey said. "I don't know exactly what the explanation was. I'm looking forward to getting out and getting after it this year." Now, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year and 2012 MVP is working on an abbreviated spring schedule with the San Francisco Giants to learn the pitchers and find his hit- ting stroke before departing for the WBC to play for the U.S. team. He batted .288 with 14 home runs, 33 doubles and 80 RBIs in 146 games. Posey has read statis- tics that his exit velocity — or how hard he hit the ball — was as high as ever. "If I look at that, that tells me I was probably hitting too many balls on the ground," said Posey, who turns 30 next month. "Maybe that could be something mechan- ical. More than likely it probably is. Hopefully there's an adjust- ment I can make where I can keep that consistent hard contact rate GIANTS SPRING TRAINING Posey ready to up power numbers By Chip Thompson editor@redbluffdailynews.com @editorchip on Twitter RED BLUFF Nearly every Te- hama County team has ad- vances to the NSCIF basket- ball playoffs, which are due to kick off Tuesday night with the Corning Lady Cardinals, the Los Molinos Bulldogs boys and girls and the Mercy Lady War- riors in action. The Red Bluff Lady Spartans will host Thursday night, the boys will play on the road and the Corning Cardinals, who fin- ished the regular season with- out a loss, earned a first-round bye and will host Friday night. LadyCardinalsvs.Oroville- Tuesday The Corning Lady Cardinals pulled out a 65-41 win Friday night over Paradise to close out the regular season 15-11 overall, 7-3 in league play. As the No. 5 seed the Lady Car- dinals will host the No. 12 Oroville Tigers (7-17 overall, 5-4 league) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Cardinals beat the Ti- gers 48-29 Jan. 17 and 54-48 Feb. 16 Bulldogs vs. Maxwell - Tuesday The No. 5 Los Molinos Bulldogs (17-8 overall, 4-4 league) will host the No. 12 Maxwell Panthers at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The teams met Dec. 10, when the Bulldogs prevailed 65-61. Lady Bulldogs vs. Lady Warriors - Tuesday The opening night of the play- offs will feature a cross-county ri- valry when the No. 6 Los Moli- nos Lady Bulldogs (15-7 overall, 5-3 league) host the No. 12 Mercy Lady Warriors (2-21 overall, 0-8 league) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Bulldogs beat the Warriors 60-30 in Red Bluff Jan. 17 and 57- 36 at home Feb. 3. Lady Spartans vs. Foothill - Thursday The No. 4 Red Bluff Lady Spar- tans (13-10 overall, 3-7 league) will host the No. 5 Foothill Cougars (12-12 overall, 3-7 league) at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Cougars won the first match-up of the season 47-42 in Red Bluff Jan. 20, but the Spar- tans won 69-62 in Palo Cedro on Feb. 9. Spartans at Shasta - Friday The No. 7 Red Bluff Spartans (8- 16 overall, 1-9 league) will travel to Redding Friday to take on the No. 2 Shasta Wolves (14-6 overall, 6-4 league) at 7 p.m. Shasta beat the Spartans 66- 51 Jan. 24 in Red Bluff and 68-34 Feb. 14 at home. Cardinals vs. TBD - Friday The Corning Cardinals boys finished the season a perfect 26-0, earning the No. 1 seed and a first- round bye in Division 4, which be- gins postseason play Wednesday. The Cardinals, at 7 p.m. Friday, will host the winner of Wednes- day's game between the No. 8 Sutter Huskies (12-12 overall, 3-5 league) and the No. 9 Oroville Ti- gers (9-15 overall, 2-6 league). The Cardinals beat the Hus- kies 50-32 on Dec. 15 and 69-45 on Jan. 26. They beat the Tigers 58-53 Dec. 3, 64-50 Jan. 17 and 61- 45 Feb. 16. Tickets to all playoff games are $8 general, $5 students and seniors. PREP BASKETBALL Playoffbracketsareallset Area teams advance to postseason KINGS PAGE 2 CARDS PAGE 2 MATT YORK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey batted .288with 14home runs, 33doubles and 80RBIs in 146games last season. GIANTS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, February 21, 2017 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1