PREP BASKETBALL: Local hoopsters earn postseason honors

Basketball season in the Mid-Valley area is officially over, now it's time to hand out the hardware.

Since games began in late November of last year, local high school programs have put together impressive seasons, with several individuals earning postseason accolades.

Here are the best of the Sac-Joaquin and Northern Sections.

BOYS

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION

Tri-County Conference

Yuba City won its fifth straight TCC championship with a 9-1 conference record this season.

A big reason why was the play of senior guard Matt Hayes, who was selected as TCC MVP for the second consecutive year.

Hayes averaged 23 points per game, which ranked fifth in the Sac-Joaquin Section. His 12 rebounds per game ranked him seventh in the section.

The senior sharpshooter made 95 3-pointers and tallied 27 straight double-doubles this season. He was also a superb distributor, averaging 4.3 assists per game, which led the TCC.

His shining moment came in Fair Oaks against No. 6 Del Campo in the Division III playoffs when he scored 34 points in an upset victory over the Cougars.

With 1,406 career points, he is Yuba City's all-time scoring leader and his 656 points this season were four shy of the single-season record set by Zach Nelson in 2009-10.

Joining Hayes as All-TCC selections are senior guard Nick Brown, junior guard Gurpreet Singh and junior forward Taylor Elkins.

River Valley's all-time leading scorer, senior Manik Thiara, represented the Falcons on the first team, averaging 19 points per game this season after making the transition to point guard. He averaged three assists per game.

Thiara scored 1,391 points in his four-year varsity career and was selected as the team's MVP this season.

Fellow Falcons Anthony Boykin and Jake Phillips were also All-TCC selections.

Golden Empire League

The Lindhurst Blazers completed the best basketball season in school history on Saturday, falling to state power Bishop O'Dowd in the quarterfinals of the CIF NorCal Regionals.

The Blazers won their second straight GEL title and made it to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semis, where they lost to eventual section champion Foothill.

Leading the way was coach Bob Jensen, who was pegged as the GEL Coach of the Year.

Senior Miguel French, senior James Trujillo and junior Cedrick Thomas were all selected to the All-GEL squad, while seniors Jarrade Davis and Erick Tallman were honorable mention.

Trujillo and French each averaged 12 points per game, while Thomas was one of the area's top point guards, providing a dual-threat as a passer and scorer.

Marysville's Brandon Graves earned a first-team spot for the Indians and Angel Rodriguez was honorable mention.

Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League

The Mid-Valley area's leading scorer was the key to Faith Christian's success this year.

Senior Blake Lavin averaged 23.6 points per game, which ranked fourth in the section. The 6-foot-5 forward showed versatility with a strong inside game to go with his range (78 3-pointers).

Junior Micah Atkins averaged 15 points per game and earned a first-team spot as well. Seniors Spencer Iskikian and Jesse Clark were both honorable mention.

NORTHERN SECTION

Butte View League

Gridley made an impressive run in the Northern Section Division IV postseason with a spot in the title game, where the Bulldogs lost to Central Valley.

The Bulldogs also made an appearance in NorCals, but lost to Ripon.

Gridley was led by seniors Kevin Mattos and Mike Fenn, who were selected to the All-BVL team. Junior Mat Scott was also All-BVL. Aaron Medina was selected as an honorable mention.

Wheatland's Taylor Youstra made the first team and Jackson Hopking was an honorable mention.

Sacramento Valley League

The 1-2 punch of Aaron Pamma and Jasnit Mahal led Live Oak to a playoff berth this season and a third-place finish in the SVL.

Pamma, who switched positions from shooting guard to point guard this season, averaged 4.7 assists per game, which ranked first in the area and sixth in the section.

He also scored 12 points per game. Mahal, a junior, led the Lions with 15 points per game and made 70 3-pointers. Both Mahal and Pamma were All-SVL picks.

Pierce's Chris Tapia and Colusa's Cyrus Yerxa were both first-team selections.

Mid-Valley League

In the MVL's North Division, Biggs' Brian Carr was a first-team selection. In the south, Riley Shill and Drew Orr represented East Nicolaus on the first team, while Jose Alcaraz and Leo Tapia made it for Williams.

Five-Star League

Riley de Wit and George Barajas were first team selections for Maxwell.

GIRLS

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION

Tri-County Conference

After leading the River Valley Falcons to the best season in program history, three athletes earned All-TCC honors.

Junior Aleqse Hawkins, who averaged 11 points per game, was a first-team selection, along with seniors Klarissa Gonzalez and Kiana Pedraza. This is Gonzalez's second consecutive All-TCC selection.

Tiffany Friend and Brittany White represented Yuba City on the first team.

Golden Empire League

Rosa Gonzalez scored 12 points per game to lead Marysville this season and was named to the All-GEL team along with fellow senior Paola Sotelo.

Meyers Lor was an honorable mention for the Indians and Mirian Corona represented Lindhurst as an honorable mention.

Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League

Faith Christian tied a school record with 17 wins and sophomore Jessie Jimenez was a big reason why.

She averaged 15 points per game for the Lions and was the team's lone first-team selection. Courtney Taylor and Alex Arnold were second-team selections, while Shon Ritchie was honorable mention.

NORTHERN SECTION

Butte View League

Erika Larsen had a monster year for the Sutter Huskies this season.

She led the Northern Section in both rebounding and blocked shots. Larsen also averaged about 17 points per game.

She was an All-BVL selection along with teammates Destiny Stevenson and Jaelyn Hoffman.

Sacramento Valley League

Live Oak finished in a three-way tie for second in league this season with an impressive 17-9 overall record and first-round playoff victory over Central Valley.

Senior Amyah Clark was voted co-MVP of the SVL this season. The senior forward was a scorer, rebounder and distributor for the Lions.

Her sister, junior Anijah Clark, was also an All-SVL selection as was senior forward Paulina Heredia.

Colusa was one win shy of playing for the Northern Section championship and was in that three-way tie with the Lions for second place in league.

The RedHawks also earned a spot in the CIF NorCal Regionals, where they lost in the first round.

Senior Katie Mobley finished fifth in the Northern Section in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game. She also pulled down 11.5 rebounds per game.

Mobley was an All-SVL selection as was Colusa's Cheyenne Rogers. Pierce's Sara Nunez was also a first-team selection.

Mid-Valley League

East Nicolaus finished 20-7 this year with a second-place finish in the MVL South Division.

Darleen Herrin and Mikayla Rolufs were the Spartans' two all-league selections and were joined by Williams' Emilee Cranford.

In the North Division, Biggs' Tim Sheridan was named Coach of the Year. Maribel Garcia and Fatima Castillo were the Wolverines' two All-MVL selections.

Evergreen League

Jessie Otterson made the all-league team for Maxwell.