Stone Ridge Christian star named Sun-Star Basketball Player of the Year after title run

Stone Ridge Christian High boys basketball coach Tyler Rogers says senior Brock Richards is the poster boy for what he’s looking for in players in his program.

Richards is the whole package on and off the court.

“He’s a great character kid off the floor and a great leader on the floor,” Rogers said. “He leads by example and he leads by his voice. He’s one of those kids who has worked for everything he’s earned.”

After helping lead the Knights to the programs first Sac-Joaquin Section championship and to the semifinals of the NorCal Regional Playoffs, Richards is the Merced Sun-Star Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

“Winning the section championship really meant everything to me,” Richards said. “It’s what I’ve been working for forever, since I started playing basketball. It was a huge accomplishment.”

Richards was at his best during the Knights’ postseason run, recording double-doubles in four of the five playoff games. He averaged 16.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game during the playoffs.

“I feel he was very unselfish during the first half of the year,” Rogers said. “He got everyone else involved. We have a lot of guys who can score so he didn’t have to score early. When we got to to the playoffs he knew he had to be the guy and he took it head on.”

Richards averaged 14.5 points, 13.4 rebounds during the season, which the Knights finished with a 24-9 record.

“Last year I played hungry,” Richards said. “I don’t want to say I played selfish, but because of the sit-out period (after transferring from Buhach Colony), I played with a different type of hunger.”

“This year, I feel I played more smart and mature,” Richards added. “I played more for what my team needed and not what I needed.”

Soccer

Carlos Miranda, Golden Valley

It was a dream season for Golden Valley High senior Carlos Miranda.

Not only did the Cougars win a second consecutive Sac-Joaquin Section championship, but Miranda set a school record with 46 goals this season.

Miranda’s goal total ranked sixth in the nation and fourth in the state.

Miranda was also named the Central California Conference MVP by the conference coaches.

Miranda is also the Merced Sun-Star Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

“It wasn’t a matter of when will he score, it was more of how many will he score,” said Golden Valley coach Lance Eber. “His desire to have the ball at his feet gave the entire team confidence.”

Miranda’s 65 career goals at Golden Valley, which opened in 1994, are also believed to be a school record.

“It was a special year,” Miranda said. “Just playing with my friends by my side. We have played together for so long and to win a section championship again together made it a special year.”

Miranda was at his best during the Cougars’ postseason run, scoring goals in all five playoff matches. Miranda scored eight goals during the postseason.

“He scored the match winner versus Elk Grove with no time left on the clock,” Eber said. “That match was going to overtime if he didn’t score that shot. The partnership between Carlos and Jose Ontiveros, who finished with 20 goals and 15 assists and was the CCC Offensive Player of the Year, was strong and lethal this year. It made all of our matches exciting to watch.”

Miranda credits his teammates for their success this season.

“I think what made this group special is the unselfishness,” Miranda said. “Everyone knew their role and we all knew what to do and where to be. We all played with heart and we all worked for each other.”

Miranda said he wasn’t aware where his scoring ranked in the nation until the tail end of the season.

“At first I didn’t pay attention to it,” Miranda said. “As I climbed the ladder I felt I could do better for my teammates and my team. It made me want to push harder for them.”

Wrestling

Brokton Borelli, Los Banos

The Borellis truly made the CIF State Wrestling championships a family affair with three siblings – Larry, Brokton and Angelina – all competing.

By advancing to the state finals, Brokton took center stage.

The Los Banos High junior finished runner-up at 190 pounds, finishing his season with a 52-4 record. Borelli became the first Los Banos wrestler to reach the state finals.

Brokton Borelli is the Merced Sun-Star Boys Wrestler of the Year.

“It was amazing that my brother, sister and I were all wrestling at state,” Borelli said. “Larry and Angelina both finished in the top 12.”

Brokton Borelli came into this season with pretty lofty goals after advancing to state as a sophomore last year.

He had a spectacular season, winning every tournament he competed in except the prestigious Doc Buchanan Tournament and the state tournament. He picked up victories at the Western Athletic Conference, Sac-Joaquin Division and the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters.

Los Banos wrestling coach Jose Castro credits Borelli’s work ethic for his success.

“He was already talking about what he needs to do for next year as soon as his finals match was over as we were walking back to the tunnel,” Castro said.

He did it despite jumping up from 152 pounds last year to 190 pounds this season.

“To make the jump to 190 I hit the weights a lot more and I ate a lot,” Borelli said. “Going into the season I weighed about 185 pounds. I really like eating so I liked that part. I’m happy I was able to keep my six-pack through the weight gain.”

Borelli says one of his biggest improvements this season was his mental approach.

“Last year I don’t think I was mentally prepared,” Borelli said. “I think I was content just getting to state. This year I did a lot of extra work after practices. I lifted weights in the morning. I wasn’t giving myself any excuses. I was determined to outwork everybody.”

Borelli said it helped motivate him that he had an older brother to work out with and the Borellis would go to the gym as a family.

This season’s success just means the goals get bigger fro Borelli’s senior year.

“I want to win the Doc Buchanan and I want to win state,” he said.

All-Area Honors

Boys Basketball

Khoi Nguyen, Atwater

AJ Banks, Atwater

Braylen Centeno, El Capitan

Braden Castleton, Golden Valley

Ricardo Perez, Golden Valley

Aiden Cervantes, Merced

Daijon O’neil, Stone Ridge Christian

Kassius Salazar, Stone Ridge Christian

Adrian Aguirre, Livingston

Caleb Robertson, Los Banos

Ryan Deatherage, Chowchilla

Soccer

Jose Ontiveros, Golden Valley

Malachi Wright, Golden Valley

Erwin Cervantez, Pacheco

Hector Gonzalez, Golden Valley

Greyson Soto, Atwater

Logan Harsh, Merced

Miles Stoddard, Buhach Colony

Daniel Fregoso, Pacheco

Alejandro Avila, Livingston

Andre McGauley, El Capitan

Andrew Osorio, Pacheco

Damian Mireles, Livingston

Javier Estrada, Los Banos

Alonzo Silver-Reyes, El Capitan

Luis Salazar, Livingston

Samuel Pinel, Pacheco

Derek Santoya, Los Banos

Ricardo Partida, Livingston

Osiel Salazar, Delhi

Wrestling

Nathaniel Granados, Merced

Elijah Valencia, Merced

Julius Zaragoza, Buhach Colony

Michael Castillo, Merced

Aizen Molina, Golden Valley

Rosalio Leal, Buhach Colony

Larry Borelli, Los Banos

Eric Almanza, Merced

Anthony Nixon, Merced

Trytin Gastelum, Golden Valley

Kenneth Xiong, El Capitan

Julius Zaragoza, Buhach Colony

Jacob Partida, Golden Valley

Azariah Barajas, Golden Valley

Isaac Le Blanc, Golden Valley

Vincent Almanza, Merced

Vinicius Tome, Stone Ridge Christian