Ceres High’s and Central Valley’s girls basketball programs had a combined seven players garner special recognition during the Western Athletic Conference year-end head coaches’ meeting, which was staged this past month at Grace Davis High School.

“They did a great job recognizing the athletes that deserved it,” Bulldogs’ leader Megan McGill stated. 

Lilly Staggs, Sovannary Carter, Arrayah Stallworth, Hailey Tsurui and Mariah Renteria were rewarded for their outstanding play during Ceres High’s runner-up finish in Western Athletic Conference standings.

The Bulldogs compiled a 10-4 record.

Hawk teammates Marion Dennison and Julyanna Valencia were also honored for their contributions.

Central Valley tied for last place with Johansen in the WAC standings with a 1-13 mark.

Staggs and Carter were both selected to the WAC First Team.

Staggs had a productive first season at Ceres High.

The Gregori High transfer/junior guard averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 steals, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

“She meshed in really well,” McGill said. “She played softball with a lot of the other girls when she was younger.”

Staggs ranked first on the team in points per game, steals per game, field goals made, 3-pointers made, total points, total assists and total steals, second in assists per game, third in free throws made and total blocks, and fifth in rebounds per game and total rebounds.

“I’m proud of her willingness and ability to get others involved instead of worrying about her own stats,” McGill said. “She’s just a baller. She’s such a competitor, even in practice. She would have fit in anywhere.”

Carter, a junior post player, averaged 11.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.

“Sovannary’s very team-minded and brings great energy,” McGill said. “She’s a great leader. She only missed two practices and that was during ski week. She became a force in the post. She mastered her moves and getting to the basket and finishing through contact.”

Stallworth was selected to the WAC Second Team.

The junior guard averaged 10.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.8 assists and 1.8 blocks per game.

“Arrayah did anything to help the team,” McGill said. “She has the most natural athletic ability of anyone that I’ve ever coached.”

Tsurui, Renteria, Dennison and Valencia were honorable-mention picks.

Tsurui, a junior guard, averaged 4.9 points and 2.0 rebounds per game.

She buried 44 3-pointers on the season.

Tsurui set career-highs in points (21) and 3-pointer made (7) in a 48-45 win over Merced.

“Hailey’s a natural shooter,” McGill said. “There was one game where she made seven 3-pointers.”

Renteria, a junior guard, averaged 3.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 assists per game.

“Watching her, she’s a difference maker,” McGill said. “She was our best defender. She made a name for herself.”

Dennison, a senior forward/guard, averaged 6.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 0.9 assists per game.

“Marion was our most versatile player,” Central Valley head coach Derrick Goblirsch said. “She did a little bit of everything for us. She was comfortable in all positions.”

Dennison missed four league games with an ankle injury.

“That’s when we realized how much she did for us in all aspects of the game,” Goblirsch stated. “You could see the difference not having her on the court. She definitely brought a spark to us. She was an important piece.”

Valencia, a senior guard, averaged 5.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

“Julyanna was the heart and soul of what we were trying to build,” Goblirsch said. “She was our leader. She took control naturally. She always gave it her all. She rarely came off the court.

Dennison and Valencia will be lost to graduation in June.

“They’ll definitely be missed,” Goblirsch said. “Leadership-wise, it will be interesting to see who fill their roles.”