Boys basketball regional Players of Year

SAN FRANCISCO

League’s Je’Lani Clark co-Player (Riordan, of the 6-foot-3, Year averaged Sr.): 15.8 The points, West Catholic five rebounds, Athletic co-WCAL three assists championship, and 1.7 steals their per first game title while of any leading kind the since Crusaders 2007. to a

Riordan (23-5) was the top seed in the Northern California Division 1 field but had to withdraw from the tournament after two wins because of a student testing positive to COVID-19.

A four-year starter, the Nevada signee delivered in the team’s biggest wins. He scored 36 points and had eight rebounds and five highlight-reel dunks in a 92-69 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral that clinched a share of the league title.

“His ability to get into the paint and convert at a high rate and how he’s hitting 3’s makes him an almost impossible cover,” Riordan coach Joey Curtin said of Clark. “He’s a good passer and very strong defender. He’s a jack of all trades.”

PENINSULA

Michael Mitchell (Mitty, 6-3, Jr.): The other WCAL co-Player of the

Year led the co-champion Monarchs to a 23-5 record and No. 3 finish in The Chronicle’s Metro rankings.

Mitchell averaged 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game after committing to Pepperdine before the season.

“Michael set the tempo for our team and put so much pressure on opposing defenses because of the way he could shoot, pass and rebound,” Mitty coach Tim Kennedy said. “He led us in scoring, assists and rebounds, so he impacted all facets of the game.”

NORTH BAY

Peyton Mullarkey (Branson-Ross, 5-9, Sr.): He was named the

Marin County Athletic League Player of the Year after leading the

Bulls to a third straight league title and 30-4 record in a trying season.

Kwentyn Wiggins, the team’s top returning player from last season and “Peyton Mullarkey’s took on best the friend, whole was weight killed of in the a one-car season accident out of respect in June. and to honor Kwentyn,” Branson coach Jonas Honick said. “He never took a day off. His energy and leadership were so instrumental in the team’s success. The entire season was a huge challenge for everyone. Peyton set an example for all the players on how to get through this tragedy.”

Mullarkey averaged a team-best 15.7 points in MCAL play. For the season, he averaged 4.2 assists per game and made 54 3-pointers for The Chronicle’s No. 12 team.

EAST BAY

Marsalis Roberson (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, 6-5, Jr.): Propelled

The Chronicle’s top-ranked team to the first North Coast Section

Open Division title and 18 straight wins to close the season before

COVID-19 ended the run as the Dragons were preparing to play Sheldon-Sacramento for the Northern California title and a berth in the state championship game.

The versatile shooting guard led O’Dowd (23-7) in scoring (16.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 per game) and sparked the team with his stellar defense, 3-point shooting and dunks. He was the Player of the

Year in the West Alameda County Conference’s Foothill League.

“He’s super athletic, super skilled and a great leader,” O’Dowd freshman Jalen Lewis said. “He gets to practice first and leaves last.

He’s someone I definitely look up to, and so does the rest of the team.”