- Knights outscore Hawks 42-21 in the second half
- Knights win their second game in a row to start 2026
The Stone Ridge Christian Knights hosted the Central Valley Hawks, on January 3rd, for their first home game of 2026. With the holidays all wrapped up, the season nearly halfway through, and league play quickly approaching, both teams took to the court looking to set the tone for the rest of the season.
The game got off to a quick start as Central Valley opened the scoring with a three-pointer from Michael Martinez. Stone Ridge responded shortly after that with junior forward Tyler McCabe making a few baskets that helped the Knights stay close in the opening minutes. The early period saw both teams trading baskets start to the game; however, Stone Ridge managed to pull ahead late in the period and held a 12–7 lead by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Central Valley’s Parteek Sohal boosted the offense with multiple shots from around the court, including a pair of three-pointers that kept the Hawks in the game. In the final minute of the second quarter, Tayton Harkabus scored a tough two-pointer for Stone Ridge, but Caden Mendonca quickly answered for Central Valley. Owen Nelson followed with an impressive basket to keep the momentum with the Knights, only for Michael Martinez to respond again for the Hawks. The continuous exchange of baskets highlighted the closing moments as Stone Ridge held a 27–20 lead going into halftime.
The hot shooting for Central Valley’s Sohal continued in the second half. Central Valley opened the third quarter with a quick three-pointer from Sohal to cut into Stone Ridge’s lead. However, Sohal wasn’t the only one that heated up from beyond the arch in the second half. The Knights responded with several threes from Tayton Harkabus and Daijon O’Neil to maintain their advantage. The Hawks stayed persistent with constant outside shooting and strong drives to the basket, but despite their efforts, Stone Ridge managed to score when they needed to and outscored the Hawks 19-10 in the third quarter. The Knights maintained steady control heading into the final period, with the score reading 46-30.
Stone Ridge opened the fourth quarter with the first basket, keeping the pressure on the Hawks. Central Valley responded by aggressively driving to the basket. This allowed the Hawks to gain a few free throw attempts and a few field goals in the key. However, the Hawks could not stop the Knights’ Jordan Cortez from scoring four baskets in the fourth quarter to keep the Knights firmly in control. Stone Ridge’s defense remained solid, allowing them to maintain a comfortable lead and secure a 69–41 victory.
After the game, Stone Ridge Head Coach Tyler Rogers shared his thoughts on the team’s performance and outlook for the season. “I look forward to growing and peaking at the right time, playing really good basketball come February and March,” Rogers said. Reflecting on the game, he added, “I think we took some plays off, but overall, I’m proud of the effort. The guys made plays and playing above the rim is nice.” When asked about the team’s goals, Rogers emphasized their determination to remain undefeated in the league and win three straight section championships.
Stone Ridge improved their record to 7-3 with the win and will face the Orestimba Warriors on January 5th in their final matchup before league play begins. Central Valley dropped to 5-9. They will look to rebound in their first league game of the season against the Grace Davis Spartans on January 5th.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos. ↩︎
