Rojas is Lion of the Week

Humberto Rojas was named Vanguard University’s Lion of the Week after winning the Golden State Athletic Conference men’s cross-country title.

Rojas became the first Lions’ runner to win a conference title in cross-country, leading his team to a fourth-place finish. The former Orange Coast College and Estancia High standout will run in the NAIA Region II Championships this weekend.

UCI soccer player honored

UC Irvine’s Anthony Hamilton was named Big West Conference men’s soccer Co-Player of the Week on Monday.

The junior from Colton scored three goals in the Anteaters’ 4-2 victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday. He has nine goals this season for UCI.

Pirates move up in region

Orange Coast College’s 10-7 football victory over Santa Ana helped lift the Pirates to No. 8 in the latest Southern California rankings, released Monday.

The Pirates have won back-to-back games against ranked opponents, having beaten Saddleback on Oct. 22. OCC next plays unranked Cerritos on Saturday.

Brooks on Nuggets’ sideline tonight

Former UC Irvine basketball standout Scott Brooks will coach the Denver Nuggets in their first two regular season games.

Brooks, who will be on the sideline for tonight’s game in San Antonio and Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers, is filling in for Nuggets Coach George Karl, who was suspended by the league for two games.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Brooks has previously coached the American Basketball Assn.’s Southern California Surf and Denver’s summer league team.