Oakland routs Buena-Ventura for first state crown
SACRAMENTO — The postgame interviews had finished after Oakland’s 59-43 win over Buena-Ventura in the Division 3 state championship game at Golden 1 Center on Friday. But Money Williams, the Wildcats’ top basketball player, said he had something to say.
“This is bigger than doing it just for our school or our league,” he said. “We did this for our city. I want the youth of our city to look at this and say, ‘I can do this.’ Don’t let anyone or anything tear you down. You can accomplish your dreams.”
Williams was money on the court as well. He had game highs of 22 points and nine rebounds as the Wildcats (26-8) won the school’s first state title in its first state-title game.
Even though they got encouragement from their most famous contemporary alum Damian Lillard, who told them to win a state title after Tuesday’s NorCal title victory over Oakland Tech, the Wildcats seemed plenty motivated themselves. They led from start to finish, forced 23 turnovers and dominated play against Buena (31-6), which had to go to three overtimes in its SoCal final to advance.
Anthony Lacy and Te’Shawn Gamble combined for 18 points and Josh Clark added eight points and three steals. Oakland scored 30 points off turnovers. Zane Carter led Buena with 19 points.
“Our speed was the difference,” Oakland coach Orlando Watkins said. “We’re fast and in good shape. Our strength and conditioning coach does a great job with these guys. We just sort of imposed our will on that team and several others before us.”
Three straight losses by a total of seven points, the last a onepoint loss in the Oakland Section final, toughened the Wildcats, Watkins said. He said Tech, his large coaching staff and the Oakland community shared in the victory and championship.
“This is huge,” Watkins said.
“Everyone who has ever come into the program has had that dream. But these guys accomplished it.”
Williams, the 6-foot-3 senior guard who made 8 of 15 shots and added four steals and two blocks, added, “It still feels crazy. I still think I’m dreaming. Me and my brothers, we did it.”
Division 4 girls Shalhevet-Los Angeles 50, San Domenico-San Anselmo 46
After San Domenico coach Mike Fulton took a glance at the scoresheet, he summed up his team’s loss succinctly: “When you make 16 of 65 shots, you’re not going to win any game, let alone one of this magnitude.”
The Panthers (27-8) did everything else effectively — forced 24 turnovers, took 34 more shots, committed just eight turnovers — but their lack of shooting cost them a second consecutive state title. San Domenico beat Shalhevet 37-28 last season in the Division 5 title game, but the Firehawks
(26-2) were missing Yalee Schwartz for all but 2 minutes, 30 seconds of that game.
Schwartz sprained her ankle last season early and did not return. On Friday, she recorded game-high totals of 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The 5-10 junior scored the first two baskets of the game as Shalhevet opened leads of 10-2 and 16-5. Every time the Panthers fought back, Schwartz had either a big bucket, free throw, rebound or assist.
“I’ve never wanted to win a game so much in my entire life,” Schwartz said. “I’ve thought about this game every single day since” we lost last year.
Arielle Grossman added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Firehawks. Summer Jenkins had 15 points, Meja Cykowska added 14 and 11 rebounds for San Domenico.
While Schwartz was unstoppable driving to the basket, Grossman was connecting from the perimeter, making three 3pointers in the first half (she finished with four) to help the Firehawks build a 26-18 halftime lead. Schwartz and Grossman had all but two of their team’s points. Schwartz “is a heck of a player,” Fulton said. “They’re a very well-coached team.”
The second half was a dogfight as the Panthers fought back behind Cykowska (the team’s only senior), Jenkins and Avery Conklin. A driving layup by Conklin, a 3-pointer from Lily Reeser and a free throw by Jenkins cut a double-digit lead to 40-38.
“At that point, I thought we were going to win,” Fulton said. “But I’m proud of my team and and proud of my senior. As good a basketball player she is, she’s a better person.”
But Grossman scored a fastbreak layup, Schwartz converted a driving layup and free throw and Davina Benelyahu made a layup leading a 7-0 run to put the Firehawks back in control.