Oakland Tech and Oakland win to set up title showdown
It'll be an inner-city showdown for the NorCal Division III boys basketball final on Tuesday.
No. 3 seed Oakland Tech will take on No. 9 seed Oakland in what is believed to be the firstever matchup between two Oakland schools for a regional championship.
It'll also be the fourth showdown between the schools, all played since Jan. 20. Tech won all three previous matchups, all by one possession.
Regardless of whether Tech or Oakland win on Tuesday, the victor will be the first Oakland Section boys team to appear in a state title game since McClymonds lost the Division I final in 2009.
“I think it will be big for the city of Oakland,” Oakland coach Orlando Watkins said after his team's win on Saturday. “It's big for two Oakland teams to represent Northern California.”
Oakland Section commissioner Franky Navarro told Bay Area News Group that Laney College has been secured as a venue to host Tuesday's regional championship. The gym has seating for around 2,000 spectators and could have up to 2,500 people squeezed in.
With profits from regional and state tournament games going to the CIF, Navarro said the Oakland Section will take on the added costs for the move to Laney.
There's also hope that Oakland Arena, the former home of the Golden State Warriors, could be an option to host Tuesday's game. There would be a lot of logistical hurdles to clear, but the arena with a capacity of 19,596 has a rich high school basketball history and would be a welcomed host site.
Here's how both teams reached the NorCal final: OAKLAND TECH 61, JUSTINSIENA 55 >> When Oakland Tech needs a bucket, it has two capable shot-creators it can turn to in Ahmaree Muhammad and ArDarius Gates. The duo scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, in Tech's NorCal Division III semifinal home victory over Justin-Siena.
The Bulldogs kept the visitors at bay thanks to a flurry of points from two of its three stars. After scoring 15 points in the fourth quarter of Tech's quarterfinal win over Lincoln-SF, Muhammad scored six in the fourth.
He was matched by Stanford football commit Omar Staples Jr., who put in six points on three made field goals. On Justin-Siena's side, Jaden Washington scored 18, Vincent Jackson scored 14 and Travis Hightower scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter. OAKLAND 70, THE KING'S ACADEMY 60 >> When Watkins learned his Wildcats would play The King's Academy in the CIF NorCal D-III semifinals, he admitted, “I had never heard of them. I know `em well now.”
Oakland was in control most of the way in TKA's gym in earning the win. It led 35-21 at the half, and the Knights (24-4) never got closer than eight points after intermission.
Money Williams scored 23 points for the winners, including 10 of 11 at the free-throw line. Josh Clark, Anthony Lacy and Te'shawn Gamble each had 11. Tylek Barnett poured in 22 for TKA. Jon Taylor had 12 points.
Watkins said the three losses this season to Oakland Tech, as close as they were – two by two points, one by three – have had nothing to do with luck.
“It's been kind of tough,” he said, “but it's not about luck. I tell my kids all the time that games come down to seven to 10 plays.”