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OAKLAND – Oakland Tech guard Ahmare Muhammad calls the game in the fourth quarter in Oakland Tech’s 64-59 win over Lincoln-SF. Lincoln-San Francisco and Oakland Tech play in a men’s basketball game Thursday, March 2, 2023, in the NorCal Division Three playoffs at Oakland Tech High School.
Men’s Class III
Oakland Tech 61, Justin-Cena 55
Oakland Tech has two talented shot creators in Ahmare Muhammad and Ardarius Gates who can help when they need a bucket. The duo scored 18 and 16 points in Tech’s 61-55 NorCal Division 3 semifinal win over Justin-Sienna.
The Bulldogs kept the visitors in check thanks to flashes from two of their 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 with Stanford football commit Omar Staples Jr., who put up six points on three field goals. For Justin-Cena, Jaden Washington had 18, Vincent Jackson had 14, and Travis Hightower scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Next up is the fourth game against Oakland High, all played since January 20th. Tech has won all three previous matchups by one possession. This time, the NorCal title and a trip to the Division III state championship game are on the line.
Regardless of whether Tech or Oakland wins on Tuesday, the winner will become the first Oakland-area school to appear in the state title game since McClymonds beat McClymonds in the 2009 Division 1 final.
Auckland 70, King’s Academy 60
“I had never heard of them,” Oakland coach Orlando Watkins said when he learned his Wildcats would play King Academy in the CIF NorCal D-III semifinals. I know him well now.
Oakland defeated the Cavaliers on Tuesday to set up a fourth meeting with Oakland Tech. This will be the NorCal Championship for D-III CIF.
“I think it’s going to be huge for the city of Oakland,” Watkins said. It’s a big deal for two Oakland teams to represent Northern California.
Oakland Tech has won all three contests against Oakland by a combined seven points. The Wildcats are 25-8 overall.
Oakland dominated most of the way in the Thika gym. He led 35-21 in the game, and the Knights (24-4) did not get closer than eight points after the break.
Money Williams scored 23 points for the winners, including 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Josh Clark, Anthony Lacy and Teshawn Gamble each had 11. Tylake Barnett poured in 22 for Tyka. John Taylor had 12 points.
Watkins said the three losses to Oakland Tech this season, as close as they were — two by two points, one by three — had nothing to do with luck.
“It was tough, but it’s not about luck. I always tell my kids that the game comes down to seven to 10 plays.
Women’s Division I
Oakland Tech 56, San Ramon Valley 46
The Oakland Tech girls spent the entire NorCal Division 1 playoff run limited to friendly (for Tech) Broadway Street Gymnasium. After dispatching McClatchy-Sacramento and Pinewood in the first two rounds, the No. 2 seeded Bulldogs won at San Ramon Valley in the semifinals Saturday.
Tech’s offense was very balanced. Freshman center Jahai Johnson scored 12 points, Jada Williams 10, Teria Russell nine, and Jala Williams and Taliyah Logwood each scored eight.
Sierra Chambers scored a game-high 19 points and had two three-pointers for San Ramon Valley, while Sophia Bowes had eight. The game was 31-30 entering the fourth quarter, but Tech exploded for 25 points in the final eight minutes.
Oakland Tech previously beat San Ramon Valley 70-45 on Jan. 3.
A trip to the No. 1 seed and familiar foe St. Mary’s-Stockton is the only obstacle left between Tech and a fourth straight trip to the CIF state championship game.
Saint Mary’s defeated Oakland Tech 74-57 and 65-52 earlier this season. After the Pinewood game, Oakland Tech (28-5) coach Leroy Hart predicted his team would eventually face the Stockton school.
“They beat me twice, but I guess you wouldn’t have it any other way,” Hurt said with a smile.
Women’s Section IV
Menlo School 51, Hillsdale 48
A stop in the closing seconds found Menlo’s spot in Tuesday’s NorCal Division IV championship game as the visiting Knights defeated host Hillsdale.
After Ruiki Liu hit two foul shots to start the game with a three-point play, the defense stopped.
Melo added Karen Sheen 19 points and Liu 17 to play in the finals in San Anselmo on Tuesday.
Menlo led 6-4 after the first quarter Saturday and 27-19 at halftime. The Cavaliers extended their cushion to 46-35 after three quarters.
McKenna Nittao scored 24 points and Kira Wilmurt had 14 for Hillsdale.
Women’s Division II
Pleasant Valley-Chico 50, Monte Vista 45
Monte Vista had its worst shooting night of the season, and it proved costly.
The Mustangs, ranked third in CIF NorCals Division II, were unable to overcome a 14-point deficit after scoring just eight points in the first half and lost to No. 2 seed Pleasant Valley.
“We played better in the second half, but we dug ourselves out of a hole in the first half,” Monte Vista coach Steve Cornell said. “We missed a lot of layups, and they went to the free throw line a lot.”
Nia Coleman had 26 points for the visitors, but no one else reached double figures for Monte Vista. Cornell said his team usually has one or two others with at least 10 points.
“We had a bad shooting night in the first half,” Cornell said.
Monte Vista finishes the season 26-7. Pleasant Valley (30-3) hosts No. 4-seed Central-Fresno on Tuesday.
Women’s Division III
Carruthers 57, Granada 50
The Matadors scored just 6 points in the fourth quarter as the No. 9 Fresno County Blue Raiders overcame a tight game from the host team in a Division 3 game at Granada.
Granada, seed no. 5, after playing the third straight nail-biter in the Norcals, with wins over Chico and Clovis West by a total of five points, ends the season at 19-14. Carruthers improved to 26-7.
Cassidy Bartoloto led the Matadors with 20 points, Jasime Branda added 11 – including a trio of 3-pointers in a 17-point second quarter, and Alexa Plechette scored nine points for Granada.
Morgan Triguero scored 26 points for the Carruthers, 19 of them in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers and going 6-for-6 from the foul line. Amy Almeida had 13 for the Blue Raiders and Anissa Torres scored seven points in the fourth quarter to lead the way to victory.
Men’s Section IV
Chico 50, Burlingame 47
None more so than Saturday night’s loss to Burlingame in the D-IV CIF NorCal semifinals in Chico. The home team scored eight straight points with Burlingame leading 47-42 with less than a minute left.
“I thought we did a good job of controlling the game,” Burlingame coach Jeff Dowd said. “But we didn’t close it. We left an open 3, missed one and one.
Burlingame (23-6) appeared to be in control at 10 and five with less than 60 seconds left before the final buzzer.
Burlingame’s 6-foot-6 senior center Kyle Haslam had 16 points and 13 rebounds. Zaden Martin had 14 points.
He was the difference maker for Chico guard Rashad Samuel. He scored four points in the first half and 22 after halftime.
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