By the end of Oakland Tech’s 79-55 CIF Division II state championship victory against Centennial, the school’s trademark “O-T, Ohhhhhh-Teeeee” chants echoed throughout the building.
Oakland Tech was the last of three Oakland schools to participate in Sacramento. The Oakland girls won the Division V title, while Bishop O’Dowd girls lost to Bishop Montgomery-Torrance 52-40.
“”In the city of Oakland, we’ve had a lot of rough times,” Tech boy’s coach Karega Hart said. “To be able to celebrate and shine a positive light on the city (means a lot), because there are a lot of good things going on in the city.”
In other state title games, Harvard-Westlake defeated Salesian 50-45 to repeat as the California Open Division champions. Salesian ends its season 31-2, firmly entrenched among the pantheon of great units Bill Mellis has coached in 26 years at the Richmond powerhouse.
In an upset victory, Archbishop Mitty, ranked No. 1 in the country since December, came up short against defending champ Etiwanda in its bid for a first Open state title.
Etiwanda took control in the first quarter, suffocating Archbishop Mitty with a matchup zone that kept the San Jose school’s best players from having any impact, and did not let up until the lead widened to 24.
When it was over, the Eagles celebrated a second consecutive California Interscholastic Federation Open Division state championship, beating previously undefeated Mitty 60-48 at Golden 1 Center. The loss was a crusher for the San Jose school, which fell to 0-4 in Open Division state finals.
The Knights slayed Dragons as Bishop Montgomery held off the Bishop O’Dowd girls in the D-I championship. O’Dowd mounted a spirited rally, but fell short against Bishop Montgomery-Torrance.
Oakland Tech’s Caleb Rollins (11) raises his hand in celebration after defeating Centennial during their CIF State Basketball Championship Division II Boys game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Oakland Tech defeats Centennial 79-55. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Tech’s Ardarius Grayson (0) goes up for a layup past Centennial’s Dylan Fowler (22) in the fourth quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division II Boys game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Oakland Tech defeats Centennial 79-55. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Tech head coach Karega Hart lifts the first-place trophy after defeating Centennial during their CIF State Basketball Championship Division II Boys game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Oakland Tech defeats Centennial 79-55. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Tech’s Caleb Rollins (11) goes up for a layup past Centennial’s Michael Gutierrez (11) in the fourth quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division II Boys game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Oakland Tech defeats Centennial 79-55. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Tech’s Saddiq Alarbesh (15) celebrates with teammate Caleb Rollins (11) as they defeat Centennial during their CIF State Basketball Championship Division II Boys game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Oakland Tech defeats Centennial 79-55. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Bishop Montgomery celebrates after defeating Bishop O’Dowd during their CIF State Basketball Championship Division I Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. Bishop Montgomery defeats Bishop O’Dowd 52-40. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) With tears in her eyes, Bishop O’Dowd’s Savannah Jones (11) hugs teammate Kiara McCoy (4) after being defeated by the Bishop Montgomery during their CIF State Basketball Championship Division I Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. Bishop Montgomery defeats Bishop O’Dowd 52-40. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Bishop O’Dowd battles Bishop Montgomery for a rebound in the fourth quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division I Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. Bishop Montgomery defeats Bishop O’Dowd 52-40. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Bishop O’Dowd’s Savannah Jones (11) receives a hug from head coach Malik McCord as the final minute winds down in the fourth quarter against Bishop Montgomery during their CIF State Basketball Championship Division I Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. Bishop Montgomery defeats Bishop O’Dowd 52-40. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Bishop O’Dowd’s Madison Gordon (24) reaches for a rebound in front of Bishop Montgomery’s Jordin Blackmon (10) in the first quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division I Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Bishop Montgomery’s Jordin Blackmon (10) reacts after sinking a three-point basket against Bishop O’Dowd in the first quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division I Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland High players celebrates after defeating Montgomery during the CIF State Basketball Championship Division V Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. Oakland defeats Montgomery 56-50. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland High’s Daijha Teague (3) drivdes past Montgomery’s Susanna Paliza (23) in the first quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division V Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Belle Bramer (23) battles Etiwanda’s Grace Knox (23) for a rebound in the third quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Open Division Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Players congratulate Oakland High’s Daijha Teague (3) after defeating Montgomery during the CIF State Basketball Championship Division V Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. Oakland defeats Montgomery 56-50. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland High’s Daijha Teague (3) shoots and makes a three-point basket past Montgomery’s Genevieve Whitehead (3) in the second quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division V Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland High’s Ojiugo Egeonu (25) battles Montgomery’s Susanna Paliza (23) for a rebound in the fourth quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division V Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. Oakland defeats Montgomery 56-50. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Oakland High’s Ojiugo Egeonu (25) goes up for a basket past Montgomery’s Paula Zumstein (32) in the first quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Division V Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Tee Mccarthy (35), Emma Cook (13) and Abi James (10) get emotional after losing against Etiwanda during the CIF Open Division state championship at Golden 1 Center Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Belle Bramer (23) yells with emotion against Etiwanda during the CIF Open Division state championship at Golden 1 Center Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Rena Robinson (15) gets emotional at the end of the game against Etiwanda during the CIF Open Division state championship at Golden 1 Center Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Belle Bramer (23) fights for the ball against Etiwanda’s Grace Knox (23) during the first half of the CIF Open Division state championship at Golden 1 Center Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty head coach Sue Phillips watches her team play Etiwanda in the fourth quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Open Division Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Etiwanda’s Aliyahna Morris (25) tumbles to the ground while battling Archbishop Mitty’s Belle Bramer (23) for a loose ball in the fourth quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Open Division Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Belle Bramer (23) fouls Etiwanda’s Mykelle Richards (22) when she accidentally slaps her on the face in the fourth quarter of the CIF State Basketball Championship Open Division Girls game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Abi James (10) takes a shot against Etiwanda’s Mykelle Richards (22) and Etiwanda’s Kennedy Smith (11) in the first half of the CIF Open Division state championship at Golden 1 Center Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Archbishop Mitty’s Morgan Cheli (33), Archbishop Mitty’s Belle Bramer (23), and Archbishop Mitty’s Tee Mccarthy (35) comfort each other while walking back to the locker room after losing to Etiwanda in the CIF Open Division state championship at Golden 1 Center Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Saturday, March 9, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
