OAKLAND — Oakland Tech players and Ar'Darius Grayson (0) pose with a trophy. Oakland Tech defeats Oakland 73-66 in the CIF Division II Norcal title game at Oakland Technical High School on March 5, 2024 (Joseph Dycas/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND – It was already difficult enough for Ar'Darius Grayson to score in the final minutes of the NorCal Division II title game against rival Oakland. Oakland Tech's No. 2 guard was chased and beaten by Wildcat defenders on every drive, which was standard procedure in playoff games.
Add to that the soreness in his left arm, and the already arduous task became even more onerous in the biggest moment of the most important game of the season.
The junior guard defied pain from a first-half fall and relentless defense to sink a fallaway jumper to give Tech a three-point lead.
On his next possession, he swooped down the baseline and cradled the ball, then scooped it up for a reverse layup. He then closed out the game with seven free throws and a chasing block.
With famed former Wildcat Damian Lillard watching from the sideline, Tech University delivered a masterclass at stake to send the Bulldogs to Division 2 state with a 73-66 victory over defending state champion Oakland. It was number 0. The title game will be played Saturday in Sacramento.
The Bulldogs will face Centennial Bakersfield, which upset top-seeded Heritage Christian in the Southern California Regional.
“It hurt a lot…but the adrenaline was pumping,” Grayson said after scoring a game-high 34 points in the NorCal Division II title game. “We tried to take over the whole game, but when the fourth quarter came around and it was a close game, we knew we had to finish the game.”
Both teams have played three times this season, and each match was played according to a similar scenario. Oakland would hold an early lead, in this case taking a 21-16 advantage after the first quarter. But the Bulldogs slowly chipped away at the lead and eventually found a way to win a close game.
“We just couldn't get over this hump,” Oakland coach Orlando Watkins said after his team lost for the seventh time in eight games against Oakland Tech. “We took the lead and they fought back and we had one play to take back the lead, but we just couldn't get over the hill.”
In addition to Grayson's 34 points, Asher Kramer and Zan Meyer-Pletner each had 13 points, and Ahmed Ghulide had 10 points.
Anthony Lacy played his final game in an Oakland uniform and with his motor revving like any other player. He grabbed double-digit rebounds and scored most of his 17 points on strong putbacks. Jonathan Chapple scored 16 points, including buzzer-beaters at the end of the first and third quarters.
A year after each team played for the California Division III title at Laney College, a game that Oakland won, the Harts and the Bulldogs played in Tech's small but familiar gymnasium on Broadway Avenue. He strongly insisted that the match be held.
“We got what we wanted,” Grayson said. “We were able to win the top division and get our revenge.”
Lillard was the most notable among the gallery of Oakland residents who packed the bleachers to watch the game, as dozens of spectators had given up on watching from doorways or the baseline amid a sold-out crowd. He was the person who did it.
Both programs were loud and well-represented, but by the time the results were revealed, the Wildcat faithful were chanting “OT, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” It was drowned out by the loud chants.
Tech fans who have watched the women's basketball team win the state title in the past three playoffs will finally see the men's team take on the best team in Southern California.
“Look at this environment,” Hart said, waving to the hundreds of Oaklanders who had gathered on the court long after the game had ended. “We haven't lost here in a long time.”
This home court advantage allowed Tech to take a 33-32 lead by halftime and another slim 52-51 advantage entering the fourth quarter. In a game where almost every shot was made in traffic, each shot felt like making hay.
Isaac Johnson returned an error with 4:40 left in the fourth, giving Oakland a 60-59 lead. But Glide quickly fought back by forcing in a layup off a foul. Grayson took over from there and punched the Bulldogs' ticket to Sacramento.
“I don’t feel like that at all,” Glide said of playing in the state title game, before looking around the stands and adding: “I wish I could stay here, in this kennel.”
