SACRAMENTO — A relentless defense that led to instant and easy offense for
Oakland Tech (Oakland) proved too much as the Bulldogs won their third straight CIF girls title Friday, 75-52 over
Santiago (Corona).
Oakland Tech (30-5) turned a 35-28 halftime lead into a 52-45 edge after three quarters and used a 14-6 spurt over the first five minutes to pull away for the title. The Bulldogs outscored Santiago 23-7 in the fourth and allowed one Sharks' field goal.
"It never gets old sitting on this podium," Hurt said addressing the media after the victory. "I told everyone we're a Division I school and belong here."
The Bulldogs won the Division III last year and Division IV in 2019.
He said Oakland Tech's schedule this season paved a path for the CIF title as the Bulldogs were battled tested, even through regular-season losses.
Oakland Tech senior Erin Sellers drives to the basket in the Bulldogs' 75-52 win Friday over Santiago in the CIF Division I girls final. It was the third straight CIF title for Oakland Tech. (Photo: David Steutel)
"We as a school and a team get an A+ for scheduling," he said ticking off McClatchy (Sacramento), Pinewood (Los Altos Hills), San Ramon Valley (Danville) and St. Mary's (Stockton) and Santiago, all schools they played in the regular season and subsequently beat on the title run. "We sat down and watch game film and said 'It's us, not what the other team is doing."
And Friday night, especially in the fourth quarter, it certainly was the Bulldogs.
Oakland Tech's 23-7 run to close the game started with four straight points on steals that morphed into coast-to-coast buckets. The Bulldogs got scoring from eight different players in the period. They scored 23 points off turnovers in the game and got 32 points from their bench.
"We knew we'd be a tough out and if we lost someone was going to have to beat us," Hurt said.
"We couldn't weather the storm," Santiago coach Mike Mitchell said. "Mission wasn't accomplished. It's a tough way for the seniors to go out, but they set up a great foundation."
After a physical first quarter that saw Santiago cling to a 15-14 lead, Oakland Tech took the lead on Somvichian's 3-pointer while the Bulldogs got scoring in bunches from a handful of players. Williams converted an and-one, Sellers hit a jumper from the elbow and Logwood finished a coast-to-coast layup off a steal at the opposite end for a 29-22 lead.
The Sharks had success down low at 6-2 post Willardson had a game-high 13 in the first half, but they were otherwise cold shooting 14 percent (1 of 7) from range and 38 percent (8 of 21) from the field. They also were 11 of 17 from the free throw line. Conversely, Oakland Tech was 7 of 10 from the charity stripe and 48 percent from the field.
"We're on a helluva run," Hurt said of the trio of titles. "It's over now and I can enjoy it."
Oakland Tech players celebrate with the CIF Division I trophy, their third straight championship. The Bulldogs won the Division III last year and Division IV in 2019. (Photo: David Steutel)
Santiago's McKinley Willardson goes up for two of her game-high 21 in the Sharks' 75-52 loss to Oakland Tech in Friday's CIF Division I final at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. (Photo: David Steutel)
Taliyah Logwood led Oakland Tech with 16 points in the Bulldogs' 75-52 win over Santiago on Friday. (Photo: David Steutel)
