Two unique and historic basketball journeys
State champion Oakland High boys and Tech girls captured a city's heart
Commentary by Max Espinoza
High along the hills at Skyline High School marked the start of the Oakland Athletic League boys basketball season for Oakland High. It was there, on January 11, that many got their first look at Money Williams’ spectacular season with the Wildcats.
Entering his senior season, the 6-foot-3 guard was expected to be a key contributor to a talented roster. But all expectations were exceeded when Anthony Lacy threw a pass to Williams, who slammed an aggressive dunk over a Skyline defender.
It was Williams’ dominant introduction to league play.
Three months later, Oakland High will join the Oakland Tech girls basketball team in a downtown parade Sunday to celebrate their state championships — a perfect way to cap two incredibly different and historical journeys.
Williams outperformed early-season expectations placed on the Wildcats by leading his team to a 13-5 preseason record and 8-2 OAL record, while amassing more than 1,000 career points during his final season of high school. But with all of the success, Williams and the Wildcats had to overcome certain obstacles, including Oakland Tech.
When you look closer at Oakland High’s 27-8 record, you see Tech defeated Oakland High two times in OAL play, then again in the CIF Oakland Section title game. However, after dominant playoff performances from Oakland High and Tech, both schools met for a fourth time in the Northern California Division III championship game. This game had historical significance, too. It was not only the first time two OAL teams faced off in the state playoffs, but the winner would secure a spot in the CIF state championship game. This was an important moment for the Wildcats as they had never made a state championship appearance. Now they had a chance to make history against Buena High for the state crown. But part of winning a championship involves having the leadership to guide and achieve your goals.
It came from Orlando Watkins, the longtime coach for the Oakland High Wildcats and the former coach of NBA star Damian Lillard. Watkins has seen the Wildcats program through ups and downs over the years, and built the experience necessary to keep his team motivated and focused in the biggest of moments.
No moment was bigger than when Oakland High and Tech played at Laney College for the regional title. This was the first time Watkins led the Wildcats this far, and while many praised the coach, many doubted the reality of Oakland High advancing to the state title game.
Under the pressure of a sold-out Laney College, Watkins told his players the value of this game. “One way or another you’re never going to play a high school basketball game again in the city of Oakland,” he said. “How do you want to remember that game?”
With this message to his players, Oakland High went on to defeat Tech 77-61 in one of the biggest sporting events in Oakland’s recent memory.
Although Oakland High’s win against Buena High was historic, Oakland High wasn’t the only Oakland team to make history. The Oakland Tech girls basketball team was dominant from start to finish. The Bulldogs breezed through the OAL season, going undefeated in eight games and 15-5 in preseason games. After defeating AIMS College Prep, 92-31, in the CIF Oakland Section championship, Tech achieved home-court advantage in the Division I playoffs.
The Bulldogs beat McClatchy, Pinewood, San Ramon Valley and then St. Mary’s of Stockton in the Northern California championship game, 82-71. This victory pitted Tech against Santiago High of Corona in the state championship. While the game was close in the first half, Tech pulled away in the second with a 75-52 victory. This win solidified Tech’s growing dynasty with a third state title in a row (Division 4 in 2019, Division 3 in 2022 and Division 1 in 2023).
After Tech won its championship against Santiago, most people in Oakland took the time to appreciate and congratulate the student-athletes. For in a year where Oakland High and Oakland Tech were able to meet in a CIF playoff game, star players like Williams (Oakland High), Mari Somvichian (Oakland Tech) and Erin Sellers (Tech) eclipsed 1,000-plus career points after adjusting to the repercussions of the pandemic.
With that, it’s safe to say there has been a city-wide resurgence in OAL basketball and OAL athletics in general.
Max Espinoza, a senior at Oakland High, is a member of OAL & Fam1st Media. The students meet weekly at West Oakland Youth Center.