Mission accomplished: Oakland Tech girls win Division I state championship

SACRAMENTO — Oakland Tech’s girls basketball team craved one final challenge.

For this supremely successful group of Bulldogs, there was a coveted piece of hardware missing from the seniors’ trophy case.

A Division I state title.

The Bulldogs had already won Division IV in 2019 and Division III in 2022.

In 2020, the group conquered NorCal as a Division II team, only to have the state championship game canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coach Leroy Hurt knew his team could compete against stronger competition if given a chance and said as much after the 2022 title game.

A year later, Tech took the Golden 1 Center court as NorCal’s representative in the Division I title game against Santiago-Corona. And just as the team had done so many times over the last four years, the Bulldogs buried their opponent in the fourth quarter en route to a 75-52 victory.

“You don’t take enjoyment in it till it’s over, and it’s over” Hurt said. “These kids…I’m proud of you guys.”

“We did it.”

The Oakland Tech girls basketball team celebrate their CIF Division I girls state championship after defeating Santiago High at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 10, 2023. Oakland Tech defeats Santiago 75-52. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

It was the school’s first Division I state championship since the great Alexis Gray-Lawson led Tech to consecutive Division I titles in 2004 and 2005. Taliyah Logwood led Tech with 16 points and 12 boards, Terri’A Russell scored 15, Erin Sellers scored 14 points, and Nia Hunter scored 13.

“I told the kids we deserve to win today,” Hurt said. “Shame on us if we don’t finish.”

The Oakland school trailed 15-14 after one quarter, with Santiago capitalizing on Tech turnovers and free throws to control the tempo of the game. However, the Bulldogs turned it around in the second half. Tech switched to a 2-3 zone, and Santiago could not make its open three-pointers from the corners.

Oakland Tech's Nia Hunter, center, and teammates celebrate their CIF Division I girls state championship after defeating Santiago High at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 10, 2023. Oakland Tech defeats Santiago 75-52. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) — Oakland Tech’s Nia Hunter, center, and teammates celebrate their CIF Division I girls state championship after defeating Santiago High at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, March 10, 2023. Oakland Tech defeats Santiago 75-52. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

On the other end, Tech’s Logwood shredded Santiago’s defense in space, scoring eight first-half points and pushing the ball in transition.

Santiago led 20-18 early in the second quarter. But Tech went on a 7-0 run, keyed by a Mari Somvichian 3-pointer from the right wing, and an old-fashioned midrange bank shot plus the foul for an even more old-fashioned three-point play by freshman Terri’A Russell.

“For my graduating class, this is our last game win or lose, so this might as well be our last win and our last championship,” Somvichian said.

The third quarter started with a Sellers 3-pointer and a Logwood fastbreak layup, but Santiago went on an 8-0 run of its own over the next two minutes. Afterward, the two heavyweights spent the rest of the quarter slugging it out.

Russell was a difference-maker, scoring six points and playing solid help defense on Santiago drives. Tech ended the third quarter up 52-45.

The Bulldogs put the title away in the fourth period, starting the quarter on a 12-4 run. Jada Williams got two fastbreak layups, Sellers picked a Santiago ballhandler for another easy lay-in to cap the run. By the end of the game, even the Granada fans waiting for the start of the Division I boys final joined in on joyous “O-T” chants started by Tech supporters.

Tech’s seniors ended their high school careers with two state titles and zero playoff losses. But although Tech graduates its entire backcourt, the starting frontcourt of Logwood, Russell and Jhai Johnson all come back next season, as do the same high standards and championship aspirations.

But before the senior class exited the spotlight and handed the torch over to the next generation of Bulldogs, Somvichian had some final parting words.

“They said that we couldn’t win Division I,” the two-time state champion said. “What are they gonna say now?”

Win the Open?

That’s the goal for next season, Hurt said.

“To be put in the Open, you have to crown us as one of the better teams. I think we should start saying that now.”