Bishop O'Dowd, for many years, has been known for tremendous success on the basketball court.
The Bishop O’Dowd boys team won its first state title in 1981, the first year modern CIF-State championships were held. Since that season, the Dragons have earned 25 league titles, 15 NCS championships, and eight NorCal titles including this season. But the one thing that stands out the most is the Dragons have yet to bring the state title back to Oakland after winning it all in '81.
This season O’Dowd is getting national attention for its basketball ability. The Dragons are ranked No. 9 in the nation by Maxpreps, and is about to play No. 1 Mater Dei-Santa Ana in the CIF-State Open Division title game. Tip off is 8 p.m. Saturday at Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento.
O'Dowd has not lost since December 30, rolling up 23 consecutive victories. Since the 2014 playoffs have begun, the Dragons have averaged a 26 point average margin of victory, led by the No. 1 junior in the nation Ivan Rabb who has averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds this season.
“Every year that I’ve been on varsity the goal has been a state title so it’s awesome that in my final season we have the opportunity to win a state championships,” said senior Shane Farley. “We are coming in as the underdogs, but we feel that we are good enough to beat anybody in the country."
The Dragons have lost six straight state title games, two of which were lost in OT, and two more came down to the buzzer with the Dragons losing by one point. In 2011, the Dragons' most recent state title game, they also came up just short, losing by five.
So what makes this trip to state so much different than the rest?
Coach Lou Richie (O'Dowd class of 1989) thinks his team is ready for the challenge.
“I think there are two dynamics that makes this team great” said Richie. “Ivan Rabb is one - O’Dowd never had an elite player recognized by the country. And two, a blue-collar group of kids that have incredible work ethic on and off the court.”
Richie added how starting point guard Juwan Anderson did not play sophomore year, making his emergence all the more remarkable.
Richie knows more than anybody how much work it takes to win a state championship. His would-be buzzer beater back in the 1988 O’Dowd vs Manual Arts state championship game was waved off due to offensive interference.
“O'Dowd basketball provides a tradition of excellence,” said former O'Dowd girls player Oderah Chidom, who currently plays for the Duke women. Chidom was the starting forward on last year’s state Open Division girls’ team.
“Walking around with the words "Bishop O'Dowd" across your chest represents the determination and hard work that you were willing to put in, for the ability to hang banners. Playing for O'Dowd has helped me realize that success is derived from the willingness to make sacrifices in order for your team to be successful. I wish the boys the best of luck in Sacramento, and hope that all the blood, sweat and tears they have put into this program is rewarded with a CIF state championship ring.”
With the help of Chidom and her 1,174 points as a varsity player, she led O’Dowd’s girls to two state championships. During her four years, the Dragons had an amazing 24-2 playoff record, including being ranked No. 2 in the country at the end of last season.
Washington hoop star Junior Longrus, who played as a junior on that 2011 State runner-up team, knows how much a state championship will mean to not just to the players, but the entire O’Dowd community.
“Being a Dragon is a privilege, and I feel blessed to have spent four years of my life at that school,” said Longrus. “I’ve met Dragons all across the country that are now in later points in their lives and Dragon pride is definitely still alive and well within all of them."
After Longrus, the program changed dramatically as O’Dowd coach Doug Vierra passed his job to, at the time, junior varsity coach Richie. That season, the Dragons were not even projected to win the WACC with extreme Northern California talent such as San Leandro and Berkeley. The Dragons proved themselves to still be a top team, recording a 54-8 record over the past two seasons.
“As far as basketball, one of our goals was to always give our school something to be proud of,” Longrus said. “We wanted to carry on the tradition of having a championship program that represented Bishop O’Dowd, and in my four years, I felt that we were able to do that. But this Saturday, a group of hard-working young men have a chance to make history. Nothing will make me or the Dragon community more proud than to see them go win that state championship."
For those that can't make it to Sleep Train Arena, the game can be seen on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area.
