HAROLD ABEND
Prep2Prep Senior Editor

February 2, 2025

CARUTHERS, Calif. – The 2025 PAGEMETER Showcase at Caruthers was missing one very important item. Because of the wildfires in Southern California there were some cancellations, and despite some Herculean efforts to try and find a replacement opponent as late as Friday night, host Caruthers was left without a game when a replacement could not be found.

The three remaining games were highlighted by the marquee matchup between Cal-Hi Sports No. 26 ranked Oakland Tech and Bubble team Central-Fresno

Dynamic duo lead Oakland Tech past Central

Oakland Tech (14-7) didn’t play its best game, and the Bulldogs let the local girls from Central-Fresno stay close with only a 13-7 lead after one quarter, 22-16 at the half, and 35-28 after three quarters.

However, after 6-foot-2 junior Terri’A Russell did the heavy lifting in the first half, it was fellow junior and 6-foot-3 Jhai Johnson that exerted herself in the second half in a 52-35 victory in the marquee nightcap at the PAGMETER Showcase on Saturday at Caruthers High.

Russell finished with a game-high 20 points with one three-pointer, and Johnson added a double-double 15 points (one three-pointer) and 15 rebounds with 13 of her points coming in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs took charge.

After a basket by Tech to open the final period got the lead to 37-28, Johnson scored seven-straight points and suddenly it was a 44-28 lead. A basket by Central was followed by two free-throws by Johnson and a basket by Tech sophomore Nailah Davis. Johnson followed with a basket, meaning she had 11 of the first 15 points for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter and at 50-30 the game was more than decided.

Central (19-5) got 12 points from freshman Zyraeis Murphy and 10 points from junior Lailah Haynes.

“We needed this win to prepare us for a couple of tough games upcoming,” said Oakland Tech head coach Leroy Hurt.

The Bulldogs are 5-0 in the Oakland Athletic League with two games remaining against Skyline and McClymonds teams they previously defeated in running clock outcomes, but the tough games Hurt is referring to are with St. Mary’s in Stockton next Saturday and with host Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland the following week to close out the regular season.

Bullard takes over in fourth to down Bakersfield Christian

Trailing 44-43 after Bakersfield Christian scored to open the fourth quarter and with the game tied at 46-46 with a little over five minutes remaining, Bullard-Fresno (17-9) took charge from there and scored the game’s final 13 points in a 59-46 victory.

Three players were in double-figure scoring for Bullard. Junior Sanai Herod connected on one three-pointer and led the way with 16 points. Junior Ymanee Markham with 14 points including one three-pointer, and senior Karli Grier chipped in with 13 points with one three-pointer.

The game was back-and-forth the entire first half until Bullard went on an 11-1 run to lead 36-25 at the intermission. Bakersfield Christian answered with a 15-3 run to take a 41-39 late third quarter lead late, but despite staying close until the final Bullard run, the Eagles pretty much ran out of gas down the stretch.

Senior Alexis Bilas led Bakersfield Christian (11-13) with 18 points, but she was the only Eagles player in double-figure scoring.

Fresno qualifies for playoffs with win over Washington Union

To qualify for the playoffs in the CIF Central Section you have to meet the 10-win threshold, and Fresno (10-15) needed to win to get in and they did in dominating fashion with a 63-26 victory over Washington Union-Fresno.

Senior Bella Bracamonte connected on five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 17 points. Junior Raymya Gross added 15 points with two three-pointers and junior Zaniya Williams had 13 points.