REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — If Oakland Tech head coach Karega Hart can say his team played a D-plus game after a 61-34 win, just how high is the Bulldogs’ ceiling?
“It looked like we were running in mud for the most part,” Hart said. “I’m really disgusted with the effort. We stunk up the gym in the first half. I’m glad they didn’t charge anybody to get in.”
Oakland Tech (3-1) did pull away in the second half, but not before going scoreless for the first four minutes and slogging through the proverbial mud to a 23-14 halftime lead. Robel Zemmo, who finished the first half off with a putback at the buzzer, drained a three to open up a 14-point lead, a key moment in a third quarter where the visitors outscored the host Ravens 16-6. With 12 different scorers, the Bulldogs were able to stretch their lead to as much as 31 in the fourth quarter en route to a comfortable win, even with the poor start.
Point guard Desonn Shipp stood out amidst the balanced attack as the lone double-digit scorer for either team, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds.
“I’ve got to lead by example,” Shipp said. “I’ve been through a lot of the ups and downs with this team.”
By frustrating Sequoia (0-1) with heavy pressure, repeatedly double-teaming the Ravens and trapping them in corners, Oakland Tech was able to pull away in the second half after the home side had simply struggled to finish early on.
“It was a combination of us rushing and Oakland Tech’s defense,” head coach Fine Lauese said. “We knew what we were gonna get and didn’t adjust well. Good experience, though. I think we got more out of that than they did.”
Sam Schult scored seven for the Ravens, who were known as the Cherokees until the conclusion of the preceding school year. Albert Tuakalau had a game-high nine rebounds.
Oakland Tech hosts De Anza (2-0) on Friday night at the Bulldogs Turkey Tip-Off Classic, while Sequoia will continue a grueling nonleague schedule with a Tuesday visit to Serra.
