SACRAMENTO - Oakland High, the Northern Regional Division V champion as the No. 13 seed, won its second CIF state championship in two appearances, 56-50 over SoCal D5 top-seeded champion Montgomery in a game in which they led the entire way, and at one point by 13 points in the fourth quarter, before coasting home to the Division V state championship
The first state championship for Oakland came in 2019 when the Wildcats won the Division III title.
Seniors Daijha Teague and junior Ojiugo Egeonu led Oakland (23-10) with 15 points apiece. Each had a double-double with Teague snagging 15 rebounds, plus seven assists, and Egeonu had 17 boards plus seven blocked shots. Freshman Tyliana Velasquez made all four of the Wildcats three-pointers and finished with 12 points.
Sophomore Paula Zumstein led Montgomery (25-12) with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Jordan Whitehead added 14 points.
The talk around Oakland the last few years with respect to girls public high school basketball has been mostly about Oakland Tech, but after that team was beaten in the NorCal D2 semifinals that left the Wildcats to represent the Oakland public sector.
“There’s talent all over Oakland and we’re coming,” Simpson said in conclusion.
