Battle of girls basketball titans: Oak Ridge pulls away from McClatchy in Division I
It was so loud and festive Monday night inside an old gym that still holds its charm after 84 years that you had to SHOUT AND WAVE to be heard.
In a scene befitting storied championship programs with an overflow crowd, No. 3-seeded Oak Ridge High School used a 15-3 run in the fourth quarter to pull away from host No. 2 McClatchy 66-52 Monday night in a Sac-Joaquin Section semifinal in a cozy, if cramped, place known as the Lions Den.
Too often, crowds are small for girls games — parents, siblings, boyfriends, school staffers — but not for these schools in the playoffs. Tradition affords perks.
Oak Ridge has a CIF State D-I banner from 2010 on its bloated resume. And McClatchy’s 2015 State D-I championship from 2015 is displayed prominently on one of the gym walls. The Legion of Lions student rooting section never let up, chanting, cheering and roaring in a sea of red, including red capes, red skits, red jerseys and red wigs.
“Awesome atmosphere,” Oak Ridge coach Steve White said. “I told our girls that it would be like this, a great fan base and energy, and they responded great.”
A moment earlier, White was congratulated by Harvey Tahara, the McClatchy coach last decade who, along with White, helped elevate the girls game on a regional level. Tahara is so revered that the McClatchy court bears the name of him and his wife, Janice.
Said Tahara, “This atmosphere is great for girls basketball. These teams play so hard.”
It was an exhausting good show that included defensive pressure, fast-break buckets, 3-point shooting and emotion. Oak Ridge (24-5) had fresher legs down the stretch, making big shots while the Lions had baskets rim or curl out.
Megan McConnell, a senior forward, had 23 points for Oak Ridge to lead all scorers. She and her teammates were positively giddy with the team’s effort. They huddled and danced after the game, then danced some more before taking a team photo. Wins like these are cherished, especially when it was a one-and-out showing in the playoffs a year ago. That early exit has fueled the team this winter.
Oak Ridge sophomore guard Teagan Brown had 21 points, and Sophie Olson scored none and Erica Ingram six.
“Megan McConnell played the game of her life,” White said. “She’s matured so much as a player. When she had self doubt, she struggled. Now she just plays. Proud of her.”
“It was such a great crowd,” Brown said. “We were ready for it. The student section was even chanting my name. I loved it. It made me concentrate even harder.”
McClatchy senior forward Samaya Beatty scored 15 points, freshman guard Tamaria Rumph 14 and sophomore guard Saray White 10. The Lions (26-4) still qualified for the CIF Northern California D-I playoffs and await Sunday’s brackets.
Oak Ridge will also be in the NorCals but it is not done with this tournament just yet. On Friday night at 6 p.m. at Golden 1 Center, the Trojans gets a shot at national powerhouse St. Mary’s of Stockton, which beat Granite Bay 68-59 in the other semifinal. The Rams seek an ongoing regional record 13th straight section banner.
“They’re so good,” White said of St. Mary’s. “They pressure the ball. have depth, skill, athletes, are disciplined, and that makes them hard to beat.”
Sounds a lot like Oak Ridge. White won his 601st career game, the majority of those from his work in El Dorado Hills, where he started coaching in 1995.
“It means I’ve been around a long time,” White said with a laugh. “When you get to that many wins, it’s not a me award, its an us award. I had so many great coaches and players over the years.”
White is hoping for a bit more magic the rest of this season. He is hopeful to have Ingram available. A skilled 5-foot-11 forward, Ingram went down in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and had to be carried off the court.
SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION PLAYOFFS
Girls
Division I
St. Mary’s 68, Granite Bay 59
Oak Ridge 66, McClatchy 52
Championship: Friday at Golden 1 Center, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Oak Ridge vs. No. 1 St. Mary’s
Division ll
Antelope 72, Vista del Lago 43
Del Oro 53, Laguna Creek 51
Championship: Thursday at Golden 1 Center, 6 p.m.
No. 3 Del Oro vs. No. 1 Antelope
Division lll
Placer vs Merced, Tuesday
Christian Brothers 51, Vanden 42
Championship: Friday at Golden 1 Center, 2 p.m.
Placer/Merced vs No. 2 Christian Brothers
Division IV
Argonaut 69, Hughson 58
El Dorado 59, Calaveras 51
Championship: Thursday at Golden 1 Center, 2 p.m.
No. 2 El Dorado vs No. 1 Argonaut
Division V
Colfax 71, Holt 11
Golden Sierra 58, Le Grand 48
Championship: Friday at Golden 1 Center, 10 a.m.
No. 2 Golden Sierra vs No. 1 Colfax
Division VI
Valley Christian 56, Ripon Christian 53
Forest Lake Christian 57, Sacramento Adventist 35
Championship: Thursday at Golden 1 Center, 10 a.m.
No. 2 Forest Lake Christian vs No. 1 Valley Christian