There are no stars for Oak Ridge girls basketball team in its shining season
The star power for Oak Ridge High’s girls basketball team can only be found in the entryway of the school’s sparkling, remodeled gym.
In the trophy case, mementos of past championship seasons are on display, none more striking than the 2010 CIF State Division I championship team led by guard Sara James, who went on to play at Stanford.
This season, coach Steve White has achieved success in El Dorado Hills on the strength of a simple plan: teamwork, togetherness and defense. There are no stars on a roster full of talent for Oak Ridge (23-3), which is unbeaten against Northern California competition this season and unscathed in 2015. The Trojans will take a 12-game winning streak into the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs that start Tuesday against visiting Bear Creek of Stockton.
The Trojans, seeded No. 2 opposite No. 1 St. Mary’s of Stockton, target their seventh trip to a section championship game in eight seasons and second successive trip to the Division I finals. With White, the Trojans have won three section titles in six appearances to go with 11 league championships.
“We’ve really come along nicely as a team this season, without any superstars,” said White, who is in his 20th season. “We play really well together, working hard, working together. That’s been the secret to our success for a long time, getting everyone to buy into team basketball, moving the ball, team defense, not worrying about who gets points.”
Oak Ridge is solidified by seniors Grace Derksen, Isamar Conde and Shelby Peters, junior Briana Dulgar and freshmen Kassidy DeLapp and Hailey McCoy.
The junior varsity is 24-0 under Annie Lamy and her husband, Greg Lamy. Their daughter Skye Lamy is a sophomore guard on the varsity.
“We’re really proud of the culture we have here,” White said, not only of his program’s success but the school’s long history of excellence in all areas. “We’ve been in the top 10 academically in the state. Our band and our choir have won competitions, and the performing arts have been excellent. The kids do a good job with community outreach. It’s been a great time.”
White’s goals were modest when he arrived at Oak Ridge.
“We just wanted to win the league, and now the goal is to get into the NorCal tournament and make a run to the state championship,” White said.
CBS uprising – If there’s a dark horse in the girls’ D-III field, it’s Christian Brothers. Seeded eighth after winning the Capital Athletic League at 10-0, CBS is led by senior Kira McKechnie. She is averaging 13.5 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.3 blocked shots.
CBS opens Tuesday against El Dorado, which went 10-0 in the Sierra Valley Conference behind a balanced offense led by Kylie Haverson, Samantha Klinkenborg, Faith Wilson and Kayla Cotten. None is a senior.
Follow Joe Davidson on Twitter @SacBee_JoeD.
GIRLS SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
Today (all games at 7 p.m.)
DIVISION I
No. 16 Merced at No. 1 St. Mary’s
No. 9 Bella Vista at No. 8 St. Francis
No. 12 Folsom at No. 5 Lincoln-Stockton
No. 13 Lodi at No. 4 Davis
No. 14 Enochs at No. 3 McClatchy
No. 11 Nevada Union at No. 6 Pleasant Grove
No. 10 River City at No. 7 Napa
No. 15 Bear Creek at No. 2 Oak Ridge
DIVISION II
No. 16 McNair at No. 1 Modesto Christian
No. 9 Vacaville at No. 8 Bethel
No. 12 Cordova at No. 5 Whitney
No. 13 Rodriguez at No. 4 Del Oro
No. 14 Buhach Colony at No. 3 Kimball
No. 11 Ponderosa at No. 11 Sacramento
No. 10 Elk Grove at No. 7 Golden Valley
No. 15 Beyer at No. 2 Antelope
DIVISION III
No. 16 Vista del Lago at No. 1 Vanden
No. 9 El Dorado at No. 8 Christian Brothers
No. 12 Rosemont at No. 5 Weston Ranch
No. 13 Lincoln at No. 4 Patterson
No. 14 El Camino at No. 3 Rio Linda
No. 11 East Union at No. 6 Placer
No. 10 Benicia at No. 7 Florin
No. 15 Central Valley at No. 2 Inderkum
DIVISION IV
No. 16 Linden at No. 1 Brookside Christian
No. 9 Livingston at No. 8 San Juan
No. 12 Hughson at No. 5 Excel Academy
No. 13 Foothill at No. 4 Dixon
No. 14 Ripon at No. 3 West Campus
No. 11 Highlands at No. 6 Colfax
No. 10 Riverbank at No. 7 Sonora
No. 15 Orestimba at No. 2 Bradshaw Christian
DIVISION V
No. 9 Holt Academy at No. 8 Rio Vista
No. 12 Mariposa vs. No. 5 Millennium
at Mountain House H.S.
No. 11 Western Sierra at No. 6 Gustine
No. 10 Delta Charter at No. 7 Forest Lake Chr.
First-round byes: No. 1 Woodland Christian, No. 2 Argonaut, No. 4 Ripon Christian, No. 3 Capital Christian
DIVISION VI
No. 8 Victory Christian at No. 1 Valley Christian
No. 5 Stockton Christian at No. 4 Sac Adventist
No. 6 Lodi Academy at No. 3 Sacramento Waldorf
No. 10 Freedom Christian vs. No. 2 Turlock Christian at Calvary Baptist Church
BOYS SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday (all games at 7 p.m.)
DIVISION I
No. 16 Tokay at No. 1 Folsom
No. 9 Granite Bay at No. 8 Jesuit
No. 12 Monterey Trail at No. 5 Kennedy
No. 13 Tracy at No. 4 Pleasant Grove
No. 14 Chavez at No. 3 Woodcreek
No. 11 River City at No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 Bella Vista at No. 7 Oak Ridge
No. 15 Turlock at No. 2 Sheldon
DIVISION II
No. 16 Vacaville at No. 1 Sacramento
No. 9 Rocklin at No. 8 Del Campo
No. 12 Burbank at No. 5 Beyer
No. 13 Bethel at No. 4 Cosumnes Oaks
No. 14 Rodriguez at No. 3 St. Mary’s
No. 11 Bear Creek at No. 6 Antelope
No. 10 Elk Grove at No. 7 Whitney
No. 15 Ponderosa at No. 2 Modesto Christian
DIVISION III
No. 16 Patterson at No. 1 Christian Brothers
No. 9 Weston Ranch at No. 8 Central Valley
No. 12 Lincoln at No. 5 Manteca
No. 13 Rio Americano at No. 4 Cordova
No. 14 Fairfield at No. 3 Sierra
No. 11 Vallejo at No. 6 Florin
No. 10 Vista del Lago at No. 7 Placer
No. 17 Ceres at No. 2 Vanden
DIVISION IV
No. 16 San Juan at No. 1 Capital Christian
No. 9 Union Mine at No. 8 Sonora
No. 12 Mesa Verde at No. 5 Calaveras
No. 13 Ripon at No. 4 Marysville
No. 14 Dixon at No. 3 Foothill
No. 11 Summerville at No. 6 West Campus
No. 10 Natomas at No. 7 Central Catholic
No. 18 Highlands at No. 2 Liberty Ranch
DIVISION V
No. 9 Buckingham at No. 8 Forest Lake Christian
No. 13 Western Sierra vs. No. 4 Elliott Christian at Tokay H.S.
No. 12 Le Grand at No. 5 Argonaut
No. 14 Hughes Academy at No. 3 Mariposa
No. 11 Delta Charter vs. No. 6 Millennium at Mountain House H.S.
No. 10 Foresthill at No. 7 Bradshaw Christian
First-round byes: No. 1 Ripon Christian, No. 2 Brookside Christian
DIVISION VI
No. 9 Faith Christian at No. 1 Sac Country Day
No. 5 Victory Christian vs. No. 4 Turlock Christian at Calvary Baptist Church
No. 6 New Life Christian at No. 3 Sac Adventist
No. 7 Stockton Christian at No. 2 Valley Christian
This story was originally published February 23, 2015 at 6:21 PM.