See what Damian Lillard watched as Oakland Tech beat Oakland in NorCal Division 2 regional final
It's become such a rivalry that even an NBA All-Star had to show up.
Before a packed house, Milwaukee Bucks perennial All-Star Damian Lillard sat courtside Tuesday at Oakland Tech to watch the host Bulldogs defeat Dame's alma mater Tuesday, 73-66, for the CIF Division 2 championship.
One might imagine the 33-year-old 2024 NBA All-Star Game MVP might want a day off from the hardwood, but Lillard wanted to see if his Wildcats could beat the Bulldogs for a second straight year and win a second straight state title.
Damian Lillard, center, graduated from Oakland in 2008. His coach then Orlando Watkins, is in his 19th season.
Photo: Eric Taylor
Last year Oakland, where Lillard graduated from in 2008, upset Tech 77-61 to win the NorCal D3 championship on its way to state D3 championship.
Lillard obviously was hoping for the same thing, but it was not to be as the Bulldogs got 34 points from bouncy 6-foot- junior ArDarius Grayson and a 13 points each from Xan Meyer-Plettner and Asher Krammer to improve to 29-4. Anthony Lacy contributed 17 points for Oakland and Jonathan Chapple contributed 16.
Grayson finished off the game with an emphatic dunk and even though it was after the horn, he was mobbed by hundreds in the packed gym. (See pre-, post- and game video at the top of the page by Eric Taylor).
Tech will now go on to play Centennial-Bakersfield in Saturday's 4 p.m. state championship at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, home of the NBA Kings.
Afterward, 14th-year Tech coach Karega Hart told SBLive photographer, videographer and reporter Eric Taylor that Oakland is a great basketball city and that Tuesday's performance and turnout was a perfect reflection.
Oakland Tech 14th-year coach Karega Hart
Photo: Eric Taylor
"It feels great," he said. "I'm so happy for our kids and just the program. It just keeps elevating, ascending. The sky is the limit.
"Everyone is hating on the (Oakland Athletic League) and how bad the league is, but they're wrong. They look at it all from a bird's eye view. They don't feel this environment. It's a great basketball environment and a great basketball city."
Thus the presence of Lillard.
As usual, the Oakland Tech and Oakland game brought great drama and passion.
Photo: Eric Taylor
(Photo gallery above by Eric Taylor)
