OAKLAND - Oakland forward Isaac Johnson (2) flies in for a layup in the fourth quarter. Oakland and Fremont-Oakland played a high school basketball game at Oakland High School in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND – Oakland celebrated its seniors before playing Fremont-Oakland on Wednesday night, but it took until the final quarter for most of those fourth-year players to make the kind of impact that helped the Wildcats win a Division III state championship last season.
Ironically enough, it was senior transfer Isaac Johnson who provided the biggest boost in a 61-47 victory.
“I want it real bad,” Johnson said about playing for a state championship. “The seniors have taught me a lot this year.”
After Oakland had shredded vaunted Modesto Christian 79-69 on Monday, the Wildcats were vexed by Fremont’s full-court trap.
Coach Orlando Watkins didn’t chalk up the sloppy performance against a sub-.500 team to an emotional letdown following such a big victory. Instead, he praised Fremont’s energy when defending.
That relentless pressure, spearheaded by guard Jaylen Wheeler (11 points), helped the Tigers cut Oakland’s lead to 37-36 with six minutes to go in the game.
“Fremont made us work,” Watkins said. “We didn’t execute early, but down the stretch, we figured it out.”
Turnovers and hurried possessions abounded until Oakland’s players finally realized Johnson was the key to breaking the trap.
The 6-foot-6 forward flashed to the middle of the floor, caught the ball in open space, passed to a guard, cut into the lane and then skied for an alley-oop dunk with 5:45 left.
“That press was slowing us down, but we picked it up toward the end,” Johnson said.
Johnson scored nine of his team-high 15 in the fourth quarter, going on a run where he made two layups and a free throw using Watkins’ formula.
Oakland stretched the lead to 12 after that Johnson flurry, and the Wildcats then cruised to the win. Anthony Lacy, who scored eight points, threw his body around with such abandon that Watkins had to limit his minutes.
“We’re just trying to save him, because playoffs are right around the corner, and we need everyone to be as fresh as possible,” Watkins said.
Oakland led 15-11 after one quarter, 26-17 at halftime, and 37-30 following the third period.
The Wildcats improved to 20-6 and 7-1 in the OAL, while Fremont dropped to 12-14, 2-6.
Now winners of four straight, Oakland is on track to play Oakland Tech in the final game of the regular season with the OAL title on the line.
But after Wednesday night’s performance, Watkins said his Wildcats aren’t taking a victory against 0-10 Castlemont for granted.
“We’re not good enough to look ahead,” Watkins said.
