With two minutes left in a raucous Inderkum gymnasium and the score tied between the top-seeded hosts and visiting eighth seed Oakland Tech, the Division I quarterfinal game was there for the taking.
The Bulldog seniors took it – no – ripped it away from the Sacramento team in a clutch performance for the ages by Tech in its 72-66 victory by the defending state D-II champs.
“We didn’t ever think about losing,” Tech coach Karega Hart told the Bay Area News Group. “We don’t focus on any other outcome but winning. We just keep fighting until we get the outcome we want.”
That setsthe stage for an epic showdown with No. 5 seed San Ramon Valley, who hung 101 points on Liberty in their quarterfinal matchup.
“We’ve got to devise a gameplan, and be ready for a hostile environment,” Hart said.
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Star guard ArDarius Grayson broke the 63-63 deadlock with a 3-point make from the corner, unleashed off the dribble with a hand in his face.
After Inderkum split a pair of free throws to cut the lead to two, Grayson once again imposed his will on the game when he flew into the paint and made a circus layup in traffic to make it a 68-64 game with 46 seconds remaining.
“He has that gumption,” Tech coach Karega Hart said. “He is fearless and the ultimate competitor. You trust guys like that, because he’s not going to be small in the big moments. He lives for the moment.”
Inderkum wouldn’t go away though, with Taylen Goodman burying two free throws to get it back to 68-66.
That’s when Xan Meyer-Plettner closed things out, nailing four free throws and grabbing a steal with 10 seconds left to ice the game.
It was sweet revenge for Tech, who had been embarrassed by Inderkum 85-59 in January.
“I’m excited for them, and they feel really good, especially after how we lost to them (in the regular season) when in the fourth quarter they were up 20 and throwing lobs and not running out the clock,” Hart said. “I guess that’s karma.”
Up next is San Ramon Valley, a test the Bulldogs can’t wait to take on.
“We’re excited to be in the next round,” Hart said. “It’s not easy, and anybody who says it is, is fooling themselves. We’re going to try to remain hungry and humble.”
