Boys Basketball: Trojans Top Oakland in Hyped Showdown

Castro Valley 75, Oakland 68

The Star: Castro Valley's Roderick Bobbitt poured in a game-high 30 points despite picking up three first-half fouls and his four midway through the third. He scored 13 in the fourth and really picked it up when teammate Juan Anderson left with cramps.

The Turning Point: After a dunk from Oakland's Jamil Brown cut Castro Valley' lead to 70-68 with 27 seconds left, Bobbitt hit a pair of free throws to put the Trojans back up four. Oakland rushed to throw up a prayer — an air ball — and Bobbitt put the game away with a three-point play with 11 seconds to go.

The Quote: "I'm lucky to coach this team," Castro Valley coach Nick Jones said. 

What's next? The Trojans play Berkeley at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday at Dougherty Valley High.

Bottom Line: There might not be another game in Northern California this year with as much talent on display. The Trojans took the lead for good in the second quarter, but their lead never grew larger than nine. It's well within the realm of possibility — even likely — that these teams could meet again in the Northern California Division I title game at Arco Arena in Sacramento at the end of the year. 

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How big was Thursday's marquee boys basketball showdown between and Oakland? 

Well, big enough for Marquette men's basketball coach Buzz Williams to fly out from Milwaukee specifically to watch.

On display were four Division-I signees: Oakland's trio of Jabari Brown (Oregon), T.J. Taylor (UC Santa Barbara) and Dominique Taplin (UC Riverside) and Williams' prize recruit, Castro Valley's Juan Anderson.

"It was exciting that (Williams) came all the way out here during their season to see this game," Anderson said.

But on a night where the Trojans possibly established themselves as Northern California's best with a 75-68 win, it was Roderick Bobbitt that left a packed Castro Valley gym in awe. Despite dealing with foul trouble for nearly the entire game, Bobbitt torched Oakland for 30 points.

"He's such a great player," Anderson said of Bobbitt. "He can take a game over and do so many things."

When Anderson, who scored 20 points, was sidelined with cramps in the fourth quarter, Bobbitt made sure the Trojans didn't miss a beat. He started the quarter on the bench after picking up his fourth foul midway through the third, but scored 13 points in the final four minutes, 49 seconds — including the game's final five points. 

"I knew I needed to carry the team (when Anderson was out)," Bobbitt said. "Especially against (Oakland). They are a very good team ... I think we'll see them again (in NorCals)."

Castro Valley (7-0) took the lead for good with 4:35 left in the second quarter and its lead hovered around five for most of the second half, but Brown anchored a late charge that saw the Wildcats cut the deficit to two on two occasions in the final minute. 

When a bucket from Brown made it 68-66 Castro Valley with 32 seconds left, the Wildcats were forced to foul and Bobbitt calmly sank a pair of free throws. Brown's brother, Jamil, dunked to make it 70-68 with 23 seconds left, but once again, Bobbitt was two-for-two from the line. 

This time there would be no response.

A rushed air ball by Oakland (3-2) went out of bounds and when the Trojans inbounded, Bobbitt went coast-to-coast and finished with an and-one. As Bobbitt crossed halfcourt, an inadvertant buzzer went off, confusing the Oakland defenders. 

Not Bobbitt. He continued to the hoop and finished to put the game away.

"There were a lot of good players on the court," Castro Valley coach Nick Jones said. "I'm lucky to coach this team."

Oakland came into the game fresh off a 62-60 win against Seattle-power Rainer Beach, while Castro Valley had won its past five games by an average of 33 points.

The Trojans will play undefeated Berkeley (7-0) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at Dougherty Valley High.

Chris Read added seven points for the Trojans, including two on a thunderous dunk coming off a missed three-point attempt by Bobbitt.

Jabari Brown scored 23 points to pace Oakland. Taplin scored 13, while Taylor and Jamil Brown both added 12.

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Castro Valley 75, Oakland 67

Castro Valley (7-0) 17 21 14 23 — 75

Oakland (3-2) 18 14 16 20 — 68

INDIVIDUALS

Oakland – Taylor 5 0-0 12, Taplin 6 0-1 13, Brown 5 2-4 23, Headspeth 2 0-0 4, Murray 2 0-2 4. Totals 29 6-13 68.

Castro Valley (fg ftm-fta tp) – Johnson 2 1-2 6, Foster 2 0-2 4, Read 3 1-2 7, Bobbitt 10 7-7 30, Anderson 7 6-10 20, Thompson 1 1-2 4, Wright 2 0-2 4. Totals 27 16-27 75.

3-point goals: Castro Valley 5 (Bobbitt 3, Johnson, Thompson); Oakland 6 (Jab.Brown 3, Taylor 2, Taplin). Fouled out : None.

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