I watched the Oakland Tech vs. St. Mary's Stockton game on the NFHS Network today. St. Mary's won 44-43. After the game ended, the NFHS link disappeared.
BUT, what was really strange was AFTER A TIMEOUT, St. Mary's led 44-43, had possession and inbounded with around 32 seconds in the game. Both teams had only committed three (3) fouls in the quarter. Oakland Tech coach let St. Mary's run out the clock without a single foul. Oakland Tech did not even full court press or try to trap. The St. Mary's player walked up the court by herself, and after reaching the half-court line, there was minor pressure by the Oakland Tech team. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THE OAKLAND TECH TEAM WANTED A REAL CLOSE GAME, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO WIN in order to keep their MaxPreps placement where it currently is and be placed no better than in D2 for the NorCal CIF playoffs. Rather suspicious to let St. Mary's run out the clock with Oakland Tech down one point.
If you take the current MaxPreps "California" rankings and count only the NorCal section teams and include Clovis West, Oakland Tech would be the 25th best ranked team in MaxPreps. Oakland Tech improved seven spots from the last ranking several days ago.
Oakland Tech - enrollment from 1,800 to 1,950 during below time periods (equivalent to D2 in Sac-Joaquin Section).
D2 CIF State - lost in 3rd round in 2023-24
D1 CIF State Champions in 2022-23
D3 CIF State Champions in 2021-22
2020-21 Covid-19 year - no post season
D2 CIF State Co-Champions in 2019-20 (Covid-19 cancelled the Final game)
D4 CIF State Champions in 2018-19
D4 CIF State - lost in 1st round in 2017-18 (1st year of CIF Competitive Equity)
D1 CIF State - lost in 1st round in 2016-17
D1 CIF State level in all previous years
BUT, what was really strange was AFTER A TIMEOUT, St. Mary's led 44-43, had possession and inbounded with around 32 seconds in the game. Both teams had only committed three (3) fouls in the quarter. Oakland Tech coach let St. Mary's run out the clock without a single foul. Oakland Tech did not even full court press or try to trap. The St. Mary's player walked up the court by herself, and after reaching the half-court line, there was minor pressure by the Oakland Tech team. I GOT THE IMPRESSION THAT THE OAKLAND TECH TEAM WANTED A REAL CLOSE GAME, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO WIN in order to keep their MaxPreps placement where it currently is and be placed no better than in D2 for the NorCal CIF playoffs. Rather suspicious to let St. Mary's run out the clock with Oakland Tech down one point.
If you take the current MaxPreps "California" rankings and count only the NorCal section teams and include Clovis West, Oakland Tech would be the 25th best ranked team in MaxPreps. Oakland Tech improved seven spots from the last ranking several days ago.
Oakland Tech - enrollment from 1,800 to 1,950 during below time periods (equivalent to D2 in Sac-Joaquin Section).
D2 CIF State - lost in 3rd round in 2023-24
D1 CIF State Champions in 2022-23
D3 CIF State Champions in 2021-22
2020-21 Covid-19 year - no post season
D2 CIF State Co-Champions in 2019-20 (Covid-19 cancelled the Final game)
D4 CIF State Champions in 2018-19
D4 CIF State - lost in 1st round in 2017-18 (1st year of CIF Competitive Equity)
D1 CIF State - lost in 1st round in 2016-17
D1 CIF State level in all previous years