OAKLAND — Inside a buzzing McClymonds gymnasium, Granada performed with the boldness of a workforce that is aware of itself once more.
The Matadors beat Fremont-Oakland 72-70 in extra time on Saturday afternoon on the Double Objective Coaches Traditional, extending a begin that has confirmed that the Livermore college could be contenders within the East Bay Athletic League as soon as once more.
The Tigers rallied from an early double-digit deficit, however Granada hit each massive shot on the finish of regulation and in extra time to seal a strong non-league win.
Brandon Hahn had a monster sport, scoring 25 factors and hauling in 15 rebounds.
Fremont guard Roy Bishop Jr. scored 20 factors within the loss.
“We practiced this yesterday, being down and trying to come back,” Granada coach Quaran Johnson Sr. mentioned. “I wasn’t really nervous being out in this situation because we practiced it. It was just really exciting to see it all come to fruition on the floor.”
Johnson’s son, Quaran Johnson Jr., scored 16 factors, together with the game-tying jumper on the finish of regulation.
Johnson is again on the Granada bench after taking a depart of absence from the workforce final season to take care of his new child youngster.
Via 10 video games this season, Johnson’s management had proved to place Granada again to its successful methods. The Livermore college went 8-19 in 2024-25 and missed the postseason.
However after beating Fremont on Saturday, the Matadors have now began the season successful eight of its first 10 video games.
“In so many ways, they needed last season,” Johnson mentioned. “They knew what it felt like to lose and the residue that stayed with them just didn’t sit right. So this season is all about getting back to our culture. It didn’t continue when I stepped down, and so we have to get back to that and the rest will take care of itself.”
Granada led by as a lot as 14 within the first half behind strong execution in its movement offense.
The one-two-punch of Johnson Jr. and Hahn mixed for 19 of Granada’s 34 first-half factors.
However after a sluggish begin, Fremont used a trapping full-court press to return inside six factors of Granada’s benefit within the second quarter.
The Matadors led by 10 at halftime.
Regardless of not hitting many pictures from the sector, Fremont slowly chipped away on the Matadors’ lead.
The Tigers had a giant fourth quarter, outscoring the Matadors 24-16. With just below 40 seconds left, sophomore Josiah Arteberry hit two free throws to place Fremont up three.
Johnson Jr. had a tricky last interval, turning the ball over twice and lacking four-of-six free throw makes an attempt.
However when his workforce wanted him most, the freshman delivered.
Johnson hit a contested pull-up jumper with 6.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the sport, and the Matadors compelled a cease on the opposite finish to power extra time.
“I was missing all my free throws, so I knew if I had the last shot I had to hit it,” Johnson Jr. mentioned.
Within the additional interval, it was all Granada.
Up two with simply over a minute left, freshman Malcom Davis hit a clutch nook three-pointer to place Granada up 69-64.
From there, the Matadors hit simply sufficient free throws to place the sport away.
Granada is simply three years faraway from being within the CIF Division I state title sport. Two years in the past, the Matadors have been within the NorCal regional last.
Regardless of going by a rebuild final season, the Matadors are eyeing a visit again to the state finals.
“A state championship is what our goal is,” Hahn mentioned. “We have to win the EBAL first, but if we’re going to keep going like this, who knows?”
No. 9 Amador Valley 57, No. 15 Oakland Tech 50
Oakland Tech gave a valiant effort, however the Bulldogs ran out of time as Amador Valley notches a signature non-league win. Oakland Tech introduced a 20-point second-half deficit down to only three within the fourth quarter. Amador Valley’s Elijah Stanley sealed the sport with a key block, and the Dons drained simply sufficient free throws to ice the sport. “A win like this gives us confidence to keep moving forward,” Amador Valley level guard Jaylen Smith mentioned. “We’ll play even harder and build our hunger.”
Ygnacio Valley 67, McClymonds 62
Senior Jestus Akudinobi scored 21 factors, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked 4 pictures to guide Ygnacio Valley to a five-point win over host McClymonds. The Wolves trailed by 4 going into the ultimate quarter, however an 18-0 run to open the ultimate interval put the Harmony college within the driver’s seat. Senior middle Josiah McCombs had a team-high 13 factors to associate with seven rebounds for the Warriors, who dropped to 2-6.
Pinole Valley 88, Elite-Vallejo 49
Pinole Valley prolonged its undefeated win streak to seven video games behind 14-point performances from DeAri Simmons and Amar Tudinovic. The Spartans jumped out to a 35-12 lead after the primary quarter and didn’t look again. Senior Jaylin Reed added 12 factors for Pinole Valley, which can host Vallejo on Monday.
Head-Royce 65, Vallejo 33
The Jayhawks made fast work of Vallejo, constructing off a 18-point halftime result in cruise to their fifth win of the season. Freshman level guard Tua Montoya gained participant of the sport as he scored 15 factors. Fellow freshman Tucker Peay stuffed the stat sheet, scoring seven factors, grabbing eight rebounds, shelling out 4 assists, blocking 4 pictures and recording 5 steals. Junior taking pictures guard Nick Taubes added 12 factors.
