All-Oakland NorCal Division III final to be played at Laney College

Laney College has been chosen as the host site of the NorCal Division III boys final between Oakland High School and Oakland Tech. The Oakland Section posted the update on its Twitter account on Monday morning. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., and the game will tipoff at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Laney’s gymnasium seats 2,000 people and can fit around 2,500. Oakland Section Commissioner Franky Navarro told the Bay Area News Group on Sunday that with profits going to the California Interscholastic Federation, the Oakland Section will handle any extra costs incurred from moving the game to the community college.

Believed to be the first time two Oakland schools will play against one another in a regional championship, some hoped 19,000 seat Oakland Arena would be the host site for the game. The Golden State Warriors played at the Arena until 2019. Navarro told the Bay Area News Group on Sunday that he had not been in touch with anyone involved with the Oakland Arena.

Oakland Tech (22-11) and Oakland (25-8) met twice in the regular season and once in the Oakland Section championship. Oakland Tech won all three matchups, each time by three points or less.

“I think it will be big for the city of Oakland,” Oakland coach Orlando Watkins told the Bay Area News Group on Saturday. “It’s big for two Oakland teams to represent Northern California.”