McClymonds sends its coach off with a 73-54 victory

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I usually like to see the Southern California teams win when I’m here at the state championships, but it was nice to see Oakland McClymonds Coach Dwight Nathaniel go out with a victory.

Nathaniel, who is retiring from coaching after the boys’ Division I state final, watched his team thoroughly frustrate Dominguez at Arco Arena in Sacramento, allowing him to walk off into the sunset with a 73-54 victory.

Nathaniel has experienced some recent tragedies in his life that would bring any grown man to his knees. He stuck around though, mainly to see his best player, Frank Otis, graduate and move on to the next phase of his life.

Dominguez’s best player, Jordan Hamilton, didn’t have his best night. He finally hit a three-point basket to cut the deficit to 11, but William Cherry hit a three-pointer on the other end and Hamilton then threw away a pass for a turnover with 3:10 remaining. Dominguez Coach Russell Otis called a timeout and the Dons looked beaten as they walked slowly off the court.

Hamilton finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, but his scoreless third quarter really stung the Dons, who were then outscored, 24-11, in the fourth.

McClymonds had three players scored 16 or more points, the kind of balance Dominguez needed on this night.

--Dan Arritt