Live updates: Buena High School plays for CIF-State Division III boys basketball championship

10 p.m. Postgame postmortem

Buena’s postgame postmortem included discussion of the Bulldogs’ inability to adjust to the arena setting, the slippery ball, the long drive, the bigger court and, most of all, Oakland’s speed.

“They did some good things and we did some things that were abnormal for us,” Buena coach Matt Colton said.

The highlight of the postgame press conference was this moment shared by seniors Zane Carter and Colin Guenther, who have combined to lead the Buena High football team to a sectional final and basketball team to a state final.

They have to be one of the best 1-2 multisport combinations in recent Ventura County history.

More to come in my story for Sunday’s newspaper.

5:55 p.m. Buena falls, 59-43

Zane Carter finishes with a team-high 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting and seven rebounds for Buena, which finishes 31-6.

Wakine Molina is awarded CIF's Victory With Honor Award.

Buena shot 16 of 50 (32%) as a team, including 1 of 17 from 3-point land, and turned the ball over 23 times. Money Williams had 23 points, nine rebounds and four steals to lead Oakland.

The CIF-State Division III Southern California regional champion finishes its history season 31-6. It's 37 games are the most played by a boys basketball team in Ventura County history.

5:40 p.m. Buena trailing 53-33 late

Ventura County’s first boys basketball state finalist in 24 years is going to fall short. Bulldogs trailing 53-33 at the last media timeout. 3:47 to play. Colin Guenther has fouled out for the Bulldogs.

5:25 p.m. Buena trailing 44-23 entering fourth quarter

Colin Guenther’s 3-point play was the lone highlight for Buena in the third quarter. ZaneCarter leads the Bulldogs with 11 points and five rebounds.

5:15 p.m. Buena down 20 early third quarter

Oakland scores the first 10 points of the second half. Luke Ortiz and Colin Guenther pick up their third fouls. Timeout Buena. Oakland leads 33-13. ‘Dogs in big trouble now.

5 p.m. Buena down double digits at the half

Despite Daniel Ortiz’s late layup, Buena trails 23-13 at the half in the CIF-State Division III championship game.

Zane Carter leads Buena with eight points and two rebounds. Luke Ortiz has three points. Daniel Ortiz has two points. Josh Ullegue has four rebounds. Colin Guenther has two rebounds, an assist and two steals.

But Buena has struggled offensively, shooting just 20% (5 of 25). It is 1 of 9 on 3s.

4:50 p.m. Oakland 17, Buena 11 3:03 Q2

Zane Carter scores inside and later adds two free throws to pull Buena within 17-11 with 5:24 left in the first half.

The 6-foot-4 senior forward has a game-high eight points and two rebounds.

Buena is outrebounding Oakland 17-16. Both teams shooting in the 20s. But Bulldogs offense is still sputtering.

4:40 Oakland 14, Buena 7 after the first quarter

Buena trails 14-4 after turning the ball over 11 times in the first seven minutes.

But Luke Ortiz hits a corner 3 pointer to give the Bulldogs some confidence late in the first quarter.

4:30 p.m. Buena starts state title game slow

Buena starts Josh Ullegue, Colin Guenther, Daniel Ortiz, Zane Carter and Luke Ortiz. Luke Ortiz wins the tip.

But the Bulldogs start nervously. Oakland scores the first nine points as Buena starts 0 for 3 from the field with six early turnovers.

After head coach Matt Colton calls a timeout with 4:30 left in the first quarter, the Bulldogs get on the board as Guenther feeds Carter on a pick and roll.

4:07 p.m. They’re ready in Ventura, too

Buena High boys basketball is on the floor and warming up for the CIF-State Division III final.

Tipoff is set for 4:11 p.m.

As tipoff approaches, Buena fans are filling into the Golden 1 Center.

Buena fans are also ready in Ventura, where the game is being shown live at Cronies Sports Grill.

4 p.m. Sacramento, not Las Vegas

The Erickson family of Ventura was planning on spending the weekend in Las Vegas, following UCLA men’s basketball at the Pac-12 Conference tournament.

Until Marcy predicted— months ago — that her grandsons, Daniel and Luke, would be playing for a state championship this weekend in Sacramento.

“We all looked at each other and rolled our eyes,” said Dave Erickson, Daniel and Luke’s grandfather.

“Marcy,” Dave remembers saying, “Let’s be real. Just book the rooms (in Las Vegas).”

Marcy Erickson would not budge.

“I’m telling you,” Marcy said, “these boys with Buena are going to be in the state final.”

As she was finding her seat Friday at the Golden 1 Center, Marcy Erickson had her I-told-you-so moment.

“I said we were going to be here!” Marcy said.

3:45 p.m. Carter family already winning before tipoff

Even before Buena senior Zane Carter plays for a state title later this afternoon, the Carter family already has two wins today.

Older sister Averi Carter and Ventura College beach volleyball partner Katey Mulville swept teams from Mt. San Jacinto and Cerritos this morning.

3:30 p.m. Who is Buena’s Damian Lillard?

So today’s opponent, Oakland High, boasts Portland Trailblazers star Damian Lillard as an alum.

Which prompts the question — Who’s the best boys basketball player in Buena High history? (I know who I have in mind)

A quick survey on social media and my contacts brings a few nominees. They include Lance Fay, who was the CIF-Southern Section Division I co-Player of the Year with Mater Dei’s Reggie Geary; lights-out shooter Jeff Oliver, who starred at Ventura College and coach Cal State University San Bernardino; 6-foot-11 Shawn Kirkeby, who played at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Duke Lyskin, who starred at Westmont College in the late 1970s; and Walt Campbell, who is Buena’s all-time leading rebounder.

Certainly, Buena seniors Zane Carter, Daniel Ortiz and Colin Guenther have put themselves in the conversation during this postseason.

3:15 p.m. The House That Monte McNair Filled

The NBA’s Sacramento Kings, who call the Golden 1 Center home, are currently 39-26 and in second place in the Western Conference.

The Kings have been put together by general manager Monte McNair, who is an Oak Park High graduate and former multi-sport star for the Eagles. McNair played football at Princeton University.

3 p.m. Welcome to Sacramento for the CIF-State basketball championships

The Buena High boys basketball team is playing for history Friday afternoon in Sacramento.

The Bulldogs (31-6) will play Oakland High in the CIF-State Division III championship game at the Golden 1 Center. Tipoff is at 4 p.m.

Buena, which survived Culver City Tuesday in an epic CIF-State Division III, is the first public school in Ventura County history to reach a state boys basketball final.

Buena won state championships in girls basketball in 1992 and 1993 under legendary head coach Joe Vaughan, who coached the mother and aunt of current Buena stars Daniel Ortiz and Luke Ortiz.

Against Culver City, Luke splashed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that forced a second OT. Daniel made four straight free throws in the final minute of the third OT to provide the clinching points.

— Joe Curley

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Buena plays Oakland in CIF-State boys basketball championship