Boys’ Southern Section Basketball Playoffs : Butler Scores 55 in Final Oakwood Appearance

Oakwood High’s Mitchell Butler capped his high school career with a school-record 55 points and also had 25 rebounds, but the Gorillas succumbed to Southern California Christian, 83-74, Wednesday night in a Southern Section 1-A Division quarterfinal at Orange Lutheran High.

Butler scored all 10 of the Gorillas’ first-quarter points and 22 of Oakwood’s 27 points in the first half. He also had 24 points in the Gorillas’ 32-point fourth quarter. Butler, who also had seven steals, hit five three-point baskets and was six of eight from the free-throw line.

The Flames built a 61-42 lead after three quarters before the Gorillas (18-4) outscored Southern California Christian, 32-22, in the fourth quarter.

Shawn Wiltshire led the Flames (20-5) with 31 points and Kenny Cross added 19.

4-A DIVISION

Artesia 56, Rio Mesa 54 (OT)--Center Ed O’Bannon, who finished with a game-high 30 points, made two free throws with 32 seconds left in overtime and then blocked Rio Mesa guard Lester Smith’s eight-foot jump shot attempt with one second left to clinch the win at Gahr High in Cerritos.

Rio Mesa forward Jeff Garner, who scored 15 points, sent the game into overtime by stealing guard Chris Thompson’s inbounds pass and then tying the score at 52-52 on a breakaway dunk with 30 seconds left. Artesia guard David Boston’s three-point attempt at the buzzer clanked off the back of the rim.

Rio Mesa (21-5), trailing by two after three quarters, tied the score, 37-37, when 6-foot-6 forward Eric Thomas hit a layup 36 seconds into the fourth quarter. Thomas paced Rio Mesa with 20 points and five blocks.

Rio Mesa led, 11-9, after one period and extended its lead to 17-11 with 6:45 remaining in the second period to complete a 10-4 run. But Artesia (21-5) launched a 17-4 run, ignited by O’Bannon’s 10 points. O’Bannon capped off the drive with a three-point shot three seconds before intermission to give the Pioneers a 28-21 halftime edge.

Trailing, 28-21, at halftime, Rio Mesa posted an 8-3 third-quarter run, sparked by Thomas’ six points and capped by Garner’s reverse dunk.