DIVISION II BOYS’ PLAYOFFS : Artesia Scores Knockout No. 2 on El Camino

For the second consecutive season, Artesia knocked El Camino out of the Southern California Regional Division II semifinals with a 53-40 victory Thursday night at Gahr High School.

A year ago, the Pioneers (28-2), led by UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon, squeaked by with a 74-70 semifinal victory. But the rematch was never that close, as El Camino shot 27% from the field, scoring four second-quarter points as Artesia pulled away.

“We picked a bad game to shoot like that,” El Camino Coach Ray Johnson said. “But you gotta give them credit.”

Off-guard Jeff Reeves had an off-night, typifying El Camino’s shooting effort by making only four of 24 field goals.

Thursday night, Reeves made only two of 16 three-pointers, finishing with 11 points. Forward Shaun Scurry added 11 points.

El Camino kept the game close early, trailing 10-8 after the first quarter. But after Brian Westbrook’s lay-in cut the gap to 14-12 with 3:40 to play in the second quarter, the Wildcats did not score again until Westbrook made another lay-in, with 3:09 to play in the third quarter.

Artesia outscored El Camino 19-0 over that 8-minute, 31-second span to take a 33-14 lead in the third quarter. El Camino never got closer than eight points in the final period.

Artesia’s 6-foot-10 sophomore center, Avondre Jones, led the way scoring 12 of his game-high 24 points in the third quarter, including four two-handed dunks.

Artesia advanced to the final to face Tustin at a time to be announced at the Sports Arena on Saturday. El Camino finished the season at 23-6.