HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : Familiar Names Square Off in Division II-AA Title Game

UCLA basketball players Tracy Murray and Ed O’Bannon hoped Coach Jim Harrick would let them return to Los Angeles briefly this weekend before completing a two-game trip in the Northwest.

The two Bruins wanted to be at the Sports Arena Saturday to watch their younger brothers play in the Southern Section Division II-AA championship game between Glendora and Lakewood Artesia high schools, but Harrick said no.

Sophomore Cameron Murray, 16, is starting point guard for Glendora, the top-seeded team in the division with a 30-0 record. Junior Charles O’Bannon, 17, is starting off guard for Artesia, seeded second at 25-3. Tipoff for the game is 2:45 p.m.

Murray, at 6 feet, is averaging 21 points a game. The two-year starter made two free throws with two seconds remaining Tuesday night to give Glendora a 57-55 semifinal victory over Tustin.

O’Bannon, 6-6, also is averaging 21 points. The three-year starter scored a game-high 26 points in Artesia’s 58-47 victory over Oxnard Rio Mesa Tuesday night in the semifinals.

Murray and O’Bannon, who figure to be highly recruited as seniors, attend most UCLA home games and have discussed the possibility of playing against each other in the Southern Section final.

“The last time I went up against Charles was in the fifth grade during a summer league game,” Murray said. “I didn’t even know who he was then. Of course, I know who he is now.”

Murray said the title game will be especially attractive because of the connections with their brothers.

Coaches of both teams, however, are downplaying the matchup.

“Comparisons will always be made because of their older brothers,” said Artesia Coach Wayne Merino, whose team is a two-time defending section champion. “But there are five guys out there on the court, so I emphasize the team aspect.”

Said Glendora Coach Mike LeDuc: “Ten of our 12 players are seniors, so they’re not going to let a matchup between two underclassmen take away from the game. They’re too smart and experienced for that.”

Glendora, eliminated by Cerritos Gahr in the II-AA quarterfinals last season, is the only undefeated team in the boys’ tournament. Its 30-game winning streak, however, is far short of the section record of 66 set by Compton from 1968-70.

Artesia has won 15 consecutive games since losing a nonleague game to Lakewood Jan. 7.

The girls’ Southern Section tournament has three undefeated teams remaining, two of which will meet in the Division V-A championship tonight at Pacific High in San Bernardino.

San Bernardino Christian and Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep, both 25-0, tip off at 7:30 p.m. Rio Hondo Prep was a V-A finalist last year.

Palos Verdes Peninsula (28-0) is the other undefeated team. The Panthers meet Lynwood (26-1) in the I-AA championship at 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the UC Irvine Bren Center.

Peninsula, a new school this year, is a heavy favorite. The team, coming off a 61-31 semifinal victory over Lakewood Tuesday, has won its four playoff games by an average margin of 39 points.

State sprint champion Marion Jones is back on the court with Thousand Oaks almost two months after breaking her right wrist and dislocating her jaw in a game against Simi Valley.

Jones, a junior forward, resumed practice two weeks ago and played a reserve role in her team’s 88-55 victory over Huntington Beach Edison in the I-A quarterfinals last Saturday. She was back in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s semifinal against Huntington Beach Marina, scoring 15 points, pulling down 16 rebounds and blocking six shots in a 69-28 rout.

Top-seeded Thousand Oaks (27-1) plays Ventura Buena (25-2) in the title game at 6:45 p.m. Saturday at UC Irvine.

Jones, who transferred to Thousand Oaks from Rio Mesa last fall, was expected to sit out the rest of the season to prepare for the track season. The state 100- and 200-meter dash champion is nationally ranked and expected to compete for a berth on this summer’s Olympic team.

It has been an emotional season for the Lynwood boys’ basketball team.

Former standout Ernest Killum’s jersey number was retired in a ceremony Jan. 15, then Killum died only five days later after suffering his second stroke in six months.

Killum, the Southern Section V-AA player of the year in 1990, was a starting guard at Oregon State when he died.

Former Lynwood Coach Bill Notley was too upset to talk about his former player at the time. Second-year Coach Bill Lee also was saddened by the loss.

The Knights (25-5) have responded by reaching the championship game of the I-AA division, where they meet Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley (27-3) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Arena. Lynwood lost to Long Beach Millikan in the I-AA semifinals last season.