Artesia Bounces Back to Avenge Loss, Play for State Title : Prep basketball: The Pioneers will play in the championship game Friday night against Danville San Ramon.

The Artesia High School boys’ basketball team played Glendora in the Southern Section Division II-AA championship game 10 days ago and lost, 66-48.

As disappointing as it was, the loss became a catalyst for Artesia, which was given a second chance by receiving an at-large berth in the state Southern Regional playoffs.

The Pioneers (28-4) marched through regional play, got their rematch and defeated Glendora on Saturday, 59-54, in the Division II championship game. The victory puts them in the state Division II title game Friday night against Danville San Ramon (29-2) at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Losing that first game to Glendora did not sit well with the Pioneers, who were defending divisional champions.

“Glendora embarrassed us in front of a lot of people, and we made it our goal to beat them,” said Charles O’Bannon, a 6-foot-6 swingman.

The players became more unified in their goal after the first game against Glendora.

“We have always been close,” said Avondre Jones, a 6-foot-11 center. “But after that first game with Glendora we got closer. Everyone played harder when we really needed it.”

Coach Wayne Merino credited the players for their character.

“The kids have been playing just super the last week and a half,” he said. “They really put it together, working together and playing hard.”

O’Bannon, who averaged 20 points a game during the regular season, averaged 24.5 in state regional wins over East Bakersfield, Del Mar Torrey Pines and Glendora. He also improved his team-leading rebound average of 9.3 to 10.4.

Jones, who averaged 8.1 rebounds during the regular season, has averaged 10.7 in the playoffs. He also has blocked 6.4 shots a game, two more than his seasonal average.

Jae Parks, a 6-foot-7 forward, has seen his scoring average drop 3 points during the playoffs, but he has been averaging 9.8 points.

Point guard Shawn Caracoza is averaging 11.9 points and 6 assists in the playoffs. His 3-point shot with 14 seconds remaining lifted the Pioneers over East Bakersfield, 61-60.

Forward/guard Deric Hawkins had six rebounds in the victory over Glendora and was a defensive leader in a 56-46 upset win over Torrey Pines.

“Each kid on the starting five has really fit into his role,” Merino said.

O’Bannon called the regular season an “up-and-down year.” It was not until Artesia’s loss to Glendora that he and his teammates began to play harder, something they did not have to do to win the Suburban League title with a 10-0 record.

“The competition in that league was not as good as some of the competition in the area,” he said.

Now, on to Sacramento, where San Ramon is favored to win the state title. Jones believes the Pioneers will be ready.

“We have to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” he said. “We have to be ready and focused on that game. We can’t let up.”