ROUNDUP : O’Bannon Sparks Artesia Victory in Division II

Throughout the season, Charles O’Bannon has had a knack for providing the Artesia High boys’ basketball team with whatever was necessary to win. Friday night, he held true to form.

O’Bannon scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, including three in the game’s final minute, to lead Artesia to a 57-50 victory over Danville San Ramon in Sacramento’s Arco Arena, for its second State Division II title in three years.

In a game of spurts, O’Bannon, a 6-foot-6 junior, was the difference with his ability to take charge of the game with his scoring, rebounding and defense.

“He is an exciting player to watch,” San Ramon Coach John Raynor said. “Obviously, he has a great basketball future ahead of him.”

Artesia (29-4) struggled early against San Ramon, which lost in the Division II final last year to Tustin. In a low-scoring first half, San Ramon took a 23-21 lead as Artesia had 10 turnovers.

The second half was a different story as O’Bannon led an Artesia charge in which the Pioneers, trailing, 28-25, held San Ramon scoreless for nearly eight minutes.

O’Bannon scored 16 second-half points and keyed a 19-0 Artesia run as the Pioneers took a commanding 44-28 lead with 5 minutes 39 seconds remaining in the game.

“They were a little flat and we made some good adjustments at halftime that helped us make that run,” Artesia Coach Wayne Merino said.

San Ramon answered with a rally of its own behind the three-point shooting of Brett Mitchell, who finished with a team-high 16 points. The Wolves closed to within 51-47 with 40 seconds remaining before O’Bannon again stepped forward.

After seeing his teammates miss several front ends of one-and-one situations, O’Bannon came up with two key rebounds sandwiched around two free throws of his own to clinch the victory.

“Getting those second-effort rebounds really was a key down the stretch,” Merino said. “That helped us get a couple more chances on the line.”

O’Bannon, who did not score as a freshman when Artesia won the title in 1990, passed credit to his teammates for the win.

“I got off to a slow start and they really played well early,” O’Bannon said. “It was a true team effort.”

San Ramon had to rely on outside shooting, taking 39 three-point attempts. Six-foot-six forward Kevin Dunn said that played a part in their scoreless stretch.

“We had open shots on the perimeter, but if you have to rely on them, you’re going to miss some.”