Artesia Overpowers Serra Behind O’Bannon and Jones

Akeli Jackson was ready, but the senior center could not say the same about the rest of the Serra High boys’ basketball team in the Artesia tournament final Saturday night.

Serra fell behind early and never recovered in a 69-51 loss to defending Division II state champion Artesia at Artesia High.

“Tonight everybody’s head wasn’t in it,” Jackson said. “Some people were happy that we made it to the championship and weren’t thinking about winning it. We had to have that killer instinct and want to win. They got a little run going and we got frustrated.”

Artesia’s Charles O’Bannon and Avondre Jones, the tournament’s co-most valuable players, were too much for Serra. O’Bannon, a 6-foot-7 senior forward, had a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds. Jones, a 6-11 senior center, had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Senior forward Michael Boyd had a team-high 19 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter and Jackson added 17 for Serra. Jackson and Boyd were named to the all-tournament team.

The victory enabled Artesia (8-1) to avenge a 57-54 defeat to Serra in the quarterfinals of last season’s tournament.

Artesia guard Shawn Caracoza (17 points) made four of his five three-point baskets in the first half to help the Pioneers race to a 13-point second-quarter lead and a 31-22 lead at halftime.

The Cavaliers made only nine of 27 shots in the second half (33.3%) and 18 of 50 (36.0%) in the game. Artesia was 23 of 48 (47.9%). Although the Pioneers had 25 turnovers, they outrebounded the Cavaliers, 35-15.

Jackson made a 15-foot jump shot to start the fourth quarter to bring Serra (8-6) within 48-40, but the Cavaliers never got any closer after Boyd got his fourth foul with seven minutes 27 seconds to play.

O’Bannon made four consecutive free throws and Jones made a short turnaround jump shot to spark an 8-2 run to give Artesia a 57-42 lead with 5:23 to play.

“Artesia was just too powerful,” Serra Coach Dwan Hurt said. “You can’t lax on a team like that or they’re going to take advantage. Everybody thought we were going to come up with a sudden burst like they have during the tournament.”

Verbum Dei 71, Westchester 64--The Eagles rallied from a 10-point first-quarter deficit and outscored Westchester, 23-11, in the fourth quarter of the consolation championship.

Jason Sanders was 10 of 12 from the field and finished with 22 points and teammate Danny Walker had 13 points for Westchester (11-5).