SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS : DIVISION II-A : Artesia Feels Disrespect, Then Humbles Kennedy

Kennedy’s Pat Kunz, who earlier announced “it’s time for (defending Division II State champion) Lakewood Artesia to be humbled,” wasn’t able to do that Tuesday night in the Southern Section semifinals at Cypress College.

Kunz, who a day earlier was “100% confident” that Kennedy would upset the top-seeded team in the division, had a seat on the bench for the final 2 minutes 27 seconds of Kennedy’s 85-79 loss in the Division II-AA playoffs.

How fired up was Artesia Coach Wayne Merino after reading Kunz’s comments in a Times article Tuesday morning?

“I couldn’t wait to get to school,” Merino said. “I had the article posted in the locker room at 7:45 this morning. He showed a total lack of respect for our program. We’ve won State titles in two of the past three seasons. What’s this guy done lately?”

In Tuesday night’s game, playing with an injured ankle, not much. Kunz fouled out with a season-low three points and five rebounds. He had averaged 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds.

Kunz’s first four shots were blocked by Artesia center Avondre Jones. He didn’t score a basket until there was 7:20 remaining in the third quarter and his first rebound came moments later.

“In all fairness, he was playing on a severely swollen ankle,” Kennedy Coach John Mayberry said. “He hasn’t practiced in five days. I don’t know how he played the past two games.”

Artesia’s Charles O’Bannon, The Times’ player of the year in Southern California last season, found Kunz’s words inspiring. He went so far as to wear a copy of the article taped to his right shoe during warmups.

“It was a motivational tool,” O’Bannon said. “I wore to get the players pumped up. We talked about it all day today but then we let our playing do all the talking when we got to the gym.”

Artesia (25-3) never trailed. Kennedy had problems getting shots off against the taller opponent and had seven shots blocked in the first half. The Irish managed only four field goals in the second quarter and trailed at halftime, 41-31.

But some fine three-point shooting by Kennedy guard Paul Pappas kept the Irish close in the second half. Pappas made nine three-point shots against Artesia’s poor defense and finished with a game-high 31 points before fouling out.

But the most spectacular player on the court was O’Bannon, who plays well above the rim. He wowed the crowd when he went high into the air, grabbed a shot attempt by Pappas with one hand and started a fast break, seemingly in one motion.

Later, he went up to reach a missed free throw attempt by teammate Roger Hills in the third quarter and came down with a tomahawk dunk that signaled the end for Kennedy. O’Bannon also showed his unique versatility by making some excellent passes to Jones, who turned them into easy dunks.

“They’re No. 1 and they showed it tonight,” Mayberry said. “They play above the rim and can beat you in so many ways. But I also thought our kids didn’t quit. Kunz could barely walk and then he got psyched out.

“We only had two kids (Pappas and Jeff Cummins, who scored 24) who weren’t psyched out tonight.”

Jones had 21 points and 18 rebounds and only laughed when reminded that Kunz had said, “Jones doesn’t have his game against me.”