BOYS’ ROUNDUP : Artesia Loses; Verbum Dei Wins Division IV Title Game

Lakewood Artesia High suffered its first defeat in four State championship game appearances, losing, 47-41, to Walnut Creek Northgate in the Division III final Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Before an estimated 10,000, Northgate was near-perfect at the free-throw line, making 17 of 19 shots.

In addition to having its undefeated record in the State finals come to end, Artesia also saw its 20-game winning streak broken.

This season’s team was a surprise finalist after dropping down a division with a starting lineup that included two juniors and a freshman.

That inexperience surfaced several times against Northgate, which never trailed. The Broncos (34-2) slowed the pace of the game with a stifling zone defense.

Artesia shot 36% from the floor and made only two of 10 three-pointers. It made three of five free throws.

Senior forward Kevin Daley led Artesia with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Northgate maintained leads of four to eight points most of the game partly because of the clutch play of junior guard Frank Allocco Jr., who finished with a game-high 21 points.

Verbum Dei 60, San Bruno Capuchino 59--Andre Larry’s basket with five seconds remaining lifted Verbum Dei to the Division IV title, the school’s first.

Capuchino had a chance to win when Devoir Funches was fouled by Deon Williams with two seconds to play. But Devoir, who had 14 points, missed the front of a one-and-one and Capuchino failed to get the rebound.