Pera Is Pioneering New Spirit at Artesia

Scott Pera came west from Pennsylvania because his fiancee was already in Southern California making a go of it as an aspiring screenwriter.

But even she could not have written the scenario that resulted in the 33-year-old Pera becoming the coach of the embattled boys’ basketball program at Lakewood Artesia.

Or how Pera has guided the Pioneers to a 12-3 record heading into Friday’s Suburban League game against Lakewood Mayfair.

“I think maybe the situation here scared a lot of people off, but it excited me,” Pera said. “If you get good kids and they want to work hard you can accomplish things.”

This was the situation at Artesia: Longtime coach Wayne Merino, who won three state titles and built the Pioneers into a national power, was fired last June after an independent committee’s investigation found misconduct by Artesia personnel and others connected within the program.

Pera was the coach for five years at Annville-Cleona High in Annville, Pa., where he won a state Class AA title in 1999. But it was love, not basketball, that drew him to California.

In June, he and his fiancee, Alyssa, were married. He planned to perhaps work as a volunteer assistant for a year to learn the Southern California high school scene, but in July he called an old friend who told him the Artesia job was open.

“My reply was, ‘Yeah, the North Carolina job is open too,’ ” Pera said.

Nevertheless, Pera faxed his resume and other material to Artesia, was called for an interview and was offered the job a few days later.

Pera inherited a team that has only four players with varsity experience. The Pioneers have been led by senior guard Tony Roberts, who is averaging 15 points a game, senior forward Malcolm Herron (13 points, eight rebounds), senior guard Ryan Reyes (10 points) and junior center Ryan Meilleur (10 rebounds).

Artesia lost to powerful Torrance Bishop Montgomery on Monday, but Pera and the Pioneers are looking forward to the Mayfair game and beyond.

“We don’t talk about the past,” Pera said. “All I talk about is the future, and the future here is bright.”