Pera’s Cleanup Job Paid Off

Scott Pera listened to the question, leaned back in his chair, laced his fingers behind his head and smiled.

Minutes after Lakewood Artesia had won the Southern Section Division III-AA championship, Pera was asked about the program’s rapid turnaround at a postgame conference.

Three years ago, recruiting scandals had ripped through the former powerhouse that had won three state championships in a four-year span with brothers Ed and Charles O’Bannon, who went on to play at UCLA.

The Pioneers had been stripped of two Southern Section championships and two seasons’ worth of victories before Pera came aboard three seasons ago.

Pera’s response? Never a doubt the Artesia machine could be retooled.

Pera guided Artesia to a 30-3 record this season, including a 64-50 victory over Santa Margarita in the Division III-AA title game. The Pioneers lost to Harvard-Westlake in the Southern Regional final of the state Division III playoffs.

“There was so much talk ... Artesia would never be back on top and the program was dead,” Pera said. “This is very, very gratifying on a lot of levels.”

-- Mike Bresnahan