Artesia’s O’Bannon Gets Defensive, Stands Out Among Playoff Stars

High school basketball championships are not just vehicles for teams. They are showcases for players.

And with the spotlight on, at least six players stepped forward impressively last week during the 13 boys’ championships that were decided in either the City or Southern sections.

Ed O’Bannon of Artesia was known for his offensive talents long before the Southern Section 4-A title game. At 6 feet 9, he led the Pioneers in scoring and rebounding. But, in Artesia’s 75-47 victory over Santa Barbara San Marcos last Thursday night, his defense was impressive, especially in the Pioneers’ full-court press.

In guarding the inbounds passer, O’Bannon helped force San Marcos into 29 turnovers. O’Bannon also blocked four shots, had two steals and grabbed eight of his 10 rebounds on the defensive end. Not to mention his 21 points and four assists.

“He definitely was a force out there,” San Marcos center Rob Ramaker said. “Their whole team is outstanding . . . but he was all over the place.”

Outside of Orange County, not many are aware of Agustin Heredia’s ability. But Estancia’s 5-10 senior guard made his presence felt in the Southern Section 3-AA final Wednesday night.

He scored 32 points in Estancia’s 51-49 overtime victory over Anaheim Servite, including a jump shot to tie the score at the end of regulation play. He also scored all five of the Eagles’ overtime points.

In Lynwood’s 60-58 loss to Long Beach Poly in the Southern Section 5-AA final Saturday night, Lynwood’s Earnest Killum was limited to 14 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes because of foul trouble.

However, the 6-6 swingman, who averaged 30 points a game during the regular season and playoffs, had a sense of timing. He had 12 points and seven rebounds in the third quarter when the Knights turned a five-point deficit into a four-point lead.

“We had to figure out a way to stop him,” said Poly center Willie McGinest, who drew a charging call against Killum early in the fourth quarter. “We both had four fouls, and it was either him or me. We had to get him out of the game because his drives were hurting us.”

Pepperdine-bound Dana Jones of North Hollywood had the numbers to prove his worth in the Huskies’ 76-71 victory over Fremont in the City 3-A Division final Friday night. He had 29 points, 29 rebounds, five steals and blocked seven shots.

The 6-6 Jones stymied Fremont’s aggressive offense, which shot only 30% from the floor in making 25 of 81 shots, with 24 defensive rebounds.

“His rebounds played a major part in their win on a night when none of our shots would fall,” Fremont Coach Sam Sullivan said.

Manual Arts guard Marcell Capers had to have a big game in order for the Toilers to defeat defending City 4-A Division champion Crenshaw, and he did. Capers scored 26 points, had six rebounds, four assists and four steals in Manual Arts’ 84-72 victory Friday night.

In his duel with Crenshaw standout guard Kevin Ollie, Capers helped in forcing Ollie to miss 14 of his 22 shots and turn the ball over seven times.

“We missed a lot of layups we normally make,” Crenshaw Coach Willie West said. “Ollie got fatigued in the second half.”

Another impressive player throughout the finals was senior 6-5 guard Shon Tarver of Oxnard Santa Clara.

Tarver, last season’s State and Southern Section Division IV player of the year, had 31 points, 12 rebounds, four blocked shots and three assists in the Saints’ 76-48 victory over Los Angeles Verbum Dei in the Southern Section 2-AA final.

In making 11 of 18 shots, including three three-pointers, Tarver was just too much for Verbum Dei. In the first quarter, he outscored the Eagles, 10-2.

In the State playoffs, a possible showdown between Manual Arts and Santa Ana Mater Dei could take place Thursday at Huntington Beach Ocean View High School.

If the Toilers defeat Bakersfield in their Division I first-round game and the Monarchs get past North Hollywood, they will meet in a Southern Regional semifinal.