BOYS’ DIVISION II : O’Bannon, Artesia Finish Victorious Run, 68-66

Charles O’Bannon helped Lakewood Artesia High build a healthy lead against Pleasanton Amador Valley in the State Division II championship Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

Then O’Bannon, the 6-foot-6 high school All-American, watched the margin slip away.

The senior forward got the last laugh, however, sinking two free throws with nine seconds remaining to lift Artesia to a 68-66 overtime victory before 7,492.

Amador Valley had a chance to tie the score and send it into a second overtime, but Bret Lange’s 15-foot jump shot at the buzzer was blocked by O’Bannon.

“We lost our poise a couple of times tonight,” said O’Bannon, who finished with a game-high 31 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. “But we played well enough to win. This is the way I wanted to go out.”

Said Amador Valley Coach Don Underwood: “Next to Jason Kidd, Charles O’Bannon is the best high school player I’ve ever seen. I’ll probably be second-guessing myself the way we defended him the rest of my life.”

The title was Artesia’s third in the past four years and second in a row. The Pioneers finished with a 29-5 record.

O’Bannon played on all three championship teams. He is still undecided on his college, and said he will not decide until next month.

Amador Valley (30-2), the state’s top-ranked Division II team all season, kept it close in the first quarter, but then watched as O’Bannon and 6-11 center Avondre Jones took charge.

O’Bannon had nine of the first 11 points scored in the second quarter, when Artesia went on a 17-3 run that put it ahead, 37-23. The Pioneers were up at halftime, 45-33.

The game went back and forth in the third quarter, with Artesia maintaining a 56-47 lead.

The Dons appeared to be finished in the fourth quarter when their best player, 6-10 center Bob Hall, fouled out with 7:58 remaining. Hall finished with a team-high 21 points and six rebounds.

But Artesia could not put Amador Valley away. Instead, the Pioneers watched helplessly as they were outscored, 17-8, in the fourth quarter.

Senior guard Shawn Caracoza sank a basket with one minute remaining that put Artesia ahead, 64-62. The Dons tied the score with 40 seconds left when sophomore forward Steve Fleming made two free throws after being fouled by O’Bannon.

In overtime, Amador Valley jumped ahead, 66-64, on Lange’s baseline jump shot.

Jones, who had 13 points and nine rebounds, scored with 2:16 left in overtime to tie the score and then O’Bannon put Artesia ahead for good with two free throws.

“Our comeback was all heart,” Hall said. “Everyone just dug down deep inside because it was our last game.”