Charles O’BannonSchool: Artesia HighSport: BasketballPosition: ForwardClass: SeniorO’Bannon...

Charles O’Bannon

School: Artesia High

Sport: Basketball

Position: Forward

Class: Senior

O’Bannon scored 72 points, grabbed 43 rebounds and blocked 14 shots as he led the Pioneers to the Southern California Division II basketball title. In a 67-64 victory over Oceanside El Camino, he had 28 points, 15 rebounds and five blocked shots. His three-point play won the game with one second left. In the next game, he scored 30 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked 6 shots in a 71-53, semifinal win over Riverside J. W. North. Finally, O’Bannon scored 14 points and had 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots as Artesia defeated East Bakersfield, 68-54, to win the Southern California title. Artesia will play Amador Valley of Pleasanton for the state title Friday at 8 p.m. in the Oakland Coliseum.

Other top performers:

Andy Tellez, a junior outfielder for the St. Paul baseball team, hit a grand-slam in an 8-7 win over Fullerton. He added a three-run homer in the 7th inning to beat Sonora, 10-7.

Eric Ireland, a sophomore pitcher/third baseman for Millikan, excelled in the El Segundo Tournament. Ireland pitched two scoreless innings and went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs in an 8-1 first-round win over Paramount. In the Rams’ 3-1 second-round win over Crespi, he recorded a save and hit a triple. He then pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief in a 3-0 title-game victory over Simi Valley.