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SoCal High School & Prep Report

Jason Day: Artesia's Win Over Poly
In CIF-SS Finals Revisted--(March 9, 1998)

Jason Day, our friend and trusted reporter was at the CIF-SS Division I-AA finals on Saturday night at the Pond. He filed this report. And as always, if you want to get in touch with Jason, he can be reached at elgee333@pacbell.net .

MARTINEZ LEADS ARTESIA OVER POLY

FRESHMAN DOMINATES IN 90-74 VICTORY

by Jason Day

Usually, when one quality team beats another quality team three times in one season, it is attributed to great coaching. Wayne Merino and the rest of his Artesia coaching staff are as good as they come, and the Pioneers victory over Poly for the Southern Section Division 1-AA title, was another example of great preparation and execution.

But let us not forget that, in the words of the great John Wooden, when asked what makes a great coach, answered, "…it helps to start out with great players."

Artesia already had one of the most highly touted players in the country in Junior Jason Kapono. And now a new star is on the rise.

Jack Martinez, a freshman from the Dominican Republic, is playing his first year of prep basketball while adjusting to a new culture, country, and language. And boy is he adusting.

The 6’-7" phenom came off the bench and lit the Jackrabbits up for 27, while grabbing 16 rebounds (I had him with 19, but I won’t quibble). He blocked three shots, dished 2 assists, and teamed up with teammates Jamal O’Quinn and Aaron Hamilton to virtually shut down Poly star, and Arizona bound, Ricky Anderson in the second half, after Anderson had gone for 21 in the first. He was named player of the game for his efforts.

Folks that know about such things, or at least believe they know about such things, have called Martinez one of the best freshmen on the West Coast. There’s no doubt in my limited mind that he is one of the best players on the West Coast, AT ANY POSITION, IN ANY GRADE, period. Further, while I have not seen all of the "post" players in the country, I have seen a pretty good representative sample, and this kid has got to be one of the most effective players in the paint in the U.S., exclamation point.

Martinez’ domain is the paint. That’s where he’s effective and that’s where he stays. He’s got an uncanny eye for the ball on a rebound. Watch him in a game and you’ll notice that no matter whether on offense or defense, if the rebound comes off, he will get his hands on it at some point, he may not grab each and every one, but he will touch nearly each and every one. He moves very well without the ball and always gets it in good position to score. If he gets the ball in the paint, bet on it goin' in the hole. You can try to muscle him and he’ll out-quick you, you can double him and he’ll go Olajuwon on you, pumping, faking, and pivoting you out of your jock. If he’s away from the basket, don’t rest, he can shoot the short range J, and is as good a passing forward as you’ll see around here.

Get ready. Kapono will need to school this kid on how to deal with all the attention, accolades, and expectations that come with being a top level prep player.

Okay, off of Jack’s jock and onto the game.

It was closer than the final score indicates. But even though Poly was up 25-22 after one quarter, and only down 45-40 at the half, you could see some bad signs for Poly early.

First, their star, Anderson, was virtually carrying them in the first half. He had 21 points, ten of those at the free throw line, and 7 rebounds. 6’-2 SR guard, and Hawaii-bound, Mike McIntyre, had eight points in the half, including 2 big 3’s, but cooled off considerably once Artesia adjusted their defense. The next highest scorer was 6’-7 JR, Keyon Cooley with 5. Meanwhile, Artesia was getting much more balanced scoring. Martinez had 9 in the half, to go along with O’Quinn’s 10, and three other players had 6 or more.

Holding Kapono to 6 for the first half may have been a victory for Poly. But Artesia is so versatile, and the coaching staff so savvy, that they simply run some different offensive sets and get the ball to someone else someWHERE else. In fact, Artesia’s bench outscored Poly’s bench 17-5 in the half. Lots of weapons.

5’-11" SR PG, James Murdock was the key to this versatile attack again. His consistent play over the bulk of the season has been a big factor in Artesia’s success. He had 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and TEN assists. That "10" indicates two things, he can find the open man, and the open man can finish. Add the fact that he is a quality defender (he gave Poly sophomore guard, Wesley Stokes, fits tonight) and you’ve got a well-rounded floor leader.

Poly did not lay down and die, not by any means. They just didn’t have the guns to handle an Artesia team that can beat you in so many ways. Ricky Anderson, another very gifted paint player, who’s also deadly from outside, finished with 24 points, 12 boards, 5 blocks, 2 assists, and a steal, but most of his damage was done in the 1^st half.

In what may have been surprising to some, the player who had the next best performance for the Jackrabbits was the junior, Cooley. After scoring just 5 in the first half, he finished with 16 on 6-9 shooting, with two 3 pointers. He also grabbed 9 boards. Keyon was as animated and aggressive as I have seen him all year. At times during the season he has had lackluster performances where he looked intimidated, or confused. Not last night. His confidence was there from the first time he touched the ball, and his considerable talent followed. Look for him to be a huge factor in Poly’s scheme for the rest of the playoffs, and into next season.

McIntyre finished with 11points on 4 for 9 shooting (3 for 8 from 3 point land). But 1 rebound and no assists were all the additional help he could muster. Along those lines, his backcourt mate, point guard Stokes, just couldn’t find the keys to unlock the formidable Artesia defense. He had few if any real attempts at penetration, and Murdock, along with SR, Willie Alford (4 points, 6 assists, and a steal) did a very good job of pressuring Wesley and making him pass before he was ready. Stokes is a developing "one" whose game can be spectacular at times, but the Artesia defense was just too much for him to really get on track in this one. He finished with 5 points, and 4 assists.

The second half was pretty much all Artesia. Kapono came out smoking and dropped two quick buckets and picked up 2 or 3 of his 9 boards in the first 2 minutes or so. By 5:30 of the 3^rd, Kapono and Martinez had led Artesia to an 11 point lead at 51-40. The junior forward, considered by many to be one of the top players in the country, finished with 18 points, the nine boards, an assist and a steal. While he looked a little sluggish in the first half, (he had been sick with the flu last week), he was more active in the 2^nd.

Apolinar (Amari) Fernandez, another freshman (6’-9 and also from Central America) scored 11 points, and had 4 boards and an assist. He has guard like quickness, a nice outside shot, and great ups. Off the bench he has had a real big role in Artesia’s march to the Championship. Throw in O’Quinn’s 10 points and you’ve got the fifth Pioneer that finished in double figures.

At this point in the game another one of those things that give coaches gray hair occurred. Down by 11, Poly’s McIntyre was called for a foul on Martinez. McIntyre apparently protested the call a little too strongly and was promptly called for the tech. Martinez sank the two free throws, and since he was 7 for 7 from the line at that point, was assigned to try the 2 technical shots and dropped both of those too. Instead of 11 down, Poly was now 15 down and Artesia had the ball. After that, the Poly fans had only one more thing to cheer about all evening.

During a time out two youngsters were picked to represent each school in a "shootout" promotion. The two kids had thirty seconds to make a free throw, a 3 pointer, and a half-court shot. The Poly representive stepped to the line, chucked the ball, nothing but net. He backed up to the top of the key, chucked the ball, nothing but net. He ran back to half-court, chucked the ball and brought the Poly faithful to their feet for the first time since early in the game, nothing but net. He walked off with $175.00 and pleadings from the Poly cheerleading coach for Poly to suit him up for the game.

By the way, speaking of entertainment. Have you ever seen the "crazy white guy" who does all the wild dancing at most of the events at the Pond. Well he drew his usual amount of strange stares and head shaking last night. Until he apparently climbed up in a seat to gyrate a little bit and fell on his butt. It is amazing how cruel a crowd can be. They gave the poor guy no "love" whatsoever.

So the Pioneers pretty much cruised in the 2^nd half and add another trophy to that nice case dominated by stuff brought in by the O’Bannon brothers.

So, congratulations to Artesia on their win, and congratulations to Poly for a great effort. Both teams move on to the Southern Section playoffs (see details here on SoCalHoops.)

The stage is set for a rematch that I would personally like to see. During the Best in the West tourney, held in December, Westchester, crowned L.A. City champs Friday night, defeated Artesia 61-51 in a great game. I said then that I would really like to see both teams later in the season after they had a chance to gel and mature as a team. Well it could happen.

I’ll be at the Westchester / Poly contest Tuesday night at Westchester. Should also be a real good game.

See ya later.

Jason Day