Artesia

When you're a high school All-American and your team is in need of a boost in the state championship game, it's the perfect time to put on a show. James Harden of Lakewood Artesia decided to intervene when his team's lead had been cut to six points with 4:26 left in the third quarter.

The last time Santa Ana Mater Dei played a game at UCLA, the Monarchs lost by six points to Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary's in the 2003 Pango Dream Classic. "Yeah, that team had some guy named LeBron James," Monarchs Coach Gary McKnight said. The top-seeded Monarchs probably will have better memories of Pauley Pavilion after a 70-62 victory over Redondo on Saturday in the Southern California Regional Division II championship game.

Renardo Sidney didn't even play high school basketball in Mississippi last season. But he was considered the best freshman in the country anyway, all because of his exposure in summer basketball. A year later, he's a 6-foot-10 sophomore at Lakewood Artesia -- transplanted to California along with his family -- playing for the Southern Section Division I-AA title Saturday against Santa Ana Mater Dei, and maybe a state title after that.

With tired legs and weary eyes, the Lakewood Artesia High boys' basketball team took the court Wednesday night for its third game in three nights, with 5,000 miles of travel and a little O.J. Mayo sandwiched in between. The Pioneers accomplished what they needed most, however, with a 72-55 victory over visiting La Mirada that moved them into sole possession of first place in the Suburban League.

O.J. Mayo, one of the most heralded recruits in USC basketball history, went from the courtroom to Cameron Indoor Stadium in a span of eight hours Tuesday, scoring 19 points to rally Huntington (W.Va.) to a 73-66 victory over Lakewood Artesia in a showdown between nationally ranked high school teams. Mayo's surprise appearance came after Mouth of Wilson (Va.

Not much separated the Santa Ana Mater Dei and the Lakewood Artesia boys' basketball teams heading into their showdown Friday night in the championship game of the Orange Holiday Classic. Only one thing was resolved during the 32 minutes they played in front of a standing-room-only crowd at Chapman University. They both need to work on their play down the stretch. Artesia (13-0), ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times and No.

An 18-year-old Gardena man was killed early Saturday on the Artesia Freeway when the van in which he was riding burst into flames after being rear-ended by a pickup, causing a 20-vehicle pileup. Authorities did not release the name of the man, who burned to death. The accident occurred about 5:30 a.m. near Beach Boulevard when the eastbound 1985 Chevrolet van slowed or stopped directly ahead of a 2001 Chevrolet pickup traveling in the same direction, authorities said.

Lakewood is the latest Southern California city to let voters decide whether to ban the sale and use of fireworks. The City Council has placed a measure banning fireworks on the Nov. 7 ballot; a similar proposal is on neighboring Artesia's June 6 ballot. The fireworks debate, a perennial in Los Angeles County, pits community groups that depend on fireworks booths for fundraising against safety concerns and the high cost of fireworks cleanup.

One by one, the Artesia boys' basketball players went up to Coach Scott Pera to accept their state Division III championship medallions, receiving an emotional embrace that spoke plenty of what had been accomplished. "For us, it's been an unbelievable journey," Pera said. "To do what we've done is incredible." Artesia's 60-41 victory over Stockton St.