Scott Pera

Scott Pera came west from Pennsylvania because his fiancee was already in Southern California making a go of it as an aspiring screenwriter. But even she could not have written the scenario that resulted in the 33-year-old Pera becoming the coach of the embattled boys' basketball program at Lakewood Artesia. Or how Pera has guided the Pioneers to a 12-3 record heading into Friday's Suburban League game against Lakewood Mayfair.

Scott Pera came west from Pennsylvania because his fiancee was already in Southern California making a go of it as an aspiring screenwriter. But even she could not have written the scenario that resulted in the 33-year-old Pera becoming the coach of the embattled boys' basketball program at Lakewood Artesia. Or how Pera has guided the Pioneers to a 12-3 record heading into Friday's Suburban League game against Lakewood Mayfair.

Scott Pera listened to the question, leaned back in his chair, laced his fingers behind his head and smiled. Minutes after Lakewood Artesia had won the Southern Section Division III-AA championship, Pera was asked about the program's rapid turnaround at a postgame conference. Three years ago, recruiting scandals had ripped through the former powerhouse that had won three state championships in a four-year span with brothers Ed and Charles O'Bannon, who went on to play at UCLA.

The final investigative findings into the Artesia High boys' basketball program revealed that coaches and administrators "allow for excessive use of [enrollment] permits by basketball players," according to the report obtained by The Times through the California Public Records Act. The lead investigator, Bill Agopian, hired by the ABC Unified School District to look into allegations of rule violations, found no proof of undue influence by Coach Scott Pera.

BEN BOLCH'S FINAL BOYS' BASKETBALL RANKINGS AND COMMENTS: *--* Rk Team (Record) Comment 1 MATER DEI (35-2) Wins bigger prize than state Division II title: Rankman's top spot 2 WESTCHESTER (32-3) State Division I champion lost chance to surpass Monarchs in Trenton 3 FAIRFAX (28-4) Lionized Westchester last two seasons by going 2-6 against rivals 4 EISENHOWER (25-8) Will first section title pacify Coach Steve Johnson?

Derek Glasser nearly transferred to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake before his sophomore year at Lakewood Artesia. He decided to remain only after Artesia Coach Scott Pera assured Glasser that he no longer was interested in moving to the college level.

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.

Long Beach Wilson's Ebony Collins, who is preparing for the World Junior Championships next week in Morocco, won the intermediate division (under 17) 400-meter hurdles Saturday at the U.S. Youth Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Knoxville, Tenn. Her time of 57.87 seconds ranks No. 1 in the world for athletes under 18. Collins, The Times' girls' track and field athlete of the year, was second to Bianca Knight of Ridgeland, Miss., in the 100 meters, 11.68 to 11.81.

The Los Angeles City Classic boys' basketball tournament went from a national showcase event for 20 teams to a major fiasco when four of the 12 out-of-state teams failed to arrive because airline tickets were never purchased as promised by tournament officials, who fell short on raising funds. To make matters worse Thursday, the tournament was halted moments into the first game when it was discovered by Vice Principal Jack Baroutjian of host site L.A.

The ABC Unified School District has reinstated Scott Pera as coach of the Artesia High boys' basketball team, saying that an 11-week investigation failed to substantiate allegations of rule violations within the program. Pera, who was placed on paid leave in September, was back at practice Wednesday. He will return as a teacher but won't resume his duties as athletic director after the district recommended that job be separate from his coaching duties.