Artesia Boys, Lynwood Girls in State Finals

Defending boys’ Division II champion Artesia High and the girls’ basketball team from Lynwood High will play for California Interscholastic Federation basketball titles at the Oakland Coliseum.

Artesia (28-4), runner-up in the CIF Southern Section Division II, meets Amador Valley High of Pleasanton (30-1) at 8 p.m. Friday in the Division II state final. The Pioneers defeated East Bakersfield, 68-54, Saturday in the final of the Southern Regional.

Artesia was defeated by Muir High of Pasadena in the Southern Section championship game, but was awarded an at-large berth into the state playoffs. This is the second season in a row that Artesia has advanced to the state championship game after being beaten in the Southern Section final. Last season the Pioneers were defeated by Glendora in the Southern Section championship, but went on to capture the state title.

Lynwood (30-0), the top-ranked girls team in the Southern Section, plays at 1 p.m. Saturday against Balboa High of San Francisco (17-14) in the Division I state final. This is the first appearance in a state championship for the Knights, who defeated Buena High of Ventura, 44-33, last Saturday in the Southern Regional final. Lynwood has won three Southern Section titles.