Girls Basketball: Taft edges El Camino Real 42-41

The Taft of Woodland Hills girls basketball team earned a share of first place on Wednesday and it can thank UNLV-bound guard Rmanii Haynes.

Haynes dribbled the length of the court after an El Camino Real missed shot and made a pull-up 10 footer with 14.8 seconds remaining to give Taft a wild 42-41 victory.

"I had to be a senior and lead my team," Haynes said of her winning shot. "I had to make a smart decision."

ECR had a chance at the end but nothing substantial developed and Sarah Rebibo missed on a wild attempt from the left wing.

Taft led the entire game until Alexis Tanner scored five consecutive points on a basket and a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter and the game was tied 31-31 with 6:20 remaining.

Nobody could get the upperhand the rest of the way as the score was tied at 33, 35, 37 and 39.

After Skyy Lewis made one of two free throws to give Taft a 40-39 lead, Haynes fouled Sarah Rebibo and Rebibo made two free throws to put the Conquistadores (15-6, 4-1) ahead.

Haynes then came thorough with the biggest basket of the season thus far for the Toreadors (11-6, 4-1).

Taft was on its way to a big victory when it went ahead 22-10 in the second quarter.

Danielle Tyler made two 3-pointers, Breanna Burton had five points in the quarter and Haynes and Lewis each added baskets.

However, ECR cut the deficit to eight by halftime and chipped away until Tanner got the Conquistadores even early in the fourth quarter.

"We did a real good job with our half court defense and doubling the post players," Taft coach Mark Drucker said. "We still have to learn to put teams away."

Burton finished with 15 points and Haynes had 12 for Taft.

Shannon Kingery led ECR with 10 points and six rebounds.

Rebibo and freshman Cora Chan scored eight and seven points.

The teams will meet on Feb. 12 at ECR with first place possibly on the line again.