HS HOOPS: Cleveland hangs tough with Taft -- so far

It's halftime at Taft in Woodland Hills, and the high-powered Toreadors are only up by nine points, 31-22, over pesky Cleveland of Reseda in what is turning into a much more competitive contest than expected in a City Section Div. I quarterfinal.

Taft, which has defeated Cleveland twice this season, is trying to get to a final for the third time in a row and fifth time over the past seven seasons. Among the opponents to defeat Taft in the playoffs through the years is Cleveland, which pulled the trick in 2005.

I expect Taft to extend the lead quickly in the third quarter, but you never know.

Stay tuned.

-- Gerry Gittelson