Boys' Basketball: Taft falls to Long Beach Poly in championship of Fairfax tournament

The Taft of Woodland Hills boys' basketball team didn't beat Long Beach Poly in the championship game of the 24th annual Nike Fairfax tournament Saturday but it is a good bet the Toreadors could face the Jackrabbits with a lot more on the line next March in the Div. I Southern California state regionals.

Taft battled and battled, tied the game twice late in the second half but finally succumbed, 55-48.

The game sure didn't have the feeling of a typical summer atmosphere as both squads played solid defense and showed good discipline.

Ryan Anderson had 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks to lead Long Beach Poly while sophomore-to-be Roschon Prince had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four assists and USC-commit Alexis Moore had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Kevin Johnson, a 6'9 senior, who transferred from Serra of Gardena and sat out all of last season had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Taft.

Khiry Williams had 13 points, four rebounds and three assists and Stephen Maxwell had seven points.

Taft trailed 27-19 at halftime but came back and tied the game at 37-37 and at 41-41.

That is when Prince came up big for Long Beach Poly with a block of a possible dunk by Johnson and then made a putback off a missed shot on the other end.

Taft would never tie the game again.

Long Beach Poly scored 10 of its final 14 points on free throws.

"It was a dogfight," Taft coach Derrick Taylor said. "There were not very many transition baskets. We just had too many turnovers. I was happy with our willingness to compete. I know this team can play at a high level."

As to another chance to play Long Beach Poly, Johnson can't wait.

"I am looking forward to it. It would be real fun. We always go at it every time. We will beat them for sure."

In other games, Loyola of Los Angeles beat Serra of Gardena, 51-43; Orange Lutheran beat Fairfax of Los Angeles, 43-34; Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood beat Pasadena, 62-56; Crenshaw of Los Angeles beat Price of Los Angeles, 82-79; Mater Dei of Santa Ana beat St. Bernard of Playa del Rey, 75-69 and Dorsey of Los Angeles beat Santa Monica, 55-54.

Zena Edosowman had 12 points and five rebounds and Josh Hearlihy and Damiene Cain each had 11 points for Harvard-Westlake.

Sophomore-to-be Isaac Hamilton registered a triple-double of 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Crenshaw's victory.

Askia Booker had 26 points for Price in the losing effort.

David Brown had 19 points, Eli Stalzer had 18 and Jordan Strawberry had 16 in Mater Dei's win.

Brandon Baker capped Dorsey's comeback from a 48-33 second half deficit with a game-winning layup with 8 seconds remaining.