Taft edges Fairfax for the City Section Open Division boys’ basketball title

Souljah Niles leaped as excessive as he might to contest a last-second three-pointer from effectively past the arc by Fairfax guard Darius Carr and the shot fell brief, giving Woodland Hills Taft a 64-62 victory within the Metropolis Part Open Division championship recreation Saturday night time at Pasadena Metropolis Faculty.

Alexander Bothast calmly swished the primary of two free throws with 6.6 seconds left for the fourth-seeded Toreadors, however he missed his second shot, Carr bought the rebound and was instantly fouled. He made his first foul shot to chop the Lions’ deficit to 2 factors and after his second attempt hit the rim, officers dominated it was final touched by Taft, giving Fairfax an opportunity to win with 3.4 seconds left. Romello McRae inbounded to Carr, who launched a fadeaway shot that was in need of the mark and Toreadors gamers poured off their bench.

Taft captured its fourth Metropolis Part boys basketball championship beneath coach Derrick Taylor, the primary since he returned to his alma mater in 2015, and its sixth general.

Senior guard Donald Bluitt III led the Lions with 26 factors, together with a three-pointer on the halftime buzzer that pulled third-seeded Fairfax inside 33-32. Carr, a midseason switch from St. Bernard, added 23 factors.

Fairfax scored the primary eight factors of the third quarter, however Taft responded with a 15-4 run and constructed a 55-48 lead with 4 minutes left.

Senior ahead and captain Keyon Kensie Jr., a switch from Simi Valley Donda Academy, led the best way for the Toreadors with 21 factors, three shy of his season common, and Adam Grissom added 11.

“This ring is for Coach Taylor,” Grissom stated afterwards, immersed in a sea of Taft followers. “We did this for him.”

Taylor picked up win No. 503 in his nineteenth season (two stints) at his alma mater. In his first go-around from 2000-11, he coached Jordan Farmar and Larry Drew to titles. He took over this system once more in 2015 after piloting St. John Bosco to the Division III state title in 2014.

“What made the distinction was rebounding and our workforce protection,” Grissom stated. “We simply needed to get stops and execute our performs.”

Fairfax (19-11) was vying for its tenth title, and second straight within the Open Division, having defeated King/Drew 76-64 within the finals final 12 months beneath coach Reggie Morris Jr., who resigned after three seasons and was succeeded in late July by longtime Lions assistant Jamal Hartwell.

Harvey Kitani piloted Fairfax to 4 part titles — a 3A crown in 1985, the 4A title in 1987, the Metropolis (higher division) championship in 2007 and the inaugural Open crown in 2015.