Westchester Takes Title Again Over Taft
March 6, 2010
Jack Pollon
Balanced team effort.
That was the theme for the Westchester of Los Angeles boys' basketball team Saturday in an efficient 70-60 victory against Taft of Woodland Hills in the City Section Div. I championship at USC's Galen Center.
Dwayne Polee had 19 points, Kareem Jamar had 16, Menas Stephans had 13 and Jordin Mayes had 12 to lead the Comets (27-30), who won their 11th championship and second consecutive.
Westchester beat Taft last season in the same building and also in 2006 at the now-defunct Sports Arena.
Westchester busted the game open in the third quarter when it scored 25 points, including four 3-pointers.
The game was tied at 24-24 at halftime but the Comets hot-shooting did in the Toreadors (24-5).
Jamar made two 3-pointers in the quarter and Mayes and Polee hit one each.
Taft trailed by as many as 15 near the end of the quarter and every time it would close to within single digits, Westchester had an answer.
Polee took over in the fourth quarter scoring 10 points, including making four of six free throws.
While the Comets received production from four players, USC-bound Bryce Jones was Taft's lone star.
Jones scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds but couldn't do it by himself against such a quality opponent.
6'8 junior forward and Texas-commit De'Andre Daniels had 14 points and Jordan Gathers chipped in 10 for Taft.
A big problem for Taft was Pierson Williams, Spencer Dinwiddie and Landon Drew only combining for five points.
Williams, usually a more than capable shooter, only made one 3-pointer - right before the halftime buzzer to tie the game.
Williams was one of 10 from the field, Dinwiddie was one of six and Drew attempted only two shots while looking overmatched against the older players.
Taft fell to 0-4 vs. Westchester in the playoffs and has only one win against the Comets in it's past seven tries.
Taft might get another chance to defeat the Comets when the state playoffs start next week.