Westchester High School's Mario Nored rejects a shot attempt by Taft in the City Division I championship game at Galen Center. Westchester won, 70-60. (Photo by Rob Helfman)
Story Created:
Mar 8, 2010 at 11:44 AM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 8, 2010 at 11:44 AM PST
Few boys basketball teams have the array of offensive firepower displayed by Westchester High School.
The Comets showed all of it Saturday at Galen Center in defeating Taft, 70-60 for the City Section Division I championship.
It was especially so in the second half when Westchester (27-3), which hit eight 3-point baskets in the game, ran away from the second-seeded Toreadors (24-5) after being tied, 24-24 at halftime.
“This team has the ability to score,” Comets coach Ed Azzam said. “We’ve got some really good offensive players, guys who can put the ball in the basket.”
Senior forward Dwayne Polee was one of those, scoring 19 points along with 10 rebounds. Fifteen of his points were in the second half, including 10 in the final period.
Senior guard Kareem Jamar had 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the second half, senior wing Menas Stephens had 13 points, including one 3-pointer, and senior guard Jordin Mayes had 12 points on four 3s.
Westchester, which drew the No. 2 seed in the Division I regionals that begin Tuesday, built comfortable leads in the second half before Taft made a mini-run late.
The Toreadors, who are seeded fourth in the regionals, closed the gap to 60-53 before back-to-back dunks by Polee squelched the comeback.
Bryce Jones led Taft with 29 points, 13 in the fourth quarter. DeAndre Daniels had 14 and Jordan Gathers added 10.
Azzam said he was never concerned when Taft closed the gap on his team.
“They have a tremendous amount of poise for high school kids,” he said. “I might be worried on the sidelines, but nothing seems to bother them.”
If the two teams meet again, it would be in the regional finals with a trip to the state title game as the reward for the winner. That means Taft, which hosts Washington Prep Tuesday in the first round, would like likely have to get past No. 1 Mater Dei in the semis just to get another crack at the Comets, provided they also survive their early-round games.
If a rematch does occur, Azzam is not expecting a different approach from the Toreadors.
“They’ve got a style they play and so do we,” he said. “Nothing’s going to change.”
Westchester hosts Colony Tuesday in the first round of the regionals.
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