taft loses to cleveland

SoCal High School & Prep Report

City Section: West Valley--
Taft Loses to Cleveland--(January 31, 1998)

Taft High lost three players to foul trouble on Friday night, and then lost its composure, and finally they lost the game. Seniors Amir Bar-Netzer, Harold Shevlin and Brandyn Fisher, who together usually average close to 55 points a game for Taft, each missed huge minutes of the game against Cleveland because of foul trouble. The Cavaliers took full advantage, including in the second half. Cleveland improved its record to 14-7 overall and 4-2 in league, and is now back in first place, tied with Taft, which is now 12-5 overall and 4-2 in West Valley League of City Section play.

This was an ugly game, and there were fifty-five fouls called, 30 on Taft. Bar-Netzer picked up two in the first two minutes of the game and sat for the rest of the first quarter; he was then called for two more midway through the third quarter and had to sit until the fourth quarter. And Shevlin, a usually fine shooter, had only two fouls in the first half, but was then called for three in a 90-second stretch midway though the third quarter, fouling out with eight points.

Brandyn Fisher missed half of the second quarter with three fouls before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter with 10 points. Bar-Netzer finished with four fouls and 24 points but was taken out with three minutes left. Even without him, Taft still outplayed Cleveland for the first 1 1/2 quarters, leading by six after the first period and building a 32-21 lead midway through the second once the 6-foot-6 senior forward returned.

Taft dictated the pace and used good shot selection, making 14 of 22 shots (63.6%) in the first half. Kenny Mason triggered an 11-2 run with a three-pointer, and the Cavaliers began forcing turnovers with their full-court press, forcing a 38-38 tie at halftime. Bar-Netzer scored five quick points, but after the half, the Cavaliers went on a 17-1 run over the next five minutes, and Cleveland guard Kent Dennis took advantage of Shevlin's absence. The junior scored seven points in the run and threw a half-court alley-oop pass to Simmagin Smith for a dunk. Dennis finished with 31 points.

Without Shevlin and Bar-Netzer, Taft began to panic, shooting too many desperation three-pointers. Taft pulled to within 60-51 late in the third quarter, but then again lost its composure as Cleveland scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter--including two three-pointers by Dennis.