Girls’ basketball: Defending champs limping into the playoffs

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The Taft girls’ basketball players know defending their City Section championship won’t be easy, with Chatsworth and Narbonne being threats to end their reign.

Still, the fifth-seeded Toreadors (15-7) would like to be going into the playoffs healthier than they are.

Coach Mark Drucker said he will be minus two starters for Thursday’s first-round game against visiting 12th-seeded Carson (12-11). Point guard Breanna Burton has a bad back, and forward Joy Hubbard is recovering from a knee injury.

Drucker expects Carson will remember the 67-40 drubbing it absorbed at Taft on Dec. 4, and be very motiviated.

‘They are a tough 12th seed and won’t be intimidated coming here after playing Narbonne and Washington in their [Marine] league,’ Drucker said. ‘We have to be ready; it won’t be like the first game.’

-- Mike Terry