Boys’ basketball: Taft’s Taylor is defensive maestro

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Derrick Taylor spent much of the last few days accepting congratulatory phone calls from colleagues for the masterful coaching job he turned in Saturday during Taft’s 67-45 victory over second-seeded Fairfax in a City Section Division I semifinal.

Taylor told everyone to hold off before anointing him the next John Wooden. But if the Toreadors coach can help engineer a victory over top-seeded Westchester in the championship Friday at the Galen Center, perhaps some over-the-top flattery might be in order.

Taylor said he’s been watching tape of the Comets for two days studying tendencies, strengths and weaknesses.

‘I like our chances,’ he said. ‘I think we matchup well against them.’

But don’t the Comets, who have lost only twice this season, seem unbeatable?