Kennedy Leaves Taft Pining for Past, 72-49

As far as lucky charms go, John Furlong will never be mistaken for a rabbit’s foot or a four-leaf clover.

Furlong turned Taft High into a powerhouse in the old West Valley League during his 20 years as head basketball coach. On Friday, he returned to watch the Toreadors--and current Coach Jim Woodard was hoping he might bring along a little luck.

But against Kennedy, Taft needed baskets and rebounds more than luck. The Cougars swamped the Toreadors, 72-49, in a Valley 4-A League game.

Woodard, who took over for Furlong five years ago, offered no excuses.

“They just killed us. They just kicked our butts,” Woodard said. “It was like men against boys out there. They’re just physically superior to us.”

The victory assured Kennedy (8-3 and 13-7 overall) of no worse than a third-place finish in league, with an outside chance at second. The Cougars, ranked fourth in the Valley by the Times, meet league-leading Cleveland on Wednesday in their final game.

Taft, entrenched in fourth place, fell to 5-6 and 13-8.

The Toreadors looked as if they would make a game of it after scoring the first nine points of the second quarter. The surge cut a 20-7 first-period deficit to 20-16. Thanks to 10 first-half points by junior guard Kevin Franklin, Taft trailed just 27-21 at intermission.

But the Toreadors turned the ball over the first four times down the court in the third quarter and could get no closer than six points. Kennedy forward Clarence Williams kept Taft at bay by scoring his club’s first eight points of the period.

Reserve forward Gregg Fontenette took over from there, making two key plays that changed the momentum of the game. His jumper put the Cougars ahead, 39-31. When Kennedy got the ball back on a foul away from the ball, Fontenette muscled inside for a basket on the inbounds play and was fouled.

He converted the free throw to put the Cougars ahead, 42-31, with 1:23 left in the third quarter. Fontenette went on to score nine points in the fourth period.

Fontenette finished with 14 points (12 in the second half) to tie forward Kendall McDaniels for team-high honors.

Williams and center Marcus Malone added 13 points each for Kennedy.

Taft’s Franklin brothers, Kevin and Keith, combined for 38 points, Keith leading the way with 20.

Taft center Quincy Watts led all rebounders with nine.