Top-Ranked Fairfax Beats Up Taft Inside and Out, 104-66

When this game was finally over, Taft High Coach Jim Woodard didn’t pout or shout. Reality was easy to accept.

The Fairfax scoreboard left him no other choice.

“We couldn’t beat them,” Woodard said, glancing one last agonizing time at the scoreboard that showed his team on the losing end, 104-66. “They’re the best team I’ve ever seen. I’ve seen high school basketball for over 30 years.”

The way Fairfax looked against Taft on Friday in a Valley League contest, it may take another 30 years to find a better team.

In fact, it is becoming painfully obvious to opponents why Fairfax (6-0, 2-0 in league) is ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today.

With advantages in height, talent and speed, Fairfax set the tone early.

It was last a game at 4-4. From there, Fairfax jumped to a 28-19 lead after the first period. By halftime, it was 56-32.

“Are they awesome?” asked Woodard, who waited for no reply. “They are so talented. We were trying to zone them, but J.D. (Green) kept popping 20-footers like layups. When a team shoots that well, what can you do?”

Except for Taft guard Kevin Franklin tying his school record for points in a game with 38, Taft could do little.

Fairfax, on the other hand, cleared its bench, and four reached double figures.

Forward Sean Higgins, who has already signed with UCLA, led his team with 32 points and center Chris Mills had a team-high 10 rebounds and 30 points.

Taft (2-2, 0-2 in league) played without starting forward Quincy Watts, who is still nursing a foot injury.

Watts wouldn’t have made much of a difference. No other Taft player reached double figures. Starting guard Dedan Thomas, who had eight points, was the second-leading scorer for the Toreadors.

“Taft beat us last year, so I was concerned about Taft tonight,” Fairfax Coach Harvey Kitani said. “Our league is tough, when the top three, four teams return most of their better players.”

As for his own team?

“We have a long ways to go,” Kitani said. “The guys are really working the ball. The guys who were juniors last year are turning into strong seniors with leadership. Potentially, we can be one of the best teams.”