Cleveland Won’t Allow Taft to Gum Up the Works, 60-59

After a six-point loss to Granada Hills High a week ago, Cleveland Coach Marc Paez made only one alteration in his team’s pregame preparations Thursday at Taft. The change, though, was not deliberate.

“I gave them a half a stick of gum before the game,” Paez said. “I usually get a big pack of Juicy Fruit. Today I had a small one so they had to split.

“If it works, I’ll keep doing it. If it doesn’t, don’t print it,” Paez said, laughing.

As it turned out, Cleveland chewed away at the clock and a four-point deficit in the final period to edge the Toreadors, 60-59, in a North Valley League game.

Trailing, 59-55, with 1 minute 17 seconds left, Cleveland got a three-point basket from forward Brandon Martin to pull within one. Taft guard Casey Sheahan fouled Bobby McRae with 52 seconds to play, setting up the forward’s tying and go-ahead free throws to finish the scoring.

“I’m the master of losing closely,” said Taft Coach Jim Woodard, whose Toreadors dropped consecutive league games to Granada Hills (75-68 in overtime) and Kennedy (61-57) last week.

Free throws, though, were what kept Cleveland in the game and made up for the Cavaliers’ inaccuracy from the field.

Cleveland made 22 of 30 (73%) free throws--including six of six and six of seven in the second and third quarters, respectively--to compensate for a 37% success rate (19 of 51) from the field.

Taft shot 24 of 64 (38%) from the field and 33% (four of 12) from the line.

Four players scored in double figures to lead Cleveland (17-5 overall, 7-1 in league play). McRae had 13 points and Martin 12, and Patrick McCook and Kenny Collins came off the bench to score 11 and 10.

McRae also grabbed 12 of the Cavaliers’ 31 rebounds.

Center Eric Dafney scored a game-high 14 points and gathered 11 rebounds for Taft, which was attempting to become the second North Valley League team to stop the Cavaliers in a week.

“Since we lost Friday the invincibility of Cleveland has worn off,” Paez said.

The loss was the fourth in a row for Taft (13-9, 3-5).

Cleveland trailed, 19-15, after a quarter, then outscored the Toreadors, 18-11, in the second quarter for a 33-30 halftime lead.