Taft Goes to Great Lengths to Beat El Camino Real, 64-56

The only problem with living by the three-point shot is that one can just as easily die by it.

Taft High nearly did both in Wednesday’s Northwest Valley Conference opener against visiting El Camino Real but hung on for a 64-56 victory.

The torrid Toreadors fired 18 shots from behind the 19-foot, 9-inch perimeter. They made seven of their first 12, including three in the third quarter to build a 16-point lead and seemingly ice the game.

Forward Miguel Carrillo, who finished with 17 points, led all players with four three-point baskets, including back-to-back bombs in the third quarter to charge up the Taft bench and bleachers.

However, while El Camino Real made a fourth-quarter surge, Taft almost bombed trying to protect its lead from long distance.

Taft (6-1), which finished eight of 18 from three-point range, was three of 10 shooting in the fourth quarter, including only one of six three-point attempts.

While Taft missed its first five three-point shots in the final period, the Conquistadores went on an 8-0 run to pare the Toreador lead to 57-52 with 3 minutes 20 seconds to play.

“The deal is, if the threes are open, you take them,” said Taft senior guard Casey Sheahan, who scored a game-high 19 points and made two three-point shots. “In the first half, we were bombing. But then we just went ice cold.”

With 1:45 to play, Taft’s Adam James finally connected on a three-point shot to give the Toreadors a comfortable 62-52 lead. After the ball went into the basket, James raised both arms in what appeared to be more relief than triumph.

“Sure, I was worried,” Taft Coach Jim Woodard said. “We had that streak going and Miguel was making everything. But then we take a couple of bad shots and we get cold. I’ve got 10 guys who can shoot the three. But they do it in streaks.”

El Camino Real (1-3) did some long-distance shooting too. The Conquistadores, who shot only 21 of 51 from the field, made five three-point shots.

Junior guard Sam Sarpong made four three-point baskets, including three from at least five feet behind the line in the third quarter, and finished with 15 points. Sarpong, who was sidelined for a month, received medical clearance to play Wednesday after being held out because doctors suspected he had an irregular heartbeat.