Cleveland Makes Quick Getaway After Squeaker

The members of the Cleveland High boys’ basketball team scurried out the front door of the Taft High gym. Wide-eyed and grinning ear to ear, they quickly piled in cars and sped off campus.

If it sounds as if the Cavaliers had just stolen something, they had.

Cleveland, The Times’ No. 5-ranked team in the region, survived a six-minute seven-second scoreless drought to start the fourth quarter and escaped with a 62-61 Northwest Valley Conference victory on Wednesday.

Cleveland (17-6, 5-2 in conference play) remains tied with Kennedy for first place with three games to play, including a showdown with Kennedy on Friday.

Taft (12-8, 3-4) had several chances to tie the score or take the lead in the waning moments, but three missed free throws and a crucial mental mistake by point guard Sparky Larkin cost the Toreadors.

Larkin picked up a loose ball after a missed shot by Brandon Fisher with 16 seconds remaining and the Toreadors trailing, 62-60. With the Taft bench jumping up and down, screaming for a timeout, Larkin continued to dribble and was fouled with four seconds remaining.

Taft finally got its timeout, its final one, before Larkin made one of two free throws to pull his team to within 62-61.

Cleveland guard Kenny Mason was fouled immediately on the ensuing inbounds play, missed the front end of a one-and-one and the rebound fell into the hands of Taft forward Brandon Fisher, who launched a shot from about 70 feet that hit the back of the rim and bounced out at the buzzer.

“I was scared till the last shot,” said Cleveland Coach Andre Chevalier, soaking with sweat, his tie loosened and his shirttails untucked. “Lately we’ve been having a letdown in one quarter of every game.”

Taft guard Darrel Harris, whose tipin pulled his team to within 62-60 with 1:17 left to play, had one-and-one chances twice in the final minute but missed both times.

The Cavaliers led, 58-43, after three quarters, but Amir Bar-Netzer and Fisher combined for 10 points during a 15-0 run by Taft to start the fourth quarter. Cleveland turned over the ball on its first seven possessions of the quarter.

Donald Holt, who fouled out with 1:05 to play, finished with 14 points to pace Cleveland. Mike Schultz had 13 points and Jerome Grant added 12 for the Cavaliers.

Bar-Netzer had 27 points and 15 rebounds for Taft.