Boys’ basketball: Taft is making progress under Jason Hart

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

First-year Taft Coach Jason Hart, who used to play for the Clippers, decided to pass on attending Saturday night’s Lakers-Clippers game to scout Fairfax in its game against Narbonne. Yes, Hart is committed to the Toreadors, and his players are beginning to become committed to him.

Taft (13-3) played one of its best all-around games of the season in routing East Valley League power Van Nuys Grant, 83-53, in a Fairfax tournament game. Anthony January made three three-pointers and finished with 21 points. Steven Jones and Kris Yanku added 14 points apiece.

This past week, Taft defeated the City Section Division II favorite, Woodland Hills El Camino Real, and the City Division III favorite, Grant. And the Toreadors are on their way to becoming the Division I favorite if they continue to play unselfishly on offense and play with intensity on defense.

Next Saturday, Taft will play Fairfax at 7 p.m. The Lions defeated Narbonne, 51-40. That game would become critical for playoff seeding purposes.

-- Eric Sondheimer