POLLON, Special to the Daily News Without two of its key starters, the Taft of Woodland Hills boys' basketball team held its own through the first half against Mater Dei of Santa Ana. Then the second half began. Mater Dei went on a backbreaking 18-3 run early in second half to put away the Toreadors 89-64 Friday in a quarterfinal game of the 21st annual Nike Fairfax Tournament.
Taft sorely missed North Carolina-bound guard Larry Drew and forward Justin Hawkins. Drew is attending the Nike Skills Aacademy hosted by Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, and Hawkins is at the Arizona State camp. "We just couldn't keep up in the second half," Taft head coach Derrick Taylor said.
"We really got outplayed on the perimeter. Missing our two guys who can handle the ball really showed as the game went on. The start of the game was great, but a great team like Mater Dei made the right adjustments and their experience came into play.
" Taft will play Pasadena at 5:30 p.m. Mater Dei, however went on a 18-3 run to go ahead for good and advances to tonight's semifinals against host Fairfax.
Taft got out of the gate quick and led 19-10 behind Michael Williams, who will be a junior this season.
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