LAKE BALBOA >> Taft head coach Derrick Taylor could only shake his head during the third quarter of his team’s boys basketball game at Birmingham on Friday.
Birmingham started with a 3-pointer from Deschon Winston off the opening tip and the Patriots kept running and gunning their way to 116-81 home win that all but sealed its first West Valley League title.
PHOTO GALLERY: Photos of Taft-Birmingham
“I guess I know what it feels like after doing it to everybody else,” said Taylor, who had never lost a West Valley League championship on the junior varsity or varsity level.
With a sold-out gym and at least 150 to 200 people turned away at the door, Birmingham (22-3, 8-0) started on a 15-2 run and dazzled its fans with its usual mix of fastbreak layups, 3-pointers and steals.
VIDEO: Highlights of Birmingham’s win over Taft
Not only did Birmingham top Taft (19-10, 6-2) for the third time this season, the Patriots showed why they will likely be the No. 1 seed in the L.A. City Section Open Division playoffs with only a week remaining in the season. For now, they clinched a share of the league title.
“We don’t want to share it. We want to win it outright next week,” Birmingham coach Nicholas Halic said. “As far as the No. 1 seed, we just have to go out and play who’s in front of us.”
Devante Doutrive had 34 points and brother Devonaire had 26. The Patriots led by 21 after the first quarter, 25 at halftime and 31 after the third.
Fittingly, Devante Doutrive ended the first half with a driving layup for two of his 25 points in the first half.
“Our motto is you got to keep up with us,” Doutrive said. “We had the crowd behind our back and we knew their players being young weren’t used to the atmosphere. The crowd was crazy like Golden State Warriors fans.”
All of Birmingham starters scored in double figures. Mark Boland scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, Deschon Winston had 16 (14 in the first half) and Josh Abrams added 10.
Taft, which lost to Birmingham in overtime in their previous meeting, was led by Antwan January’s 31 points and Kihei Clark’s 26 points.
Birmingham can clinch the league title outright on Wednesday at El Camino Real.
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