Last Tuesday night, Taft High played the Shafter Generals in yet another divisional match-up. The game had already been anticipated by both Taft and Shafter, as Shafter entered the game with a 2-0 record, while Taft entered with a 1-1 record. As the game began, Taft pulled out into an early lead with fast break layups from senior captains, Zack Tuila and Fano Maui. Taft began the game with a 11-0 run against the Generals. Although the offensive side of the ball may show on the scoreboard the most, the defensive side of the Wildcat’s basketball game is what made the 11-0 run stand out. The Generals were not going to go down without a fight, however, as they began to go point for point with the Wildcats until the score was 18-15 in favor of taft. The first quarter came to an end with the Wildcats at 24, and the Generals at 21.

The second quarter began with the same intensity as the first quarter, due to Shafter’s comeback late into the first quarter. Taft and Shafter both could not establish a healthy lead over one another, as every offensive possession between the two schools ended in either two or three points. At the end of the second quarter, the score was Taft 38, Shafter 36.  

After half time had ended, and both teams returned to the floor, the games intensity sky rocketed. Right from the beginning, Fano Maui took the point guard to a new level as he had four assist within the first two minutes. Taft was not the only team to come out of the locker room with fire as shafter ended almost every offensive possession with at least 1 or more points. The third quarter built a foundation of different emotions ranging from hope, all the way to frustration. The third quarter had ended and Taft still had the lead with the scoreboard showing Taft, 39 and Shafter 35.

The fourth quarter could be explained in a bunch of different ways. Intense, crazy, and emotional are all applicable to describe the conclusion of the game. As Taft started out with the lead, Shafter dug down and found the will to pull ahead of taft as the score was 41-39. Halfway through the fourth quarter, the crowd had grown intense as the game had developed into a nail-biter. Shouts of encouragement came from both Shafter’s and Taft’s bench. With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Taft was down four points with the score being Taft 42, Shafter 46. Taft came back and won the game with three seconds left as Taft High junior, Dylan Self, scored the game winning shot with two seconds left. Taft won the game with a final score of Taft 48, Shafter, 47. Taft was not only playing for another league win, they were also playing for bragging rights.