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Roman defeats Judge in Catholic League quarterfinal

As this story proceeds, please don't be tempted to see Shafeek Taylor as the classic, non-supportive son.

As this story proceeds, please don't be tempted to see Shafeek Taylor as the classic, non-supportive son.

Fact is, he pays rapt attention to everything his father says, especially when it comes to basketball, and his dedication knows no bounds.

The Taylor family on Friday experienced an emotional, energy-sapping, two-win day, and Shafeek did not know that fact until 5 hours after the first one had been collared.

Shafeek, a 6-4, 185-pound sophomore, is mostly a forward (with a guard's mentality) for undersized Roman Catholic and last night he helped to spark a 63-57 win over host Father Judge in a spirited Catholic League quarterfinal.

His father, Marshall Taylor, is the first assistant at Philadelphia Electrical & Technology Charter, which, in a game that began at 4 o'clock, overtimed Roberts Vaux, 59-57, in a Public League quarterfinal.

The site: Ben Franklin. Distance from Roman: two blocks.

"I went right into our gym after school, so I could work on my jumpers and foul shots," Shafeek Taylor said. "I wanted to be totally focused on this one.

"Nope, I didn't hear from my dad. He might have called me or texted me . . . "

He pointed to his school bag, right nearby in a noisy classroom that was serving as a locker room . . .

"My phone's right there," he added, "but I turned it off. I didn't want any distractions. But they won in OT? That's nice."

Marshall Taylor, a frisky lefty, was the point guard for Southern High's 1986 Public League champions, which featured future NBA player Lionel Simmons.

"My dad wants me to be a guard, too," Shafeek said. "He's always talking to me about improving my guard skills. Getting better at dribbling. And making good passes. Seeing the floor. At 6-4, I'll try to be a big guard.

"I put in a lot of work now. Wait till summertime. I'll be out there every morning at 5 o'clock, working on my guard skills."

Next, we'll go with the obvious question.

Why not attend the school where your dad coaches? Too many chances for possible head-butting?

"Something like that," Shafeek said, laughing. "I mean, he's my dad. We would have made it work. I would have listened to him. But I like my situation at Roman with coach [Chris] McNesby. He's a good mentor. Always looks out for me."

Taylor finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds - he's the only hint of height aside from 6-8 senior Fortunat "Junior" Kangudi - and four assists, and, over the last 4 minutes, his defensive assignment was star guard Reggie Charles, who earlier had been imposing his will with strong drives. He went scoreless during that last stretch.

Taylor had two big moments as the first half wound down. First, he lofted an entry pass over a defender to Kangudi and the latter converted a layup for a two-point. Then, with just two-tenths of a second remaining, he drew a foul on a straight-on trey and proceeded to drain the free throws.

"I'm a good foul shooter," Taylor said. "I just took my time and followed the form. Getting three more points to take us into halftime. I knew that could be big."

Taylor also went the huge-play route in the fourth quarter's waning moments.

With 48.1 showing, frosh Shep Garner converted a hard-contact, off-balance layup that followed an aggressive drive down the right side of the lane. When Garner missed the tacked-on free throw, Taylor was right there to register a put-back and make it 57-53.

Roman's highlight from there was a 4-for-4 foul-line effort by frosh Rip Engel. Though maybe 100-plus Judge students were screaming and waving in the balcony section behind and above that basket, Engel was dead-on perfect with each and every shot.

Meanwhile, at the other end of Judge's gym, perched on the stage, were Judge's cheerleaders. Seated with them was their coach, Lisa McNesby, the wife of Roman's coach.

"I'm not sure which side she was partial to," Chris McNesby cracked.

Kangudi totaled nine points and 12 rebounds, while Montana Mayfield scored six of his 12 points in a 12-2 outburst to start the game. Only four guys scored for Judge, but one's performance was outrageous: Soph Steven Griffin shot 10-for-18 (one trey) and 6-for-8 for 27 points. Charles added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five apiece of assists/steals.

The Taylors are based near 17th and Snyder, and their house is always alive with the talk of hoops.

"My dad always says he was the No. 1 point guard in the city," Shafeek said. "I want to break that 'record' and be the No. 1 guard in the city by junior year." *