CHATTER: TAFT HAS LEARNED TO PLAY FARMARLESS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

Taft of Woodland Hills guard Jordan Farmar is one of the three best players in the region along with Bryce Taylor of Harvard-Westlake of Studio City and Nick Young of Cleveland of Reseda.

But if Taft has to play without Farmar - like it did for most of the championship game of the Pacifica tournament against host Pacifica of Oxnard - there's no reason to worry.

The Toreadors know how to play without their star. They easily beat Pacifica, and chances are they'll be just fine when forced to go without Farmar during stretches of games.

``You have to understand we played a lot this summer without Jordan,'' Taft coach Derrick Taylor said. ``He had a lot of tournaments and showcase events to play in, and while he was doing that, we were learning how to play without him.''

Taft obviously needs Farmar if they have any hope of winning a City Section title. He is headed to UCLA next year as one of the top names in Bruins' coach Ben Howland's first recruiting class.

But if needed, the Toreadors know they have talented players such as Matt Cook, Pierce Brooks, Maurice Walters and Alex Drob on which to lean.

``That's why this past summer was so important for us,'' Taylor said. ``We knew at some point, that was going to be a big plus for us.''

Taft will hook up with West Valley League foe Cleveland in the Pangos Dream Classic on Saturday at 8:45 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion, part of a full day at Pauley: Harvard-Westlake will play Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at 5:30 p.m.; Price of Los Angeles will play King of Riverside at 2:30 p.m.; Rainier Beach (Wash.) will play Bakersfield at 4 p.m.; and Dominguez of Compton will play Southwest Atlanta Christian at 7 p.m.

Atlanta Christian features Dwight Howard, a 6-foot-10 forward many scouts project as a first-round pick in next year's NBA draft, and Lincoln features Louisville signee Sebastian Telfair. ...

The La Canada boys' basketball team has won two tournaments and advanced to the semifinals of the La Salle tournament this week.

The Spartans (11-1), behind Ryan Cosgrove, Umar Khan, Craig Ballard and Phillip Anderson, have won the Arroyo and La Canada tournaments. ...

Brett Schyphers returned to the Camarillo boys' basketball lineup after dislocating his shoulder two weeks ago. With Schyphers out, Camarillo struggled to a 3-9 record. Schyphers suited up and played two weeks ahead of schedule when Camarillo faced winless Littlerock in a consolation game in the Hart tournament. He scored 13 points, ran the point well and was named the game's MVP. ...

The Chaminade of West Hills boys' basketball team is one of the region's best despite a 6-6 record. That's because their losses are to Mater Dei of Santa Ana, Arlington Country Day (Fla.), Our Savior New American (New York), Etiwanda, Sylmar and El Camino Real of Woodland Hills. ...

El Camino Real is the area's biggest surprise after going 10-2 under new coach Alex Lopez. It has reached the consolation final of the Simi Valley tournament, the final of the Cleveland tournament and is one victory from going to the final of the Chaminade tournament. Rai Colston, Jordan Warren, Kevin Johnson and Edan Barouch lead the team. ...

The San Fernando Valley softball officials association is looking for umpires for the upcoming season. Information: Kirk West at [phone].

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com