TAFT'S FARMAR RISES TO OCCASION.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

He raised his arms overhead, looked upward and gave a quick shout. It seemed less a moment of relief than welcoming something long expected.

The Sports Arena scoreboard lights overhead showed Taft High a 64-60 winner over Fairfax of Los Angeles on Saturday in the City Championship, the first team from the Valley to win the major City title in 40 years.

Yet it was as if Jordan Farmar had known this moment was inevitable, that it did not matter what history he was up against, what others expected, who the opponent.

``Jordan has supreme confidence,'' said Taft coach Derrick Taylor. ``He is such a leader and competitor. He wants to win at all costs.

``I never met anyone in my life as competitive as me - until I met Jordan.''

The game had been billed as Farmar and Taft vs. Josh Shipp and Fairfax, two talented seniors both headed to UCLA, the two strong-willed leaders of their teams.

There were moments when the two did match up, particularly in the first quarter, when Shipp took Farmar on defensively.

But they play different games, and when Taft has the ball, it is normally - if not hopefully - in the smooth but explosive Farmar's hands.

And that enabled Farmer to have the greater impact Saturday, as the final numbers indicated. He finished with a game-high 29 points, hitting 10 of 29 field goals, 3 of 7 3-pointers and all six of free throws, with two assists.

Shipp - the City's leading scorer - had 21 points, hitting 6 of 17 field goals, only 1 of 6 3-pointers, 8 of 10 free throws and adding three assists.

There was no doubt to Taylor that Farmar was personally challenged by going up against Shipp, his inner engine revved to an even higher level.

``Oh, yeah,'' Taylor said. ``Jordan wants to be the best player on the floor.''

This should bode well for UCLA coach Ben Howland. As great as the bushy-haired Farmar is now, his dynamic game figures to improve as the talent around him does.

``Jordan and Ben Howland are both such competitors, that will be a match made in heaven,'' Taylor said.

Pooh Richardson, the former UCLA point guard in the crowd Saturday, said Farmar only figures to look more impressive once he joins the Bruins.

``I think it will help his game a great deal,'' Richardson said. ``When he gets to play with guys at his level, some of those passes that are missed will be caught.''

Next season the 6-2 Farmar will try to beat out Cedric Bozeman at UCLA. Whatever Bozeman's shortcomings are, beating out a three-year starter as a freshman looms a daunting task.

``Who knows if anyone is ready to start,'' Richardson said. ``Over the summer he'll learn a lot. The competition at the next level is a lot different.

``But he gave his team tonight what it needed. He controlled the whole game, from start to finish. It would have been a big mistake to get into a back-and-forth contest with Shipp and Fairfax, because they have so much depth.''

Farmar has almost seemed to elevate his game during the postseason, raising the level of his play, the way great players do, when it is needed most.

The only other two Valley schools to capture the major City basketball title were Granada Hills in 1964 and Poly in 1961. That Sun Valley team was led by Gail Goodrich, considered by most the area's all-time greatest basketball player.

``I think Jordan can now be considered one of the all-time greats,'' Taylor said.

There is still the State tournament to play, immediate challenges to be met, but the talented Farmar clearly appears ready for UCLA.

``I can't wait,'' said a beaming Farmar. ``I can't wait.''

One more challenge he already expects to meet.