Is this the secret to Taft’s success?

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There’s an article in this week’s Sports Illustrated on a new style of offense sweeping the basketball world.

It’s called Dribble-Drive Motion, created by former Pepperdine Coach Vance Walberg. In a nutshell, the system uses four perimeter players and one post player. It depends on a dribble-penetration by players, who don’t use screens but their own ability to break down a defender, to create a lane to the basket.

The system, or some form of it, is being used by NBA teams Denver and Boston; Division I college teams like No. 1 and undefeated Memphis, and high school boys’ and girls’ teams across the country.

There are 39 California boys’ teams using the system, including Servite, Garden Grove, Simi Valley, El Rancho ... and Taft, the top-seeded team in the City Championship Division playoffs.

Of course, I still think Taft’s best and not-so-secret weapon is Larry Drew Jr.

Here’s a look, courtesy YouTube.com, of Simi Valley’s offense in motion against Dominguez in a recent game:

-- Mike Terry