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"Yo, work hard to get open. You're not working to get open," Isler told him.

Before Taylor could utter a single word of protest, Isler added: "We need you to get open."

A 6-foot-6 junior guard, Taylor took Isler's words to heart. He scored 11 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, including a critical game-tying 3-pointer and two go-ahead foul shots, to lift Boys & Girls to a 55-50 victory over Cardozo before 3,658.

Boys (28-5), the alma mater of Lenny Wilkens, Connie Hawkins and Pearl Washington, won its first PSAL title since 1979 and its seventh since 1959. Boys coach Ruth Lovelace also became the first woman ever to lead a boys' team to a PSAL championship.

The victory was the 14th in 15 games for the Kangaroos and also avenged their 57-49 loss to Cardozo at the PSAL Mid-Winter Classic Jan. 10.

"I'm so happy," Taylor said. "I just want to cry my heart out right now. We just won Coach Lovelace's first championship. We just made history. We helped her make history."

Taylor scored 20 points in the second half when the Brooklyn school outscored the Queens school, 37-22.

The performance must have been especially satisfying considering Taylor went scoreless in last year's semifinal loss to Lance Stephenson and Lincoln. Stephenson and the Railsplitters won four straight PSAL titles, beating Boys the previous three seasons, including the finals in 2007 and '08.

Said Isler of Taylor's performance: "All-American performance, all through the playoffs. All-American."

Cardozo (25-8), which was seeking its first title since 1999 under head coach Ron Naclerio, raced out to an 11-0 lead to start the game and led by as many as 10, 30-20, early in the third quarter. After Boys trailed 47-46, Taylor drained a 3-pointer for a 49-47 lead. He was then fouled shooting a 3-pointer, but made 2 of 3 free throws for a 51-49 lead.

Isler drove through traffic in the paint and scored on a layup to extend the lead to 53-49 and Taylor hit two more free throws for a 55-50 lead with 18.4 seconds left.

He missed two foul shots in the final seconds but by then the game was out of doubt.

Junior point guard Antione Slaughter added 12 points and 4 assists for Boys.

Ryan Rhoomes led Cardozo with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Reynaldo Walters added 12 points and Shelton Mickell scored 11.

After the final seconds ticked off, Lovelace broke into tears and was soon holding hands with Slaughter before the players were presented with the trophies.

"I guess to see me cry they started crying," Lovelace said. "But all season long, they wanted to do it for me. Going into these playoffs, these guys were so confident. It was a little different than the teams in the past. Teams in the past were cocky, like 'We're going to get this done.' These guys never were like that. They had a quiet confidence."

The last time Boys won a PSAL crown, Frank Mickens was the head coach. Mickens went on to become the school's principal and is credited with bringing order to what was once one of New York City's most problematic schools. He died in his sleep last July at 63.

During the trophy presentation, one fan held up a sign that read, "This one is for Mr. Mickens! 31 Years in the Making. 2010 City Champs."

"He was a father. He was like the God of Boys & Girls so it feels so good to win for him," Taylor said.

"It means everything to me," added Lovelace, who was hired by Mickens. "This guy deserves all the credit. No one would've ever hired a female back in that time. I was young."

Now she is older, and a champion for the first time.

Recruiting rundown: Taylor just recently received a scholarship offer from South Carolina and now has offers or interest from Villanova, St. John's, Providence, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Indiana, according to Boys assistant Elmer Anderson.

"Providence and Pitt and South Carolina, if he goes to the bathroom they want to be there to say, 'Hello, do you need a paper towel?'"

"They do a great job of staying in contact with him."

Taylor said he has no favorites.

Isler, a 6-6 senior, claims offers from Siena, Binghamton, Quinnipiac, Central Florida and Robert Morris.

Bergtraum wins twelfth straight: Murry Bergtraum won its 12th straight PSAL girls title and 13th overall with a 58-37 rout of John F. Kennedy.

Doris Ortega led Bergtraum with 19 points and Shukurah Washington put up a double-double of 10 points and 19 rebounds. Janelle Linton added eight points and 10 boards.

Deaisia Acklin led Kennedy with 10 points.

Bergtraum led 22-20 at the half before outscoring Kennedy 36-17 in the second half.