Both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams at Fairfax High School have positioned themselves to do some damage in the playoffs this year, as both are sitting pretty with respectable records in their leagues.

Fairfax High School forward Taj Adams (right) provided strong leadership on the court during Monday’s home win against Hamilton High. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

The girls’ squad (18-9, 8-2) is second to only Palisades High School (21-5, 10-0) in the league, while the boys’ team (18-9, 9-2) is tied with Palisades in trailing Westchester High School (19-5, 9-1) by one half of a game.

“We’re one of the teams that can definitely win the city,” boys’ coach Harvey Kitani said.

Kitani said the Lions have “tremendous chemistry” and “great leadership” from seniors Landon Drew, Brendyn Taylor, Taj Adams and Ronny Price, enabling the team to pursue a deep run in the playoffs.

“The kids get along so well on and off the court, it’s really been an enjoyable season,” he said.

The Lions are an athletic team with good height, but the players must keep getting better in all areas — specifically shooting and rebounding, Kitani said. He said the boys must also continue to play consistently at a high level.

“We’re starting to do that,” Kitani added.

Chemistry is also a positive for the girls’ team, which has 10 seniors on the roster, coach Judi Edwards said. However, it is the girls’ defense that can put a lot of pressure on opposing teams, she said.

“I’m really looking forward to [the playoffs],” Edwards said. “I’m looking to be in the city final game and come out successful.”

However, the girls have some psychological issues to overcome beforehand. Edwards said some of the girls’ losses could be attributed to a lack of mental toughness, something she was seemingly seeking to address this week in practice.

The team opened the season going 2-2 in the Central Valley Showdown. After a 25-point victory over Westchester High School, the girls went 2-2 in the Burroughs Optimist Tournament.

While the boys team visited Hawaii this year, the girls team traveled to Washington, D.C., for the National Title IX Holiday Invitational Conference and Classic in late December. They went 1-1, but were able to attend conferences and seminars about the importance of Title IX, the educational amendment that mandates against sexual discrimination in regards to educational and athletic programs. Edwards said the trip was of “historical and cultural” significance, and was “quite a wonderful thing.”

“It was spectacular,” she said.

The girls’ team went 3-1 in the L.A. City Showcase before continuing league play with wins against Venice High School, University High School, LACES High School and Hamilton High School. Both of their league losses were to Palisades, which beat them 57-45 at Fairfax on Jan. 13 and 57-39 at Palisades on Feb. 1. The girls’ remaining league game is tonight at Westchester.

The boys’ team began the season by going 3-1 in the Pacific Shores Tournament and 2-2 in the Santa Monica Tournament. They pummeled LACES 83-48 on the road before heading to Hawaii for their 14th Iolani Classic in mid-December.

Kitani said the tournament frequently features a handful of teams that are nationally ranked. Though the Lions went 2-2 in the tournament, one game against Bishop O’Dowd High School was disappointing, he said.

“It was more our own doing than the opponent’s,” Kitani said.

The boys’ team then beat Venice on the road and University at home. They lost a close game, 64-60, at Palisades before winning three straight. The Lions went 8-3 in January, which was a “tough month,” Kitani said.

“We always try to make it that way,” he said.

In February, Fairfax lost another close game to Palisades at home before notching wins at home versus Eisenhower High School and Hamilton High School. The boys’ team rounds out its regular season play with a game at home against Westchester on Friday.

The boys’ team consists of Drew, Price, forward Olisaemeka Nwachie, guard Jonathan Brown, forward Sage Woodruff, Taylor, Adams, small forward Reggie Theus Jr., guard Lorne Currie Jr., forward Omari Mundy, power forward Pierson Ro and power forward Chauncey Hill.

The girls’ team is comprised of guard Vicky Osorio, forward Danah Haley, point guard Angelique McDaniel, forward Iliana Blanc, guard Gabrielle Romero, guard Jonette Uy De Ong, small forward Brittany Byrd, guard Ashely Funches, forward Ronisha Pickett, guard Maria Conechado, guard Jacqueline Esperon, small forward Angelica Laury and guard Jamara Bernard.