by Dennis McCall
Taft Midway Driller
After winning six of their last seven games, the Taft College women's basketball team faces a hefty challenge as the Cougars open Central Valley Conference play with home games Wednesday and Saturday.
The Cougars, coming off a 59-50 victory over Victor Valley last Saturday in the final pre-conference tune-up, have a tough assignment Wednesday when College of the Sequoias comes to town for a 6 p.m. tipoff in the Al Baldock Cougar Sports Center.
COS is the hottest conference team heading into the league season with a 15-3 record.
Taft enters the conference grind 6-8. The Cougars started the season 0-7 but have won six of their last seven.
On Saturday the Cougars will host West Hills-Lemoore. The Golden Eagles also are off to a good start, finishing the preconference grind with an 11-4 record.
In Saturday's win over Victor Valley (2-14) sophomore center Emilee Davidson carried the bulk of the load, scoring 30 points and pulling down 16 rebounds.
The 6-2 post from Copper Hills (Utah) High School was 11-of-22 from the floor and sank all eight of her free throws. She did most of her damage in the paint both from a scoring standpoint as well as rebounds with 10 offensive boards.
Kennedy Kunce, the other Cougar post, scored 17 points. The Taft High product was 5-of-12 from the field and dropped in seven of her 10 free throws.
Synclaire Lucas had 8 points and 6 rebounds, Carrie Graham scored four points and had three rebounds, two steals and an assist, Angie Banks had five assists, three rebounds and two steals, and Mia Hernandez came off the bench to get four rebounds and two steals.
The Cougars shot nearly 37 percent on 21-of-57 from the field and, thanks to Davidson's perfect night at the line, were 15-of-20 for 75 percent.
CVC non-conference records:
Sequoias 15-3
W. Hills-Lemoore 11-4
Fresno 12-6
Reedley 8-8
TAFT 6-8
Porterville 5-9
Merced 2-11