TAFT, CA – It has been an inconsistent season for the Lady Cougars of Taft College. The women's basketball team lost in double overtime to Porterville College on the road 73-78. This is the second time this season they lost to a team that hasn't reached 5 wins all season. Though Taft has a good winning record overall of 14-8, they find themselves in a losing pit in conference play (2-4) straddling towards last place. Porterville came into the game with a 3-16 overall record, and 1-4 in conference play.
Taft College Head Women's Basketball Coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. talks about the perplexity of his team's performance, "These young ladies are a wonderful bunch, but on the court, I do not know what to expect. I have always said they do fight, and do not back down from competition, but we are a team that can beat anybody on top and lose to anyone at the bottom. There have been games we won that have surprised us, and then mysteriously lost to teams that are major underdogs. I just told them team at this point, to never quit and continue to show if we are lacing up the sneakers we are here to win. Consistency and identity have haunted us this season, but I hopeful we can make some more positive strides."
It was an exciting game if you were a fan with both teams going back and forth trying to gain an advantage on both ends. In the first overtime, Porterville was fouled with 5.7 seconds left to shoot two free throws with their lead 64-63. Both bonus shots were made making the score 66-63. Taft would call a timeout advancing the ball to their end of the court. Coach Lagmay would draw a play with Alizah Lara making a 3-point shot to tie the game.
In overtime, the game was scoreless for nearly 4 minutes, but both teams would tie the game again going into the second overtime. This time Porterville would outrebound Taft and gain the victory.
The Cougars outscored the Pirates 18-0 in transition points, scored more second chance points 17-13, had more steals 16-8, and fewer turnovers than Porterville 23-30. However, Porterville outrebounded Taft 54-44.
Celicia Enos led the team with a double double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, along with 4 steals. Brandy Edwards had 13 points, with also 4 steals. Alizah Lara played in the second half only, but scored 10 points, along with 4 points. Zamarehia Heaven contributed 7 points and 9 rebounds.
Taft will be on the road again to start the second half of conference play against Reedley College on Saturday, February 3. Reedley won the first meeting 67-61.