On Sunday, February 25, the seedings and matchups have been set for the 2024 3C2A Men's and Women's Basketball Regional Championships. There is a total of 92 women's basketball programs in the state of California. Only 48 will get a chance at winning the state title championship: 24 teams representing the south and the north. The Taft College Women's Basketball was among the elite selected in the north.
It hasn't been since 2011-2012 that the Lady Cougars Basketball program has been in the state playoffs. Prior to that, it wasn't till the 2005-2006 season, then head coach Greg McCall (now Head Women's Basketball Coach at neighboring NCAA Division I California State University, Bakersfield), was in the state playoffs. As a matter of fact, since the turn of the millennium, Taft College Women's Basketball has only been in the state playoffs four times: 2001, 2003, 2006, and 2012. Now let's add another. New Head Women's Basketball Coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. has his team rolling in a new era, a new beginning, and a new set of prowls in Cougar Country.
Coach Lagmay just earned his 300th career victory in college coaching last week on Wednesday, February 21. Not only does he have his team venturing to the state regionals, but he also became the 3rd coach to have its fourth overall winning season in 24 years. The basketball program finished their conference with a 6-6 record, and currently sits with an 18-10 overall record. The Cougars defeated four teams this season over a .500 record. Those victories pretty much solidified their RPI (Rating Percentage Index) ranking, sealing their entry to post season play.
The Cougars were seeded #22 and will be on the road traveling to Hayward, CA to face #11 Chabot College on Wednesday, February 28. The Chabot Lady Glads placed third in the six team Coast-North Conference with a 7-3 record and 19-9 overall. Taft is 8-5 on the road, while Chabot is 10-2 at home. The winner of this game will face #6 seed Laney College (22-4) in Oakland in the second round on Saturday, March 2.
Wednesday's contest is set for a 7:00 pm tipoff game time.