Basketball Game Preview: Boardman Spartans vs. Harding Raiders

The Boardman Spartans will challenge the Harding Raiders at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Last Wednesday, Boardman came up short against Austintown-Fitch and fell 63-51.

Meanwhile, it may have taken overtime to finish the job, but Harding ultimately got the result they hoped for on Wednesday. They came out on top against Cardinal Mooney by a score of 54-46. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Raiders as it put an end to their four-game losing streak.

Harding's win came from a few key players Boardman will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Trinity Taylor, who posted 18 points in addition to five boards and five steals. Taylor is crushing it when it comes to steals: she's grabbed at least two every time she's taken the court this season. Another player making a difference was Ja'Leah Provitt, who almost dropped a double-double on 14 points and nine rebounds.

Boardman now has a losing record at 9-10. As for Harding, their victory bumped their record up to 11-7.

Boardman skirted past Harding 37-35 in their previous matchup on January 15th. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Harding's Akeelha Barnes, who dropped a double-double on 16 points and 17 boards. Now that she's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Boardman still be able to contain Barnes? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.