Basketball Recap: Kaliyah Barron's Big Game Can't Quite Lead East over Columbus International

East was not able to break out of their rough patch on Tuesday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They took a 50-32 bruising from the Columbus International Lions. While losing is never fun, the Tigers can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Ohio basketball rankings (they are ranked 700th, while the Lions are ranked 261st).

East lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Kaliyah Barron, who dropped a double-double on 20 points and 12 rebounds. Barron's evening made it four games in a row in which she has scored at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Makeda Inman, who posted eight points and ten boards.

Even though they lost, East smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive rebounds. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 11 offensive boards in six consecutive matchups.

Columbus International's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Marley Benson, who went 10 of 16 on her way to 21 points in addition to seven assists and six steals. Benson is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed three or more in the last four games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Leila Carter, who dropped a double-double on 18 points and 14 boards.

East's loss dropped their record down to 1-5. As for Columbus International, the victory (which was their fourth in a row) raised their record to 8-2.

A feisty cat fight will be fought when the East Tigers take on the Beechcroft Cougars at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. As for Columbus International, they didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next contest, a 34-32 win against Delaware Christian on the 19th.