Basketball Recap: Mariella Harper's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Taft over Holmes

Taft was not able to break out of their rough patch on Saturday as the team picked up their seventh straight defeat. They were four points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 48-44 heartbreaker at the hands of the Holmes Huskies. While losing is never fun, the Raiders can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas basketball rankings (they are ranked 883rd, while the Huskies are ranked 337th).

Taft lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Mariella Harper, who almost dropped a double-double on 14 points and nine steals. Those nine steals gave Harper a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Kaelyn Flemons, who posted eight points and 14 rebounds.

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

Holmes can attribute much of their success to Domonique Edwards, who went 5 of 9 on her way to 18 points and four steals. Edwards has been hot recently, having posted three or more steals the last three times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Daloni Brown, who put up 12 points and five steals.

Taft's loss dropped their record down to 9-20. As for Holmes, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 16-11.

Taft will look to defend their home court on Wednesday against Stevens at 7:00 p.m. Taft is facing Stevens at the right time seeing as Stevens is stuck on an 18-game losing streak. As for Holmes, they will head out on the road to face off against Warren at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Holmes is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 54.3 points per game this season.