CITY SERIES Rayen's standout Holland looks to lift talented Tigers

Rayen has won eight of the last 10 league titles.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Don't be fooled by the innocent smile. Rayen School junior Taniesha Holland is confident in her game and knows the Tigers' hopes rest squarely on her shoulders.
"Taniesha lives and breathes to play basketball," said Rayen coach Holly Seimetz, a 16-year veteran of the City Series, the last 10 with the Tigers.
"She knows where the basketball is supposed to go," said Seimetz. "She never gives up. She's all over the floor."
There's a temptation to rank Holland the third-best player in the area -- Ursuline senior Courtney Davidson already committed to Michigan State and Amber Bland of Boardman is going to Penn State.
"Bland, Courtney, she's one of them," said Seimetz. "She can play with them. She's one of the best players in the area."
Just don't try to tell Holland she's not the best, yet.
"I think I can be first," she calmly said when asked about Bland and Davidson, both Big Ten recruits.
What's it going to take to elevate her status?
"Practice all the time [and] do what I'm supposed to do. All I know is practice," she said.
Good player
This guard -- already called by many the best girl to ever play basketball at Rayen -- knows one thing well, how to play basketball.
She's also a two-time All-City selection and an A-B student.
"She'll find a game, it doesn't matter where," said Seimetz. "It doesn't matter who she plays with, she wants to play basketball all the time. She plays with the boys. She goes to the YMCA to play. She just wants to play basketball."
Holland, 17, is a major reason Rayen is favored to win the City Series for the ninth time in the last 11 years. The Tigers have won 24 consecutive league games.
Winning another league title would be nice, but the Tigers have a larger goal in sight.
"We want to be in the tournament until the end," said Seimetz. "That's our mindset."
To the 5-foot-5 Holland, the goal is even clearer.
"We're going to go to the state. And, win the state," she said with an assured smile.
Her confidence is amazing.
High hopes
Last winter proved to be bittersweet, however. After a 17-3 season, including a rare win at Poland High, the Tigers lost their first tournament game.
"I'm going to average 40 points a game," said the always-positive Holland. "At least 30."
You feel she might be able to back up the claim after averaging nearly 20 a game as a sophomore.
No Rayen girl ever played on the collegiate Division I level, but Holland feels she could attend Connecticut or Tennessee, the top two programs in the country.
Then, "I want to make it to the WNBA," she said.
Her favorite players are Cynthia Cooper and Cheryl Swoops, two of the best, of course.
Rayen has 27 players out for the team, including 13 freshmen. One of the freshmen, diminutive Kenysha Tennant, should also start. She's Holland's cousin.
sullivan@vindy.com