Warriors Basketball
Warrior Jesus Sanchez drives to the basket against an Independence-Bakersfield defender. Sanchez led the Warriors by scoring 23 points,
but it wasn't enough as Independence prevailed 71-57. (Photo by The Tehachapi News.)
Posted by John Nelson, The Tehachapi News, on January 15, 2017 Warriors Upended By Indy In SYL Opener
The Warriors boys learned a couple of tough lessons in their South Yosemite League opener against Independence.
One, basketball is comprised of four quarters, not three. Two, you can't make up a 10-point deficit in one possession.
“Sometimes we tend to panic a little when the other team goes on their run,” coach Louie Saavedra said after watching his boys lose 71-57
at home to Independence in their South Yosemite League opener Friday night, Jan. 13.
“No way does that score reflect how close this game actually was, though.”
In fact, it was a very competitive game.
The Warriors trailed just 30-29 at halftime after leading most of the first 16 minutes. Then, in the third quarter, Independence ran off 13 straight points
to break a 33-33 tie and create a 46-33 lead with 3:38 left in the quarter.
The run included a double technical foul — one on each side — as emotions and turnovers began to get the better of Tehachapi, creating a string of turnovers.
At the same time, Tanner Herman and Carson Bethany both found themselves in foul trouble. Herman sat briefly with three fouls,
and Bethany didn't return for nearly eight minutes after picking up his fourth.
“When our emotions are running too high, it gets to some of our players,” Saavedra said. “I think they begin to feel like they need to score immediately,
and they forget to run our offense, find the open man.
“They don't see that on the court, but we see it as coaches.”
The Warriors were not done yet, however.
The run was capped by Wheeler's fast-break basket off a nice feed by fellow guard Jesus Sanchez.
That's when the turnover bug bit the Warriors for a fatal final time. Four of the Warriors' next five possessions ended in traveling calls
as Independence built its lead back to 57-48 with 4:30 left.
Independence outscored Tehachapi 10-5 over the final three minutes as the Warriors offense rushed into more turnovers and bad shots and their defense
faltered for the first time in the game.
Independence outscored Tehachapi 21-13 in the third quarter.
“We just need to come together, play together as a team,” senior captain Carson Bethany said. “We have so many leaders on this team that it
seems like sometimes everybody wants to make the difference.”
Sanchez led the Warriors in scoring with 23 points, including two 3-pointers. Wheeler added 19 points, and Bethany joined them in double figures with 10.
The Warriors won their fourth in a row when they beat Highland 56-49 on Tuesday, Jan. 10. The loss to Independence dropped the Warriors to 9-9 overall, 0-1 in league.
They had a home game scheduled against East on Wednesday, Jan. 18, followed by a game at Golden Valley on Friday, Jan. 20.
“The team is definitely headed in the right direction,” Saavedra said. “We wanted this game very badly, and we were in it. We lost a little
momentum in the third quarter and then again at the end of the fourth.”As for the rest of the SYL season?
“Now we know where we need to improve,” Saavedra said. “We've got a tough schedule in the SYL, but we feel as competitive as anyone else in the league.”
