1973-74 Warriors
Desert-Inyo League Co-Champions
League Record: 14-2 (22-5 Overall)
The 1973-74 Warriors include, left to right, Greg Jensen, Mike Thompson, Vincent Elizondo, Manuel Corral, Don Burgeis, Steve Denman,
Pete Henderson, Phil McLaughlin, Jesse Esparza, Bob Grisham, Mark Lopez, Jim Barrett, and Wayne Hopper.
Under second year coach Bill Carll, the 1973-74 Warriors captured a Desert-Inyo League (DIL) co-championship along with Bishop High School. For Tehachapi, it was only the second basketball championship since the school joined the Desert-Inyo League in 1957 --- and the first DIL championship for the Warriors since the 1966-67 season. Warriors Capture DIL Co-Championship
Tehachapi Wins School Record 22 Games
The Warriors compiled a 5-2 non-league record featuring a season opening win over Taft, a championship in the annual Rosamond Tournament, and a disappointing 1-2 record in the Carpinteria Tournament. In Rosamond, the Warriors won three straight games over Boron, Rosamond, and Desert to claim the tourney title. Seniors Vince Elizondo, Phil McLaughlin, and junior Mike Thompson were selected to the All-Tournament team. In Carpinteria, Elizondo was the lone Warrior selected to the five member All-Tournament team.
In league play, Tehachapi got off to a rough start losing two of their first three games. But the Warriors got hot reeling off 13 straight DIL wins. Tehachapi and Bishop finished league play with identical 14-2 records. The Warriors defeated the Broncos both times the two teams met during the season.
Throughout the season, the Warriors were led by guards Elizondo and Thompson; forwards McLaughlin and Jesse Esparza; and centers Steve Denman (6'3") and Pete Henderson (6'5"). Elizondo consistently provided the offensive firepower; Esparza was the defensive standout, guarding the opponents top scorers; Thompson led the team in assists as the floor general; and McLaughlin, Denman, and Henderson constantly battled for the rebounds.
In the post-season CIF Southern Section playoffs, the Warriors won their opening game on the mountain, defeating Flintridge Prep, 71-38, behind the 21 point effort of McLaughlin. In the second round, Tehachapi outlasted the Fillmore Flashes, 54-49, behind the hustling foor play and shooting of Thompson. In the quarter-finals, playing on a neutral court in Bakersfield, the Warriors blew out league rival Kern Valley, 66-52.
Again playing on a neutral court at Highland High School in Bakersfield, a capacity crowd of over 1,600 fans watched the speedy Atascadero Greyhounds defeat Tehachapi, 72-53, in a semi-final game. Atascadero would go on to win the CIF 1A championship at the LA Sports Arena in their next game, whipping Elsinore. The three CIF playoff wins for the Warriors established a single-season record.
The Warriors established two other team records during the 1973-74 season, winning a school record 22 games during the season, and winning 16 straight games. Elizondo led the team in scoring with 433 points in 27 games --- averaging 16.0 points per game.
Elizondo and Esparza earned all-league 1st team honors while McLaughlin was recognized on the Honorable Mention team. Elizondo was also selected to the ALL-CIF Southern Section 1A basketball team. Elizondo and Esparza were named the co-Most Valuable Players of the team by coach Bill Carll.
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| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | LEADING SCORER(S) | |
| Dec 1 | Taft | 56 | 51 | H | Jesse Esparza: 18 pts |
| Dec 6 | Boron ## | 64 | 44 | A | Vince Elizondo: 21 pts |
| Dec 7 | Rosamond ## | 52 | 49 | A | Phil McLaughlin: 17 pts |
| Dec 8 | Desert (Edwards AFB) ## | 50 | 48 | A | Vince Elizondo: 19 pts |
| Dec 27 | Moorpark ## | 73 | 45 | A | Vince Elizondo: 24 pts |
| Dec 28 | Carpinteria ## | 51 | 57 | A | Steve Denman: 14 pts |
| Dec 29 | Notre Dame (Riverside) ## | 44 | 47 | A | Vince Elizondo: 18 pts |
Desert-Inyo League Play
| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | LEADING SCORER(S) | |
| Dec 14 | Kern Valley (Lake Isabella) * | 58 | 64 | A | Vince Elizondo: 23 pts |
| Dec 15 | Bishop * | 65 | 50 | H | Vince Elizondo: 31 pts |
| Dec 18 | Desert (Edwards AFB) * | 52 | 57 | A | Vince Elizondo: 12 pts |
| Jan 11 | Rosamond * | 62 | 51 | H | Vince Elizondo: 20 pts |
| Jan 12 | Lone Pine * | 60 | 52 | A | Vince Elizondo: 18 pts |
| Jan 18 | Boron * | 52 | 39 | A | Vince Elizondo: 19 pts |
| Jan 19 | Trona * | 52 | 50 | H | Vince Elizondo: 19 pts |
| Jan 22 | Rosamond * | 69 | 60 | A | Vince Elizondo: 21 pts |
| Jan 25 | Mojave * | 81 | 39 | H | Vince Elizondo & Jesse Esparza: 22 pts |
| Feb 1 | Kern Valley (Lake Isabella) * | 70 | 54 | H | Jesse Esparza: 17 pts |
| Feb 2 | Bishop * | 53 | 48 | A | Jesse Esparza: 18 pts |
| Feb 8 | Desert (Edwards AFB) * | 64 | 57 | H | Vince Elizondo: 19 pts |
| Feb 13 | Boron * | 54 | 40 | H | Jesse Esparza: 10 pts |
| Feb 14 | Trona * | 65 | 36 | A | Jesse Esparza: 10 pts |
| Feb 22 | Mojave * | 83 | 59 | A | Vince Elizondo & Jesse Esparza: 16 pts |
| Feb 23 | Lone Pine * | 62 | 52 | H | Vince Elizondo: 22 pts |
## Rosamond Tournament ## Carpinteria Tournament * League Game
| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | LEADING SCORER(S) | |
| Feb 26 | Flintridge Prep (La Canada) | 71 | 38 | H | Phil McLaughlin: 21 pts |
| Mar 2 | Fillmore | 54 | 49 | A | Mike Thompson: 14 pts |
| Mar 5 | Kern Valley (Lake Isabella) | 66 | 52 | N | Vince Elizondo: 18 pts |
| Mar 8 | Atascadero | 53 | 72 | N | Phil McLaughlin: 12 pts |