1978-79 Warriors
League Record: 5-4 (10-11 Overall)
The 1978-79 Warriors include, left to right, Steve Smith, Kurt Beerline, Tony Elizondo, Mark Madden, John Rolin, Todd Buttcane,
Hal Barker, John Villacana, Jay Reeder, Bob Wonacott, Bob Carll, and Bruce Schkade.
Under seventh year coach Bill Carll, the 1978-79 Warriors finished 5-4 in Desert-Inyo League (DIL) play. Bishop High School won the DIL for the eighth straight season with a perfect 9-0 record. Warriors Finish 5-4 in DIL Play
Jay Reeder and John Villacana Earn MVP Honors
For coach Carll, it would be his final season coaching the Warrior basketball program (though Carll would return as the head coach in 1983-84). Long time junior varsity and freshmen coach Frank Crumpacker would assume control of the Warrior varsity program beginning in 1979-80.
For Tehachapi, the 1978-79 season marked the first time in five years the Warriors failed to make the post-season playoffs. The Warriors 10-11 overall record snapped a seven year streak of winning season records.
Tehachapi finished 4-7 in the pre-league season, including the participation in three different tournaments. In the annual Kern County Tournament in Bakersfield, the Warriors were eliminated after losing two straight games to West Bakersfield and Shafter. Warrior woes continued in the Fillmore Tournament with consecutive losses to Santa Paula and Fillmore.
However, Tehachapi bounced back to capture the Consolation Championship of the annual Bishop Tournament. After losing the opening game to Pasadena Poly, the Warriors rebounded to defeat both Mammoth and Hawthorne, Nevada.
In league play, the Warriors won five games, and lost two very close games to Trona and Desert. The only two lopsided losses were to Mammoth and eventual league champion Bishop.
For their outstanding play throughout the season, seniors Jay Reeder and John Villacana were named the co-MVP's of the team by the Warrior coaching staff.
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| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | LEADING SCORER(S) | |
| Dec 1 | Rosamond | 37 | 40 | A | Kevin Austin: 7 pts |
| Dec 8 | West Bakersfield ## | 43 | 79 | A | John Villacana: 12 pts |
| Dec 9 | Shafter ## | 50 | 75 | A | John Villacana: 14 pts |
| Dec 12 | Mojave | 57 | 47 | H | Kevin Austin: 16 pts |
| Dec 15 | Boron | 53 | 33 | H | John Villacana: 16 pts |
| Dec 19 | Santa Paula ## | 42 | 68 | A | Jay Reeder: 12 pts |
| Dec 20 | Fillmore ## | 28 | 40 | A | Hal Barker: 8 pts |
| Dec 27 | Pasadena Poly ## | 40 | 63 | A | John Rolin: 17 pts |
| Dec 28 | Mammoth ## | 50 | 43 | A | John Rolin: 9 pts |
| Dec 29 | Hawthorne, NE ## | 68 | 62 | A | John Villacana: 25 pts |
| Jan 9 | Desert (Edwards AFB) | 33 | 42 | H | John Villacana: 10 pts |
| OPPONENT | THS | OPP | L | GAME HIGHLIGHT | |
| Jan 12 | Mammoth * | 49 | 65 | A | Jay Reeder: 15 pts |
| Jan 19 | Mojave * | 56 | 46 | A | Jay Reeder: 14 pts |
| Jan 20 | Trona | 58 | 40 | H | John Villacana: 20 pts |
| Jan 26 | Rosamond * | 60 | 38 | H | Jay Reeder: 18 pts |
| Jan 27 | Trona * | 61 | 62 | A | Jay Reeder: 22 pts |
| Feb 6 | Bishop * | 30 | 67 | H | John Villacana: 16 pts |
| Feb 9 | Desert (Edwards AFB) * | 46 | 52 | A | John Rolin & John Villacana: 11 pts |
| Feb 10 | Lone Pine * | 66 | 39 | H | Kevin Austin: 16 pts |
| Feb 13 | Boron * | 57 | 35 | A | |
| Feb 16 | Kern Valley (Lake Isabella) * | 65 | 56 | H | Jay Reeder: 12 pts |
# Kern County Tournament ## Fillmore Tournament ## Bishop Tournament * League Game