2013-14 Warriors Basketball
File photo of Isaiah Johnson
Posted by Stephen Lynch, The Bakersfield Californian, on February 20, 2014 Johnson's Hot Shooting Fuels
Tehachapi's Victory Over Garces
TEHACHAPI -- Isaiah Johnson has had some big scoring games this year, including several with more than 30 points.
But the junior guard for Tehachapi with the outside touch has never been hotter than he was in the second half on Thursday night.
Johnson took his offensive game to a new level, tallying 20 second-half points to help the Warriors overcome a six-point halftime deficit and beat visiting Garces, 69-64.
Tehachapi earned a share of the Southeast Yosemite League title, tying Garces and East.
"I tried to help my team out the best I could shooting the ball," said Johnson. "I was just taking what they gave me. I've never had a half like that. It felt amazing."
Right after the final buzzer, the large Tehachapi student section at the game rushed the court. Later, Warriors seniors Dakota Medovitch and Micah Fjeld cut down one of the nets.
"It's huge,"Tehachapi coach Chris Olofson said. "I don't care if we have to share it, two ways, three ways. A championship is a championship. I couldn't be prouder of these guys."
Johnson made six 3-pointers including four in the second half. Trailing 32-26 at halftime, he opened the second half with a 3-pointer from the right wing.
Later in the quarter Johnson sank two NBA range 3's and had a two-hand dunk off a steal during a 1 minute, 44- second stretch, fueling a 23-4 Tehachapi run that turned the game around.
"Hats off to them," Garces coach Matt Robles said. "They played a great game. They're tough. They're physical. They have some really good players. Johnson did a heck of a good job. Our boys battled. I'm really proud of them."
Rashad Jackson had 26 points, and Sheldon Croney scored a season-high 22 points for Garces (18-9, 8-2 SEYL), which handled Tehachapi (19-7, 8-2 SEYL) easily the first time the two teams met this season.
"It's a fact there's not a lot of love-loss there (between Garces and Tehachapi) and we got punked a little bit down there last time, " Olofson said. 'We reminded ourselves of that at halftime. We weren't about to let it happen again. Not in our house. Not tonight."
While Johnson heated up after halftime, the Rams struggled with their shooting, making just 2 of 18 field goal attempts to start the second half.
Garces shot 36-percent from the field and was 9 of 18 (50 percent) from the free throw line overall.
Tehachapi made 37 percent of is field goal attempts and connected on 12 of 19 foul shots.
