Warriors Basketball
Young sophomore Mady Cotta takes a shot in recent varsity game against Ridgeview. Cotta has been an
emerging force for the Lady Warriors as the season has progressed. (Photo by The Tehachapi News.)
Posted by John Nelson, The Tehachapi News, on January 29, 2017 Lady Warriors Rebound With Win Over West Bakersfield
The Lady Warriors are getting the hang of it.
Fiona Ferry and Irey Sandholdt feed Mady Cotta under the basket. The defense collapses around Cotta, and she feeds Teagan Thurman for an easy bucket.
“True teamwork,” coach Jacques Vachon said.
At least, that was the formula the Warriors used on offense Friday night, Jan. 27, at West for a 61-47 victory in a South Yosemite League basketball game.
“We faced a much improved team, and every member of the team contributed,” Vachon said.
Thurman, a freshman phenom, scored 24 points, leading the Warriors, 13-8 overall and 3-2 in the SYL, while Cotta and Alicia Johnson helped the Warriors dominate defensively with 11 rebounds apiece.
The Warriors lost their other game last week, bowing 69-56 at home to a very good Ridgeview team.
“Although the results were not what we expect, the Lady Warriors were a true challenge to Ridgeview,” Vachon said. “We lost by 13, but we never let the game get away from us.”
Against West, the Warriors led 30-19 at halftime and had little trouble with the Vikings the rest of the way.
Ferry contributed 13 points, and Cotta had 10, reaching double figures in both points and rebounds. Thurman had seven rebounds, and Sandholdt contributed five steels as the Warriors terrorized West's ballhandlers.
The Warriors broke on top of Ridgeview early and remained within striking distance until they had to begin fouling the Wolf Pack girls late in the game.
“The team showed their true mettle as they did not let Ridgeview get away,” Vachon said.
Ferry led the Warriors in scoring with 20 points, followed by Thurman with 13 and Sandholdt with 11. Thurman also had 15 rebounds, and Sandholdt had five steals.
Johnson had six rebounds and Cotta five against Ridgeview.
The girls had a make-up game scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30, at home against Golden Valley, then were set to face Independence on Wednesday, Feb. 1, again at home. They will finish the week on Friday, Feb. 3, at East Bakersfield.
“The team is showing continued improvement from the week before,” Vachon said. “Next week will be a true challenge.”
Carson Bethany takes a shot in a game played earlier this season. Bethany led the Warriors with 15 points
on January 25 against Ridgeview. Ridgeview won the game 92-54. (Photo by The Tehachapi News.)
Posted by John Nelson, The Tehachapi News, on January 29, 2017 Warrior Boys Drop A Pair in SYL Play
The Warriors boys had won five of their previous six games. Then they ran into Ridgeview.
The Wolf Pack, undefeated in the South Yosemite League, handed the Warriors a 92-54 loss on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Ridgeview.
Two days later, on Friday, Jan. 27, at home, the Tehachapi boys lost 68-67 to West, losing two in a row for the first time since December.
At Ridgeview, the Wolf Pack took a 39-24 lead at halftime and outscored the Warriors 34-16 in the third quarter to put the game away.
Carson Bethany led the Warriors with 15 points, and David Wheeler had 14.
The Warriors caught a bit of a break when they played winless Golden Valley in a make-up game on Monday, Jan. 30, then had to face a tough Independence team on the road on Wednesday, Feb. 1. Independence beat the Warriors 71-57 on Jan. 13 and had just one league loss, to Ridgeview.
The Warriors (10-11, 1-3 in the SYL) finish up the week on Friday, Feb. 3, at East Bakersfield.
