Warrior basketball begins summer league
Warrior basketball begins summer league
By: Tom Shea
Description: Defending CIF champion Tehachapi starts new season against Bakersfield elite teams
Topics: basetball
Posted by editor Mon Jun 11, 2007 09:06:54 PDT
Viewed 241 times
0 responses 0 comments Tehachapi may have not had the start that they had hoped for coming into summer league after two defeats to start the 10-game season, but there have still been positive results after a 47-37 defeat to Bakersfield High and a 54-48 loss to West-Bakersfield.
The Warriors, who are looking to find their team chemistry after the loss of Paul Walker, Vincent Saavedra and Jacob and Matt Rombouts to graduation, still have been pleased with what they have seen in two games so far with the returning players and junior varsity insurgence.
“We have a lot of junior varsity guys that have come up to play in this league and getting their first taste of varsity experience,” said head coach Chris Olofson. “It’s a lot of pressure to come out of the gate and have to play (Bakersfield High), but as we go we will get better.”
Tehachapi received contributions in the loss to Bakersfield from upcoming juniors JJ Balkar, who had 16 points, and Bert Hall, who had 12 rebounds. Shawn Pimentel also chipped in with eight points for the Warriors.
“It’s baptism by fire out here, and really that’s a good thing,” added Olofson. “Last year, Bakersfield beat us by 20, and we saw some things this year early on that were some improvements from back then. We have five returners, but we inserted a lot of guys in that game that just played at the frosh level last season. They are learning to know each other on the court and work with each other.”
Against West, Tehachapi jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the game when Bert Hall was fouled on a bucket in the paint and Kurtis Knudson had back-to-back converted free-throws in transition. The Vikings clawed back in the contest to get within one, with Tehachapi up at halftime, 25-24.
JJ Balkar opened up the second period with a three-pointer, one of four that he had in the game and 20 points overall, but West closed out the game with the eventual 54-48 victory. Bert Hall finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds, while Jeff Waldram had a three-pointer, and Derek Lange and Kurtis Knudson had four points each.
“Experience is the key right now, we get a chance to look at a lot of teams early and we want to take as much as we can from it as we go,” said Olofson.
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