The California Pintos, showing grit and determination, rallied in the fourth quarter to overwhelm the Mexico Bulldogs, 65-58, in Saturday's championship final at the boys 81st annual California Basketball Tournament.
From the nonstop action on the court, to the roaring atmosphere in the stands, it was a night to remember for California players, coaches and fans.
"It was nuts," said Pintos senior guard Eli Freeman. "Oh my goodness, I love playing at home."
California, the No. 1 seed, hoisted the championship trophy once again. After enduring a 25-year title drought at the California Basketball Tournament, the Pintos now have two straight.
"We want to be a senior class that people remember," Pintos senior guard Jaden Barr said. "Winning back-to-back California tournaments is a huge deal around here."
It also was a memorable week for Pintos head coach Blair Scanlon, who picked up his 100th career victory in the semifinal round before guiding his team to Saturday's championship.
"Heck of a game, heck of a game," Scanlon said. "That's all I can say."
The Pintos, who improved to 11-0 this season, made another statement with impressive wins over Marshall, Fatima and Mexico in a five-day span. Mexico, the No. 3 seed, was 10-0 heading into Saturday's final.
California, ranked No. 10 last week in the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 3 state poll, should move up when the new rankings are released today.
"We're a top five, top 10 team, for sure," Freeman said. "We're showing people that we mean business."
Scanlon added: "People are starting to take notice. We're 11-0 for a reason."
Saturday's win, however, was a challenge for the Pintos, who trailed 52-46 early in the fourth quarter. California responded, though, with a 7-0 run to take a 53-52 lead with 3:40 left. Junior guard Landon Mouse started the rally with a 3-pointer, followed by two layups from Barr.
The teams traded points over the next two minutes, with Mexico taking a 56-55 advantage. Senior forward Dylan Norton answered with a layup, putting California back ahead.
After the Bulldogs missed a jumper on their next possession, a mad scramble ensued for the rebound and Mouse was called for a questionable loose-ball foul. After the referees conferred, however, the foul was changed to a Mexico player, causing an uproar from the visiting coaches and fans. Mouse proceeded to hit both free throws, giving California a 59-56 lead with 33 seconds left.
The Bulldogs still had a chance, missing two 3-point attempts on their next possession. California secured the rebound, leading to a Freeman layup with 10 seconds left.
"You have to maintain your composure, but at the same time, play with intensity," Barr said. "We have veteran guys that can respond in tough situations. It was a great win."
Barr finished with 27 points, while Freeman had 11, Mouse scored 10 and senior forward Drew Norton added nine. Mexico senior Cole Jaramillo had a game-high 31 points.