After both teams struggled to score in the first half, the California Lady Pintos were able to speed up the game in the second half to help them beat the Blair Oaks Lady Falcons 68-42 on Thursday.
California led Blair Oaks 28-26 at the half, but outscored the Lady Falcons 22-6 in the third quarter to lead 50-32 heading into the fourth quarter.
After Sarah Wolken of Blair Oaks made an early bucket to start the second half, the Lady Falcons didn't score again until Brooke Boessen made two free throws at the 4:05 mark.
California only managed a 3 from Mara Caudel, an inside bucket from Cameron Meyer and three free throws from Ashtyn Goans during that stretch to keep Blair Oaks within six.
Meyer finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
"It was a tough ballgame," California coach Bobby Sangster said. "They did some things defensively that we hadn't spent a lot of time on, so we were a little uncomfortable."
California started its big third-quarter run with a Elizabeth Lutz layup at the 3:10 mark to make it 38-30. It started a 16-2 run. California added a Lutz 3 and an Emma Bailey bucket in the final minute of the third quarter to take a 50-32 lead.
Lutz scored a game-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. She scored 14 in the second half.
Kayla Allison added 11 points for the Lady Pintos.
"We got people in the right positions, got people reading keys and once that happened we hit them with a triangle and two very well," Sangster said.
In honor of Senior Night, Goans, Imhoff, Renee Roberts, Rozalyn Martensen and Caudel all started for the Lady Pintos. That same lineup stayed in the game for half of the first quarter.
For Blair Oaks, poor shooting kept it from keeping the game close.
The Lady Falcons shot 12-of-65 for the game.
"We didn't shoot very well and just had a bad night," Blair Oaks coach Kevin Kohler said. "It happens sometimes."
Boessen led Blair Oaks with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Blair Oaks was able to score 13 in each of the first two quarters, but only scored 16 in the second half.
"I know the girls were putting forth a good effort and it just wasn't happening for them, so I feel bad for them," Kohler said. "They work hard every day."
Blair Oaks had won four straight before Thursday's loss. California had lost four of six heading into the game.
Blair Oaks (13-13) and California (13-12) start Class 3 district play Monday.
The Lady Falcons are the fourth seed in District 9 at Fatima, and play No. 5 Steelville at 5:30 p.m.
"We just have to move ahead," Kohler said. "... It should be a good matchup for us. We think that we're pretty evenly matched up."
The Lady Pintos are the No. 4 seed in District 8 at Southern Boone, and open against fifth-seeded Hallsville at 6 p.m.
California won the JV game 48-34. Halie Rackers scored nine for Blair Oaks.
In the two-quarter freshman game, California edged Blair Oaks 24-21. Claire Heckman scored 13 for the Lady Falcons.