Lady Pintos take Lady Tigers down to snag district championship

California Head Coach Bobby Sangster and the Lady Pintos react at the end of a very close championship game against Skyline at the Class 3 District 10 Girls Basketball Tournament Saturday at Versailles, which California won 50-45. The Lady Pintos advance to Class 3 Sectionals today (Wednesday) at the Missouri University of Science and Technology at Rolla, where they will play Hermann at 6 p.m.
California Head Coach Bobby Sangster and the Lady Pintos react at the end of a very close championship game against Skyline at the Class 3 District 10 Girls Basketball Tournament Saturday at Versailles, which California won 50-45. The Lady Pintos advance to Class 3 Sectionals today (Wednesday) at the Missouri University of Science and Technology at Rolla, where they will play Hermann at 6 p.m.

California faced Skyline in the championship game of the Class 3 District 10 Girls Basketball Tournament Saturday at Versailles, where the #2 seeded Lady Pintos scrapped to the very end to defeat the top-seeded Lady Tigers 50-45. The win was extra sweet since California lost the district championship to Skyline last year.

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"It's an amazing feat considering the talent in this district," California Coach Bobby Sangster said. "With all the adversity we've had to face, injuries, it's a great accomplishment for this team to be district champions."

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Todd Ellis and Christine Barsky

Skyline led 8-5 after the first quarter and 21-18 at the half. The Lady Pintos turned up the heat in the third quarter to outscore the Lady Tigers 12-3 and led 30-24 going into the final frame. Skyline, however, went on a 9-point run to pull ahead of California 36-32 with 5:33 left to play.

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Scott Caldarera and Tiffany Phillips

With 2:23 remaining, senior Kaitlyn Allison nailed a 3-pointer to put the Lady Pintos within one point of the Lady Tigers, 40-39. Sophomore Sydney Deeken sank a shot to pull the Lady Pintos ahead 41-40 with 1:50 left to play.

For more of this story check out the March 7 issue of the California Democrat.