California wins vs. Iberia in dramatic finish

Trevor Porter looks to make a play Dec. 15, 2018, during California's 70-67 win over Iberia at the Jefferson City Shootout.
Trevor Porter looks to make a play Dec. 15, 2018, during California's 70-67 win over Iberia at the Jefferson City Shootout.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - It went down to the final buzzer, but the California Pintos boys basketball team (5-3) defeated the Iberia Rangers 70-67 at the Jefferson City Shootout, Dec. 15.

The Pintos led 16-4 in the first quarter but Iberia's 3-point shooting brought the Rangers back into the game, as they hit four 3-pointers to make it a 22-16 lead for California at the end of the quarter.

The game stayed close throughout the second quarter, as both teams traded baskets to tie the game at 24-24 before California retook the lead at 26-24 with 4:53 left to play in the first half. California added to its lead to make it a 31-26 game before back-to-back threes by Iberia gave them their first lead of the game at 32-31 with just under two minutes left to play in the half.

At halftime, the Rangers led the Pintos 37-35.

Head coach Ron Lebel said Iberia shot well in the second quarter, even though California was playing their defense well.

"We contested a lot of those shots," Lebel said. "I would be disappointed if they were standing there wide open but we had a lot of guys closing out on them and they just shot it well."

Early in the third quarter, the Pintos found themselves down 42-38. But the Pintos retook the lead with the score 45-44 with 4:26 left in the quarter, during a 10-0 run that put the Pintos up 48-42 with just over four minutes left in the quarter. Again, Iberia fought their way back into the game as the Rangers made it a one-point game at 50-49 with around a minute left in the quarter, before the Pintos scored once more to enter the fourth quarter up 53-49.

The fourth quarter went back and forth, as California was up 10 points at 64-54 with around five minutes left to play, only for Iberia to charge back and make it a two-point game with 2:45 left to play at 64-62, after the Rangers went on an 8-0 run.

The game came down to the final seconds, as California led 70-67 with eight seconds left to play. Iberia had a chance to tie the game, but Garrett Ray's 3-pointer missed and California secured the rebound. Trystan Hees was fouled and had a chance at the free throw line to put the game away, but missed his free throws, which gave Iberia one more chance. California struggled from the free-throw line, as they shot 5-12 from the line in the second half.

Lebel said that close games can create pressure at the free-throw line.

"Kids feel pressure," Lebel said. "You've got moms and cheer leaders and the other team yelling at you and we were trying. The bottom line is these guys have won two nice games back-to-back; we did some nice things well."

Iberia's Zach Voss' game-tying attempt at the buzzer, near the right corner, was also no good, giving the Pintos the win.

Lebel said he told the team to focus on keeping control of the ball and not turning it over in the last seconds of the game.

Jordon Geiser was named the game's MVP with 22 points on 8-19 shooting. Hees had a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. And Isaac Ash scored 14 points.