WESTPHALIA, Mo. - The California Pintos girls team (12-3) won a tight game that went to overtime 48-46 vs the Fatima Rockets (13-5), Jan. 21.
It was a low-scoring game, as California trailed 10-9 after the first quarter, but led 18-17 at halftime.
The game stayed low scoring in the second half, as both teams played tough defense. The Pintos went 0-6 from the three-point line in the second half.
Head Coach Bobby Sangster said that the team has worked on not allowing a bad shooting night to be a bad basketball night.
"I think we played pretty good basketball throughout the night; the shots just did not fall," Sangster said.
Throughout the third quarter, both teams traded having the lead, as neither team could pull away. The Pintos largest lead in the second half was four points, with the game at 31-27 with just over a minute left in the third quarter. The Rockets ended the quarter with a 5-0 run that gave them a slim 32-31 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Pintos found themselves down by as much as three points twice in the final minutes of the quarter, but were able to take a 42-39 lead with just under a minute to go. Fatima tied the game with a 3-pointer with around 35 seconds left to play.
The Pintos had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but the shot by Quinn Albertson did not go down.
Sangster said he loved the shot attempt the Pintos had at the end of the quarter.
"Absolutely loved it," Sangster said. "It was not drawn up that way, but I don't care; it was a great shot by a senior leader. I have no issue with it whatsoever."
The team struggled with turnovers in the game, as they had 13.
Sangster said a lot of things contributed to the turnovers.
"You've got to give a lot of credit to Fatima; they are a great ball club," Sangster said. "They are ranked just outside the top 10 and there is a reason for that. Coach Baker does a great job. It has been a long month so far, and it is going to get nothing but longer and we did not have school today and that always plays in."
In overtime, the Pintos jumped out to a 44-42 lead, right after the opening tip-off, and held Fatima scoreless until just under a minute to go. Fatima made it a one-point game with under a minute to go at 44-43. But the Pintos made some clutch free throws to make it a 46-43 game.
Tristan Porter had 13 points for the Pintos and Gracie George had 12..
Sangster said he was proud of how the team handled the adversity.