It was a festive night Friday for the California Pintos boys basketball team.
It was Courtwarming and a Tri-County Conference game against the Eldon Mustangs, who defeated California at the Tipton Tournament back in November. California would have to overcome an obstacle as coach Brad Conway was unable to coach due to an illness. Assistant coaches Brandon Kliethermes and Robb Hartman took over for Conway. Although they were shorthanded, the Pintos took over the game in the closing minutes to defeat the Mustangs 62-47.
Before the game, California crowned their Courtwarming royalty. Juniors Alexis Anguiano and Penelope Cotten won Courtwarming prince and princess, and seniors Cole Kirksey and Alayna Butts won Courtwarming king and queen.
When the game began, the Pintos came out on the attack and scored the first four points with three offense rebounds, which forced Eldon to take an early timeout. However, Eldon did not back down from California's challenge. Led by senior forward Devin Wardenburg, who scored eight points in the first quarter, Eldon climbed back into the game and took a two-point lead. Sensing his team needed some help from the bench, Kliethermes brought sophomore Hayden Kilmer into the game. Kilmer answered by hitting two 3-pointers in the first quarter to help California go up 18-14 going into the second quarter.
Junior guard Ayden Bryant led the Pintos' charge in the second quarter and California built a nine-point lead going into the final seconds of the first half. With just more than five seconds remaining in the half, Bryant made a critical play when he stole the ball from Eldon guard Hunter Hees and raced down the floor for a last-second shot. Bryant decided to call on his own number and drove to the rim for a layup and he was fouled with 0.1 seconds left. Bryant missed the free throw, but it was a big momentum boost for California, as they went into the half up 32-21.
The game went back and forth for most of the second half, with Eldon grabbing the momentum midway through the fourth quarter when the Mustangs cut California's lead to 50-45. The Pintos were in danger of letting the game slip away, but Bryant once again stepped forward to make sure that didn't happen. Seemingly in the middle of every play for the rest of the game, Bryant helped California close out the game on a 12-0 run to put the game out of Eldon's reach. California pulled away with 23 fourth quarter points to defeat Eldon 62-45 and sent the California crowd into a frenzy.
The Pintos shot 27-of-56 from the field for 48 percent, 2-of-8 on three-pointers for 25 percent, and 6-of-12 on free throws for 50 percent in Friday's victory.
Bryant led the California charge with 19 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Kilmer came in off the bench and added 14 points, three assists, two steals, and two rebounds. Berendzen also had a strong game with 12 point and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Brooks Volkart also made a substantial contribution in California's win with eight points, four assists, a rebound, and a steal.
For the Eldon Mustangs, they shot 18-of-41 from the field for 44 percent, 6-of-24 on 3-pointers for 25 percent, and 4-of-9 from the foul line for 44 percent. Devin Wardenburg, who had eight points in the first quarter, finished with a team-high 15 points, five rebounds and two assists. Hees added 10 points, with four rebounds and two assists.
Kliethermes said although Conway couldn't coach in Friday's game, his gameplan was well executed by the players. Kliethermes admitted California didn't play well in their first game against Eldon back in November, but California learned a lot about themselves from that game and made it their mission to play better against Eldon in this go-around.
"Our guys wanted to play well for coach Conway and I think all of the festivities added to the effects of tonight's game. Coach Conway's fingerprints were all over this game in our execution and how hard we guarded. We did some stuff well defensively and it was just a really good night for our guys," Kliethermes said. "One of the big things coach Conway emphasised in practice over the last two days was we're going to have to attack. The first time we play them, we kind of sat around on the perimeter and we didn't get any rhythm or flow to our offense. We know we were going to have to be more aggressive and hats off to our guys for both passing and driving the ball into the paint. That created some rhythm for us and allowed to be pretty effective offensively."
Kliethermes had high praise for the performance Bryant had in Friday's game. Like the Pintos, Bryant has had his ups and downs throughout the season, but Kliethermes said tonight was one of his up moments because of his relentless offensive game and leadership in the critical moments of the game.
"Ayden Bryant was really efficient tonight. I don't what his shooting percentage was, but when Ayden attacks the rim, something explosive is going to happen. You never know what it's going to be necessarily, but it doesn't always equate to made shots. He missed a couple in a row tonight and we pulled him aside and kind of got him back under control a little bit," Kliethermes said. "He went right back at it and I think he had the dagger basketball when he drove for a layup late in the fourth quarter to give us a double-digit lead. He was really good tonight and we needed him to be good tonight."
The Pintos look to continue their winning ways Friday night when they take on the Smith-Cotton Tigers in Sedalia.
Sophomore forward Hayden Kilmer soars to the rim for a score to give California a five-point lead in the fourth quarter. Kilmer had 14 points, three assists, two steals, and two rebounds for California on Friday. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Junior guard Ayden Bryant shoots for a three-point play to end the first half. Bryant had a game-high 19 points, five assists, four rebounds, and a block against the Eldon Mustangs. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Assistant Coach Brandon Kliethermes took over for head coach Brad Conway on Friday night and led the Pintos to victory. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
California High School's students celebrate a big win for California over Eldon on Friday night. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Sophomore guard Brooks Volkart drives past his defender and hits a pull-up jumpshot for the Pintos.(Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Freshman forward Landen Dunham had three points and two rebounds in California's win over Eldon on Friday. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
Junior Chase Schlup warms up for California's game against the Eldon Mustangs. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)
The Pintos hold one last team huddle before the opening tip. (Democrat photo/Evan Holmes)