VERSAILLES, Mo. - The California Pintos girls finished in second place Dec. 7 at the Tri-County Conference tournament after a 55-39 loss to the Southern Boone Eagles in the championship game. The Pintos are now 3-2 on the young season.
The Pintos trailed 28-19 at halftime. By the third quarter, California was down 40-28.
Tristan Porter led the way for the Pintos in the championship game with 12 points.
Along their path to the final, the Pintos defeated the Eldon Mustangs 56-34 in the first round of the tournament Dec. 2. California led the Mustangs 16-12 in the first quarter, and the team outscored its opponent 15-7 in the second quarter to extend its lead to 31-19 before halftime. The Pintos then outscored Eldon 25-15 in the second half.
California also earned a victory against the Blair Oaks Falcons 62-52 in the second round of the tournament Dec. 4. California ended the first quarter up 12-7. The Pintos then outscored the Falcons 17-11 to extend their lead to 29-18 at the end of the second quarter.
In the third quarter, the Falcons cut into the Pintos lead, but California ended the quarter still leading 42-36.
With just under 6 minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, the Pintos had the lead back up to double digits as they led 50-40. California was able increase its lead up to 12 with the score at 52-40, but the team could not pull farther away from the Falcons. Blair Oaks was able to get the lead down to 56-47 with 3:30 left in the game and was able to get as close as within seven points in the final quarter - with 3:11 left, California led 56-49.
While Blair Oaks made it close once again with the score at 58-51 with around 1:38 left to play in the game, California held on for the win.
Makayla Schanzmeyer led California with 15 points in the game, followed by Paige Lamm with 12 points and Tristan Porter with 10 points.
Head coach Bobby Sangster said the team did well at the tournament.
"Anytime you can get two wins and a trophy I think it is a success," Sangster said. Sangster said the team is continuing to grow.
"I think we continue to cheer for one another and I think we continue to get better," Sangster said.
The Pintos' next game is at the River Region Shootout at Jefferson City High School at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14.