Pintos pull out close win over Fatima

<p>Democrat photo/Kevin Labotka</p><p>Makayla Schanzmeyer plays defense Jan. 6 during the Pintos’ 48-43 win over Fatima.</p>

Democrat photo/Kevin Labotka

Makayla Schanzmeyer plays defense Jan. 6 during the Pintos’ 48-43 win over Fatima.

The California Pintos girls basketball team held on to win a close game against the Fatima Comets 48-43 on Jan. 6. The Pintos are now 8-3 on the year.

There was not much scoring in the first quarter, as the Pintos led 7-3 by the end of the quarter. Fatima bounced back and outscored California 15-10 in the second quarter to enter halftime up 18-17.

In the third quarter, the Pintos' offense seemed to get it going, with both teams scoring quickly early in the quarter. A three-pointer by Lauren Friedrich gave the Pintos a 24-22 lead. Paige Lamm then got a block on the Comets' next possession and the Pintos' lead grew to four points, after a basket by Lauren Hill made it 26-22 with around five minutes to go in the quarter.

Fatima made it a 26-24 game with around 4:23 to go in the quarter, but a three-pointer by Tristan Porter extended California's lead and made it a 29-24 game. Then another three-pointer, this time by Trishelle Porter, widened the gap to eight points at 32-24 with 3:30 to go in the quarter. The Pintos made four three-pointers in the game, three of them coming in the third quarter. Two free throws by Tristan Porter made it a 10-point game at 34-24 with less than three minutes in the quarter.

Head coach Bobby Sangster said the team executed on making its shots in the third quarter.

"We made shots, (Fatima) tried some different defenses but when the shots go in it looks pretty," Sangster said. "It sounds simple, but that is what it is, we made shots."

The Comets would fight back, as they got the lead down to 34-28 with 2:13 to go. Fatima pulled the Pintos' lead back down to five points at 36-31 right before the end of the quarter.

The fourth quarter started off with a three-point play by Tristian Porter to make it a 39-31 game with less than six minutes to go in the game. Again, the Comets fought back as they would not go away quietly. Fatima made it a 41-36 game with 3:20 left to play and would again keep the game within five points at 43-38 with 1:20 left to go. With less than 40 seconds on the clock, the Comets had a three-point play of their own to make it a 47-42 game.

With the score at 48-43, Fatima had the ball with around 25 seconds left in the game, but the Pintos played some tough defense. California did not allow the Comets to get a shot off until there was around 5 seconds left in the game, and the Pintos were able to secure the miss.

Sangster said the team just went out there and guarded its opponents.

"There is nothing complicated to it, they just locked in and guarded, they stayed in concept and they stayed together on the defensive end," Sangster said. "We talk about playing unselfishly and we played very unselfish on the defensive end."

The Pintos had 10 players score at least one point in the game. Tristan Porter led the team with 14 points, followed by Paige Lamm and Lauren Hill with six points each, and Lauren Friedrich with five points.

Sangster said he hopes the team's spread in scoring on the night shows the team is unselfish.

The team's next game is at 6 p.m. on Jan. 9. at home versus Eldon.