MOKANE - The California Pintos used a balanced scoring attack and a steady defense to pick up a win Tuesday night.
The Pintos placed four players in double figures while holding the North Callaway Thunderbirds to nine points in each of the fourth quarters to take a 70-36 victory in the opening round of the Class 3 District 8 Tournament.
With the win, second-seeded California (21-3) advances to take on host South Callaway in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
California led 21-9 after one quarter and 34-18 at the half.
Drew Norton led California with 14 points. Jaden Barr and Dylan Norton added 12 points each, while Eli Freeman chipped in with 11.
South Callaway, the No. 3 seed, advanced with an 87-56 victory against Hallsville in the final game of the night.
Father Tolton and Southern Boone will meet in the first semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday. Father Tolton, the top seed, defeated Montgomery County 81-46 in Tuesday's first game, while fifth-seeded Southern Boone upended fourth-seeded Hermann 68-41 in the second game.