In a game of runs, the California Lady Pintos had the final one for the win.
The Lady Pintos used a 10-2 spurt in a 3:30 span midway through the second half to push its lead to double-digits on their way to a 55-39 victory against the South Callaway Lady Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in the Capital City Shootout at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"All of the girls did a great job," California coach Bobby Sangster said. "South Callaway is very talented, but our starters and our bench players all did a very good job."
The Lady Bulldogs, who had just three players on their bench, looked like they wore down in the second half.
"It seemed like we would get a run, but they would get one right back on us," South Callaway coach Darren Humphrey said. "We're short in numbers but huge in heart. We could have thrown in the towel as young as we are, but we kept battling."
It was a back-and-forth first quarter, which ended with California holding a 15-13 advantage. A 3-pointer by South Callaway's Paige Clubb with 2:30 to go before halftime got the Lady Bulldogs to within three at 24-21.
But California went on a 10-3 run to close the quarter. Gracie George had eight of those points for the Lady Pintos, who led 34-24 at the half.
"We played so strong in the first half," Sangster said.
George had a pair of 3-pointers in the run, two of the six California had in the first half.
"You have to extend out so far to guard them on defense and that leaves you really vulnerable on the inside," Humphrey said.
The Lady Bulldogs were without post player Delaney Horstman for much of the first half due to foul trouble.
"Taking Delaney's presence out of the paint with what California had inside caused some chaos for us," Humphrey said. "But Cassidy Crocker came off the bench and gave us some excellent minutes."
Horstman was back on the floor in the third quarter and California looked to get the ball inside to see if it could get a fourth foul.
The Lady Pintos got the ball down low, but Horstman didn't pick up a foul and California just couldn't get the shots to fall.
"We were just missing shots," Sangster said. "There's nothing to it more than that. The ball was just rolling out and sometimes that happens."
The Lady Pintos were scoreless for nearly six minutes in the third quarter as the Lady Bulldogs cut their deficit to 34-30.
"I'm not upset, we'll finish," Sangster said. "They stayed strong, they posted up and we got the ball in their hands. Earlier in the year, we couldn't do that.
"We'll get there, we're not even to Christmas yet and there's a long way to go in the season."
California got on the board on a pair of 3-pointers by Trishelle Porter late in the quarter, which ended with the Lady Pintos holding a 41-32 lead.
"We know it's coming, she has the ability to get hot in a hurry," Sangster said. "She can bury one right after another."
Tristan Porter then pushed the Lady Pintos advantage to 44-32 with a 3-pointer with 6:30 remaining. Selected as the game's Most Valuable Player, she finished with a game-high 21 points, which included a 5-of-11 performance on 3s.
"Tristan really shot the ball well," Sangster said. "She feels pressure to do that and she's still developing as a scorer."
The 16-point final margin was the biggest of the game.
Raeghan Meyer led South Callaway (6-2) with 12 points and nine rebounds.
"She stepped up with some big shots and should really do a lot for her confidence," Humphrey said.
Raegan Brown added 11 points for the Lady Bulldogs.
"It was a great experience for our young team," Humphrey said. "I can't help but be pleased."
George and Trishelle Porter added nine points for California (6-2), who will play Kirksville next Saturday in Moberly. George also had a team-high nine rebounds.