Facing their third state-ranked team in as many Friday nights, the Fulton Hornets finally broke through with a signature victory.
No. 3 seed Fulton toppled the No. 2 California Pintos - ranked No. 7 in Class 3 - in a 69-58 semifinal win at the Southern Boone Classic.
Fulton (12-6) played the top-ranked Father Tolton Trailblazers for the tournament title Saturday night. The Trailblazers - ranked No. 1 in Class 3 - thumped No. 4 seed Southern Boone 70-44 in their semifinal matchup Friday night.
The Hornets grabbed a 5-4 advantage over California on senior forward Devin Gibson's 3-pointer and never trailed again. Fulton led by as many as seven points in the first quarter, concluding the period with a 14-11 advantage.
The Hornets started the second quarter on a 9-0 run, opening up a 23-11 advantage on a jumper by junior forward Wendall Steward.
Steward was part of a Fulton reserve unit that platooned with the starters to combat the gymnasium's stuffy climate, while also protecting Hornets in early foul trouble.
Fulton head coach Ryan Shaw praised his bench for maintaining the momentum. The Hornets carried a 30-20 lead into halftime.
The Pintos outscored Fulton 20-18 in the third quarter, cutting their deficit to six points late in the period. Gibson's basket with time running out gave the Hornets a 48-40 lead entering the fourth quarter.
California closed within six points again in the final 8 minutes, but the Pintos were up against a Fulton offense that was as efficient as it has been in some time.
The Hornets shot 52 percent as a team (26-of-50), while knocking down 10-of-19 3-pointers.
"We got the best shot instead of the first shot," Shaw said. "I was just really happy with the way we reversed the ball and got offensive looks from the 3-point line."
Gibson led all players with 21 points and tied fellow senior forward Sam Christensen with eight rebounds.
Junior guard Kalin Mitchell added 12 points for Fulton, while senior guard Ricky Dawson and senior forward Austin Wilson logged 10 apiece. When the Pintos tried to slow the game down with late fouls, Fulton responded by hitting 6-of-7 free throws.
Shaw commended the Hornets' team defense and rebounding. California shot 44 percent (24-of-55) from the field, but was outrebounded by Fulton 33-26.
Shaw attributed the rebounding totals to the Hornets' improved defensive rotation.
"I think part of our rebounding problem was being out of position defensively," Shaw said. "It started with defense on the ball, we were so far out of position, we couldn't get there (to rebound), so we re-emphasized (defensive) position."
Jaden Barr produced 16 points to lead the Pintos (16-2). Alex Dalbey added 12 points, while Eli Freeman finished with 11.