Jan 12, 2003 By Jim Kriek For The 5 min read

CALIFORNIA – Geibel hit the gold lode in California, but for a while it looked like they might have struck pyrite instead. It might be the oldest clich? in sports writing, but once again you can say, “This is the way that high school basketball is meant to be played.”

As in meant to be played by two teams undefeated in section competition and going for sole possession of first place. In the end, it was easy to see why both went into the game perfect in section play.

California and visiting Geibel Catholic battled through four tense quarters and into overtime, before Geibel strung 10 points to clinch a 68-62 win and gain first place all alone in the section.

Only the Grimm Brothers could have conceived such a plot that featured this game, a matchup that had ties of 2, 4, 24, 31, 33, 35, 37, 55, in regulation, and 62 in overtime, before Geibel made its closing charge. There were 22 lead changes, 10 of them in the free-wheeling fourth.

Late in the fourth, Geibel got a 52-51 lead on Dale Speggen’s layin (from John Bokat), then California answered with Rick Cope and Don DeMoss shots in front to lead 55-52. California called time at 1:22, and when play resumed the Trojans missed a shot, Geibel rebounded and started down court, but Ryan Robinson stole the ball.

Geibel got it back, missed a shot, and California came out with the ball. The Gators got a shot away, missed, and DeMoss rebounded for the Trojans. With 36 seconds left, Geibel got the ball went back, worked it around, looking for the opening, but California had all entrances blocked. Then with 17 seconds left, Speggen got loose just enough to arch a 3-pointer for a 55-55 tie. California got one shot away, missed, and Geibel rebounded with Jordan White’s long heave missing at the buzzer.

Geibel missed a shot to start the overtime and DeMoss rebounded for the Trojans and passed over to Shane Tonkavich, who was fouled as he started up court. He made both tries (both teams were in the 1-and-1) for a 57-55 lead. Geibel missed a shot, California controlled the ball over to Woody Stewart, who hit DeMoss going for the basket, and the Trojans led 59-55.

Geibel scored with Robert Ramsey’s layin, and when he was fouled as he scored, he made it a 3-point play to pull the Gators within one, 59-58. At 2:32, Tonkavich hit a long three for a 62-58 edge, and while it wasn’t evident at the time, that would be the extent of Trojan scoring.

DeMoss fouled out at 2:11 and White missed, but made both ends of a technical, leaving Geibel down 62-60. Geibel got the ball out of bounds, and at 1:48 Bokat put up a rebound for a 62-62 tie and was fouled as he scored, adding the free throw to put the Gators on top for good, 63-62.

California turned the ball over at 1:29 and Geibel worked the clock down to :44, then Ramsey hit Bokat for the layin and a 65-62 lead. California missed another shot, Geibel rebounded, and ran the clock down to :19, when Bokat was fouled. He made one of two tries for a 66-62 lead, and the clincher came nine seconds later when Ramsey hit two on the line.

Geibel (10-4, 6-0) led 20-15 at the quarter and after a 31-31 halftime tie, California (8-5, 5-1) led 43-38 after three.

Coach Ken Misiak attributed the Gators success to “keeping our composure all the way. We (coaches) told them they could win this one if they just worked on defense, rebounding, and making them turn the ball over. The key play was that long three by Speggen that put us into overtime.

“We led after one, then hit a real cold hand to start the second, going almost four minutes without scoring, while they moved from seven down to three ahead. Without that slump, who knows if we would have gone into overtime. This is our biggest win so far, but there is still a long way to go as we have six section games in the second half, including a rematch with California.”

Trojan coach Steve Luko felt “we missed some shots on the fastbreak that hurt us, and we made some turnovers at bad times, especially in the third, plus missing some easy shots in the fourth and in overtime. Then DeMoss fouled out in overtime and that took away a big board man.

“When we were up by three with time running out in regulation, I told them to work the ball and kill the clock, but we made a turnover and that was a big factor. I told them afterward that this was a big game, but there are still six to go, plus we have a real big game coming up at home with Monessen.”

Ramsey led Geibel with 21, White was right behind with 20, and Bokat had 18.

Cope led California and game scoring with 22, and DeMoss had 14.

The Gators will be home Monday with Washington.

The Trojans’ clash with the Greyhounds takes place on Tuesday.