Dec 30, 2016 By Adam Brewer for The 4 min read

COAL CENTER — Trailing 40-31 with 3:08 left in the fourth quarter, California went on a ferocious rally and ended the Lady Trojans Holiday Tournament championship game on an 18-4 run for a thrilling 49-44 victory over Brentwood Friday night.

“We buckled down on defense in the first half, but in that half we couldn’t buy a basket,” Cal coach Chris Minerd said. “Brentwood plays tenacious defense and we couldn’t get our outside shots to fall. The girls stuck with it and it was a great comeback. This was a great test for us. I’m extremely proud of our team to pull out this win.”

In a contest of unbeatens, the Lady Trojans (9-0) remained undefeated after a 23-15 scoring edge in the final eight minutes of play.

Bailey Vig was named tournament MVP and poured in 18 points for Cal.

“It seems like our teams always have lulls or quarters that we don’t do well,” Vig said. “We played bad through three quarters, but we were still in the game. We just came together in the fourth and we wanted to win our tournament. Our team has a lot of heart.”

Jenna Miller scored 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter and Marissa Bitonti added eight.

Natalie Murrio collected 15 points for the Lady Spartans (7-1), while Stephanie Thomas chipped in with 10.

In the seven-year history of the tournament, California won its second championship with the current three-day style format that dates back to 2013. The Lady Trojans lost in the finals last year to Carlynton.

Brentwood carried a 29-26 lead into the fourth period and started the quarter on a 10-3 spurt.

The Lady Trojans countered with seven of the next eight points and after two clutch free throws by Kylie Trusler, the deficit was 40-38 with 1:47 left in regulation.

“Our defense was so crucial in the fourth quarter, too,” Minerd said. “We pressed them and forced them to throw the ball away. They couldn’t answer our press and I think that turned the tide for us. We are built on defense and we will always rely on defense.”

After a defensive stop by Cal, Vig gave the home team their first lead of the night with a 3-pointer in the corner to make it 41-40 with 1:28 left in the quarter.

“As soon as I let it go, I knew it was in,” Vig said of the late 3-pointer. “It got real quiet and then the crowd exploded after it went it. As soon as I saw it go through the net my face was lit up. It was so crazy and so loud. My heart was beating so fast and it was just an unreal feeling.”

Sandwiched around a free throw and a 3-pointer by the Lady Spartans, Cal secured the win in the final minute by hitting 8-of-16 shots at the foul line.

Miller and Vig combined for 19 points in the final quarter.

“It’s been awhile since we won this tournament and it was a goal of ours,” Miller said. “We are a completely different team than the last team to win this tournament. We have grown up so much these last two years. We kept our heads up and the game came to us. We kept our composure.”

Brentwood jumped out to an early 8-2 in the opening frame, but Cal ended the first with five straight points via a trey from Love’ Porter and an inside hoop by Dominique Gaston.

In the second quarter, the Lady Spartans held a 12-6 scoring edge and carried a 20-13 lead into halftime. Cal countered with a 13-9 scoring advantage in the third quarter before a wild finish in the fourth.

Cal returns to Section 3-AA action on Monday at Greensburg Central Catholic.

“It was important to win tonight,” Minerd said. “I stressed to them that this is our house and we had to protect it tonight against a really good team. Both teams came into the game with a lot of confidence. We beat three quality teams in this week and it was a playoff atmosphere tonight.”

TOURNAMENT AWARDS: Vig was named tournament MVP, while Miller (Cal), Murrio (Brentwood), Maria Claybaugh (Charleroi), Alyssa Winters (Sewickley Academy) and Alyssa Kennedy (South Allegheny) were named to the all-tournament team.

Lady Trojans Holiday Tournament

Championship

Brentwood    8-12-9-15 — 44

California      7-6-13-23 — 49

Brentwood: Natalie Murrio 15, Stephanie Thomas 10. California: Bailey Vig 18, Jenna Miller 12. Record: Brentwood (7-1), California (9-0).