Dec 12, 2018 3 min read

COAL CENTER – McGuffey boys basketball coach Mike Fatigante and his staff came up with an excellent game plan to stop California’s Malik Ramsey Wednesday night, and it worked for most of the game.

Then, California’s Austin Grillo took over.

The senior scored 11 of his team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter, including hitting a trio of three-pointers, as the Trojans came from seven points down halfway through the fourth quarter to defeat the Highlanders, 48-43.

McGuffey (2-2) played Ramsey, California’s leading scorer, in a tight man-to-man defense with C.J. Cole watching him for most of the game. Ramsey was limited to six points and only took seven shots.

“We had a game plan and we executed it to perfection,” Fatigante said. “We had plays to win the game and didn’t make them, and guys we count on to make plays missed layup after layup.

“Down the stretch, we threw the ball away and my hat’s off to them as they outplayed us.”

California coach Aaron Balla talked about his team coming through despite McGuffey doing everything it could to shut down the high-scoring Ramsey.

“The guys used what we were telling them as motivation,” he said. “They executed what we gave them and the team stepped up when (McGuffey) tried to shut down Malik.

“Austin stepped up and is contributing what we know he can.”

It was obvious from the start that both teams were playing for the second consecutive night as neither team had must intensity for most of the first quarter.

With one minute to go in the opening quarter, the score was 4-4 and the teams had combined for 10 turnovers.

But a late back-and-forth flurry ended with McGuffey leading, 10-9, after the first quarter.

The Highlanders outscored the Trojans 12-9 in the second quarter and held a 22-18 lead at the half. A 14-11 advantage in the third quarter gave the guests a 36-29 lead heading into the fourth quarter before Grillo took over.

Grillo was joined in double figures for the Trojans (3-1) by Cochise Ryan with 12 points. Nate Witkowsky (19) and Cole (16) combined for 35 for McGuffey’s 43 points as only three other Highlanders scored.

Both teams have to iron out a few things before section play begins Friday.

“We have a long road ahead with our young group,” said Balla, whose Trojans open Section 2-AA play at Carmichaels. “We faced adversity tonight and we will prepare more for teams trying to shut down Malik.”

“We have to work on limiting our turnovers and executing better on offense,” said Fatigante, whose team opens its Section 4-AAA campaign at Brownsville. “It is a simple solution.”