The 35th annual Frank Godinez basketball tournament almost ended with a showdown of local rivals, Turlock and Pitman High. Although both teams played well in the tournament they both lost in the second round, setting up a championship game between Davis High (6-4) and Valley High (6-1) on Saturday. When it was all said and done, Valley emerged from the tournament as champions, defeating Davis 71-62.

Even though the Bulldogs (3-2) and Pride (5-3) didn’t find themselves in the championship game they still had the opportunity to face each other, playing Saturday evening for the third place spot of the tournament. As expected, the matchup between the two rivals was a close and emotional one. The final score read 39-38 and Pitman emerged as the victors and third place team.

“Any time there’s a rivalry game emotions are high,” Turlock’s head coach Doug Cornfoot said. “Pitman handled them better than we did.”

The Pride led Turlock by double digits for a majority of the game. Turlock dug deep and orchestrated a late rally though, taking a one point lead, and seemingly the game, with 18 seconds left in regulation. A last second scramble for the ball prompted the referees to call a foul on Turlock, however, sending Pitman’s Skyler Sexton to the line with two free throws. With 1.8 seconds left on the clock, Sexton, with the ball and the game in his hands, drained both shots; sending Turlock home as fourth place finishers.

To contact Frankie Tovar, e-mail ftovar@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2041.