MICHAEL PISTELLA Ida Baker basketball players celebrate their 50-41 win over Gulf Coast Friday in a District 5A-15 semifinal game. More photos from the game will be available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

The Ida Baker Bulldogs hoped for a good shooting performance in Friday’s District 5A-15 Tournament semifinal game against Gulf Coast.

When that didn’t happen, the host Bulldogs found another way to advance to their first district championship game.

They turned up the defensive pressure in the fourth quarter, crashed the offensive boards and rallied for a 50-41 win over the Sharks.

“It was about eight seniors not wanting this to be their last game,” Bulldogs coach Greg Coleman said.

The Bulldogs (18-9) advance to Saturday’s district title game. They face Fort Myers, who defeated Barron Collier 59-56 in double overtime.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Baker High senior Jonathan Skinner dunks the ball in the fourth quarter of the Bulldogs’ 50-41 win over the Gulf Coast Sharks in Friday’s District 5A-15 semifinal game. More photos from the game will be available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

In the process, the Bulldogs clinched their first ever regional appearance.

Coleman acknowledged the historical significance of clinching a regional berth, but realizes a difficult challenge awaits Saturday against Fort Myers.

The Bulldogs’ victory over sixth-seeded Gulf Coast (9-17) wasn’t easy. They overcame an 18-for-61 shooting performance.

The Bulldogs fell behind Gulf Coast 5-0 in the first quarter and trailed the entire way, until taking a 39-37 lead with 3:21 left in the fourth quarter. Rob Serrano dished inside to senior John Skinner, putting the Bulldogs ahead after being tied several times.

The Bulldogs trailed 22-17 at the half and 31-29 entering the fourth, but the momentum shifted in the final quarter as they extended their 1-3-1 defense. It led to more deflections and turnovers.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Baker High senior Ron Ward (20) grabs an offensive rebound in the fourth quarter of the Bulldogs’ 50-41 win over Gulf Coast in Friday’s District 5A-15 semifinal. Beside Ward is Gulf Coast’s Mike McGahey (1) and Baker’s Gabe Rodriguez (22). More photos will be available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

“When you only shoot 25 percent, you better win with defense,” Coleman said.

The Bulldogs also were more aggressive on the offensive boards in the second half. Skinner led with 12 rebounds (nine offensive) and senior Ron Ward tallied eight rebounds (six offensive).

Senior Gabe Rodriguez led the Bulldogs with 15 points. Senior Xavier Battle chipped in with 11.

Gulf Coast 12 10 9 10 – 41

Ida Baker 7 10 12 21 – 50

Gulf Coast 41 – Feldt 4, McGahey 12, Booker 6, Gonzalez 13, Buksar 4, Smith 2. Totals: 15-42 9-10 41.

3-point goals: McGahey 1, Gonzalez 1.

Ida Baker 50 – Battle 11, Rodriguez 15, Ward 8, Skinner 9, Ramos 4, Campbell 1, R.Serrano 2. Totals: 18-61 10-22 50.

3-point goals: Battle 2, Rodriguez 1, Skinner 1.

Fort Myers 59, Barron Collier 56: Top seeded Fort Myers tossed up brick and after brick at the free throw line Friday night, and through 3 1/2 quarters the Green Wave hardly resembled the team that cruised through District 5A-15 play with an 8-0 record.

Then sophomore Evin Graham began to attack the basket, leading the Green Wave to an overtime win over fourth-seeded Barron Collier (18-9) in a semifinal game at Ida Baker.

Graham scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and the Wave (19-8) overcame a nine-point deficit with five minutes left in the fourth.

“When we were down I said this is why you wear that jersey. You win games like this,” Fort Myers coach Scott Guttery said.

The Wave advance to Saturday’s championship where they face second-seeded Ida Baker.

Fort Myers finished 18-of-33 from the free throw line. Collier connected on just 10 of 22 free throws.

Barron Collier 19 12 12 5 8 – 56

Fort Myers 16 10 8 14 11 – 59

Barron Collier 56 – Gonzalez 15, Landers 22, Humphrey 9, Bianchi 2, Schmitt 5, Clark 2, Gilbert 1. Totals: 20 10-22 56.

3-point goals: Landers 5, Gonzalez 1.

Fort Myers 59 – Graham 24, Henry 10, McClendon 11, Manning 7, Whitfield 3, Hodge 2, Yance. 2. Totals: 19 18-33 59.

3-point goals: Graham 1, Henry 1, Whitfield 1.

District 3A-12: Etienne Effenberg tallied a game-high 21 points and Brennen Melvin nearly added a triple-double with 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as Bishop Verot coasted past Cardinal Mooney.

The Vikings (19-8) take on Dunbar at 7 p.m. Saturday in for the district championship at Dunbar.

Bishop Verot 12 16 15 17 – 60

Card. Mooney 16 6 13 4 – 39

VEROT 60 – Melvin 17, Kane 20, Hagan 10, Sandoval 2, Effenberg 21. Totals: 23 11-18 60. 3-point goals: Hagan 2, Melvin 1.

MOONEY 39 – Wheeler 8, Nugent 7, Bartlett 2, Stokes 2, Elliott 1, Dumas 4, Montgomery 15. Totals: 15 5-9 39. 3-point goals: Wheeler 2, Nugent 1, Montgomery 1.

Wrestling

Region 2A-3: Team scores after Friday’s preliminary rounds at Charlotte High:

Team scores – 1. Palmetto Ridge 83.5, 2. Manatee 78.5, 3. Charlotte 60.5, 4. Lely 54.5, 5. Dixie Hollins 51.5, 6. North Port 50, 7. Osceola 42, 8. Barron Collier 37, 9. Venice 36, 10. Ida Baker 30, 11. Gulf Coast 29.5, 12. Seminole 27, 13. Northeast 26, 14. Lakewood Ranch 23, 15. Fort Myers 22.5, 16. Clearwater 20, 16. North Fort Myers 20, 18. Bayshore 18, 18. Port Charlotte 18, 20. Lakewood 16, 20. Booker 16, 20. Mariner 16, 23. Cape Coral 14, 24. Southeast 10, 25. Gibbs 8, 26. Boca Ciega 7, 26. Cypress Lake 7, 26. East Lee County 7, 29. Lehigh 6.

Softball

Riverdale 3, Ida Baker 0: Two defensive errors in the top of the seventh inning led to three unearned runs to lift Riverdale to victory over Ida Baker.

The scoring solved a pitcher’s duel that surrendered just three singles for each team. Winning pitcher Liana Derringer struck out seven while losing pitcher Katie Rieser of Baker struck out nine.

The Bulldogs (1-1) host Palmetto Ridge next Friday.

Riverdale 000 000 3 – 3 3 0

Ida Baker 000 000 0 – 0 3 4

W – Derringer. L – Rieser (0-1).

Sports editor Jim Linette contributed to this report.