CHICO – Despite being down 14 at the half and trailing the entire game, the Pleasant Valley High School freshman boys basketball team came back and hit a bucket with three seconds left in the game to upset previously unbeaten Chico 51-49 at Chico State Friday.

PV tried to stay with the Panthers in the first frame, matching bucket for bucket, but chico hit four three-pointers en route to a 16-11 lead. The Panthers continued to light it up with a couple more threes and and a few transition baskets as they went up by as much as 16 at one point.

Chico led 32-18 at the half.

"Our defense was not that bad, but a few of their kids just lit us up in that first half," observed PV coach Tim Keating.

The Vikes continued their solid defensive scheme and it paid off in the third as they cut the deficit to seven behind baskets by Reece Kettle and Zac Eldredge. Chico was up 37-30.

PV's defense continued to prevail as they got as close as two, but Chico's speed picked up some easy steals that resulted into layups and the Panthers went up eight with less than three minutes left in the game.

After a pair of clutch free throws, PV's Blake Marchant found two long treys, including one with 45 seconds left to tie the game. PV made a stop to gain the last possession. With :07 left in the game, Kameron Bradley found Ryan Troudy on a skip pass. Troudy missed the layup but Bradley picked up the offensive rebound and put it back in with three ticks left in the game. Chico missed a last second shot.

Kettle led the Vikes with 13 points. Bradley and Eldredge each scored 10 points and both played big, snagging seven and six rebounds, respectively. Troudy scored eight but played tremendous defense holding Chico's leading scorer to two points. Jason Williams played big off the bench scoring two and grabbing four boards.

"Chico is a great team but PV played great defense, didn't give up, and got a little lucky at the end," Keating said. "We made the shots down the stretch. It was a great game by two solid teams."

Both teams are 8-1 in Eastern Athletic League play.