LATHROP — Lathrop managed only five first-period points Monday and never recovered in a 72-46 loss to visiting Beyer-Modesto in non-league boys basketball action.
“I saw one team out there that moved and passed and cut and worked as a team,” Spartans coach Nate McGrath said. “And I saw the other team – my team – that watched their opponent play basketball. I saw a team that needs to find itself and find itself quick, otherwise it is going to be a long year.”
Lathrop (0-9) had problems holding onto the ball with 31 turnovers and lost the battle of the boards 35-27. The Patriots (8-1) gathered 17 steals.
“I had a lot of guys out there that have not played a lot of minutes. I told them at halftime that this would be an opportunity to show me who wants to play and who wants to sit and watch. If that starting group does not want to play I will find someone else who does until we find a combination of seven or eight kids that want to play.”
Yancy Ram led Lathrop with 11 points. Deshawn Kelly added 10 points, Nathan Oganbanwo six and Reggie Carter pulled down seven rebounds. A low-post player, Oganbanwo had the play of the night for the Spartans when made a steal midway through the third quarter, went coast-to-coast and split a pair of Beyer defenders for a layup.
East Union 56, Buhach Colony 38
The Lancers never trailed in Atwater and moved to over .500 for the first time this season.
Gyse Hulsebosch and Cody Keener led the way with 16 and 14 points, respectively. East Union hosts 9-1 tonight for its final game in 2014.
GIRLS HOOPS
Lathrop 43, Waterford 16
Both teams scored just two points apiece in the opening quarter and the Spartans (4-5) erupted for 21 third-period points and coasted to the non-league win at home.
“We had that familiar pattern of catching the ball and wanting to score right away to start the game,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “At halftime we told them to throw the ball around and if they did they would get easier shots.
“We were better the second half with waiting for our shots. Our defense was batter and we converted our layups instead of throwing it away.”
The Wildcats (0-7) were held to single digits every quarter.
Ashley Diboki led the Spartans with eight points. Lauren Collins and Gurveen Bal added six points apiece.
Sophomore boys
Lathrop 41, Beyer 36
The score was tied at 11 after the first quarter and 20 after the second.
Roman Martinez led the Spartans with 13 points and Michael Mills added eight.
Freshman boys
Lathrop 43, Beyer 31
The Spartans led 20-7 at halftime.
Andres Villegas led Lathrop with 13 points and seven rebounds and Colin Weis added 11 points.
East Union 63, Buhach Colony 53
Andrew Sena scored 20 points for the Lancers and Grant Silva chipped in 15.
Sophomore girls
Lathrop 32, Waterford 10
The Wildcats were held to single digits in the first three quarters and did not score in the fourth.
Shelia Martilens scored nine points for the Spartans and Alex De la Vega added six.
Ripon Christian 37, Central Valley 35
Kelly Engel nailed a late 3-pointer and three of four free throws after a technical foul in the final seconds to help the Knights take third in the Golden Valley Tournament on Saturday.
Lindsay Van Groningen, who finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, put Ripon Christian up for good with a free throw. Beth Weststeyn also had 10 points and grabbed seven boards. Engel ended up with eight points and three steals.
