Following a clutch three-point play by Lathrop’s Kimallen Perilla with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Spartans a two-point lead, the game resembled a high-speed game of musical chairs.
When the music stopped, Lathrop had held on for a thrilling 68-66 Western Athletic Conference win over visiting Beyer.
“I was just trying to help our team win,” Perilla said. “And I messed up toward the end — smarter decisions could have been made. I’m just glad we pulled off the win.”
Perilla (eight points) took a pass from Daniel Whaley and was fouled while banking it off the glass, sending him to the free-throw line with 30.4 seconds left. After Perilla made the free throw, the game turned into a free-for-all, with the Spartans (2-0 WAC, 10-5 overall) making three steals, missing three shots, and getting the ball back into the Patriots’ hands for a last-second 3-point attempt that rimmed out.
“We were down by seven points with four minutes to go,” Lathrop coach Craig Ward said. “I am happy with us coming back and showing some effort defensively, but still, we have to have a higher basketball IQ at the end of the game. I was yelling at guys to hold the ball and we had guys shooting the ball.
“That’s something we have to work on in practice. I’m glad to come away with the ‘W.’”
Eddie Cotton put up an impressive double-double for the Spartans, scoring 19 points and pulling down 20 rebounds.
He grabbed his last rebound with 1 minute, 4 seconds left in the game off the offensive glass and was fouled, making two free throws to draw Lathrop closer, 66-65.
“I was just hustling,” Cotton said. “Like my coach always says, hustle and heart. I put myself in the right position and my teammates helped by boxing out. I just ate up the boards.
“A game like this prepares us for playoffs and we need a lot of preparation and learn how to overcome these humps and make the right decisions.”
C.J. Ward (six rebounds) and Walton Whaley scored 10 points for the Spartans and Daniel Whaley added nine points, five rebounds, four steals and an assist.
Lathrop was leading 49-44 late in the third quarter when the Spartans committed a foul and followed that with a technical foul. Beyer (2-1, 7-8) made four free throws and then a field goal to take a 50-49 lead into the fourth period. The Patriots extended that lead to 58-51.
Elijah Stone led them with 16 points, sinking three of Beyer’s 10 3-pointers.
Lathrop travels to Grace Davis on Friday at 7 p.m.
“We’re an OK shooting team,” Patriots coach Paul Leventini said. “We’re not very big, and it’s tough to get stuff inside when you’re small, so we do work a lot on shooting 3s.
“I wish we could have made at least one more.”

Junior varsity
Beyer 76, Lathrop 68
Samuel Stewart led the Spartans with 26 points.
Harold Gary added 12 points for Lathrop and Christian Buester chipped in 10.