LATHROP – The Spartans closed out the preseason Wednesday with a 68-44 loss to visiting Chavez High.
The Lathrop High boys basketball squad will open Valley Oak League play next week by hosting East Union.
“I’m hoping that we can at least learn from these games,” said Spartans coach J.J. Ramirez.
He was impressed with the intensity his Spartans exhibited through the better part of three periods.
“(Chavez) brought it out in us,” Ramirez said. “I thought we played them tough.”
Lathrop had a tough time defending against the perimeter shooting by the Titans’ Mack Harris and Dovontae Harrell. Both connected on three 3s while finishing with 20 and 15 points, respectively.
Bobby Napier also had 15 for Chavez.
Ricky Chavez led Lathrop with 10 while Marcus Conley and Darius O’Connor had nine apiece.
The Spartans jumped out to 8-2 early lead. O’Connor had a pair of field goals and Alex Pinedo scored on a put-back shot.
Lathrop’s diminutive guards, Eric Davis and sophomore Robert Orentes, scrapped for rebounds against their much taller counterparts, getting five and four, respectively.
Still, the Spartans were outrebounded 28-19, with the Titans’ Harris and Jeremy Dawson combining for 15 boards.
Down 8-7 after the first period, Chavez reeled off nine unanswered points, claiming a 16-10 advantage.
The Spartans bounced back on baskets by Conley and Chavez, who drove past the defense and delivered on a high-arching floater.
The Titans started to find their range, with Harrell dropping in a pair of 3s and Napier hitting one from behind the arc.
Chavez led at the intermission, 27-17.
After Ricky Chavez opened the third period with his second trey of the game, the Titans responded with consecutive 3s by Harris.
Lathrop began to unravel.
“We just broke down,” said Ramirez, who believed the inexperience and youth of his team may have played a factor.
The Titans had a 54-38 advantage entering the final period.
The Spartans were held to just two field goals in the fourth. Chavez pulled away by outscoring Lathrop, 14-6.
“We played hard,” Ramirez said. “But there’s still something there that we just can’t get past.”
The Lathrop High boys basketball squad will open Valley Oak League play next week by hosting East Union.
“I’m hoping that we can at least learn from these games,” said Spartans coach J.J. Ramirez.
He was impressed with the intensity his Spartans exhibited through the better part of three periods.
“(Chavez) brought it out in us,” Ramirez said. “I thought we played them tough.”
Lathrop had a tough time defending against the perimeter shooting by the Titans’ Mack Harris and Dovontae Harrell. Both connected on three 3s while finishing with 20 and 15 points, respectively.
Bobby Napier also had 15 for Chavez.
Ricky Chavez led Lathrop with 10 while Marcus Conley and Darius O’Connor had nine apiece.
The Spartans jumped out to 8-2 early lead. O’Connor had a pair of field goals and Alex Pinedo scored on a put-back shot.
Lathrop’s diminutive guards, Eric Davis and sophomore Robert Orentes, scrapped for rebounds against their much taller counterparts, getting five and four, respectively.
Still, the Spartans were outrebounded 28-19, with the Titans’ Harris and Jeremy Dawson combining for 15 boards.
Down 8-7 after the first period, Chavez reeled off nine unanswered points, claiming a 16-10 advantage.
The Spartans bounced back on baskets by Conley and Chavez, who drove past the defense and delivered on a high-arching floater.
The Titans started to find their range, with Harrell dropping in a pair of 3s and Napier hitting one from behind the arc.
Chavez led at the intermission, 27-17.
After Ricky Chavez opened the third period with his second trey of the game, the Titans responded with consecutive 3s by Harris.
Lathrop began to unravel.
“We just broke down,” said Ramirez, who believed the inexperience and youth of his team may have played a factor.
The Titans had a 54-38 advantage entering the final period.
The Spartans were held to just two field goals in the fourth. Chavez pulled away by outscoring Lathrop, 14-6.
“We played hard,” Ramirez said. “But there’s still something there that we just can’t get past.”
