LATHROP — The East Union High Lancers dictated Thursday’s Valley Oak League game at Lathrop by unleashing pressure defense.

The result of that was a 46-26 rout over the Spartans.

“We have to win games in the VOL (to reach the post season),” said EU coach Jim Agostini. “We can’t look past any team.”

The Lancers (6-4 VOL, 15-7 overall) forced 21 turnovers in the first half alone while bolting out to 16-6 advantage.  During one stretch late in the opening period, Anna Wood scored three straight baskets including a free throw to polish off a three-point play.

“We took ourselves out of the game with the turnovers,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said.

With injuries to key players, he’s had to make do with a young team.

“We have four games left in the season. Our hope is for our girls to finish strong and learn along the way,” Davis added.

The Spartans (1-9 VOL, 6-17) kept the game close early on thanks to a pair of field goals by Deja Andrades and one by Shaianne Brito.

But then East Union went on a 9-2 roll while slowly pulling away.

The Lancers made it 25-9 by the intermission. Olivia Vezaldenos had a pull-up jumper while converting another off a steal and Alissa Burrola scored on a put-back.

Wood, Daube and Vezaldenos keyed the third-quarter charge for East Union, which bolstered the lead, 39-12.

The Spartans had their best offensive showing in the fourth.

Gurveen Bal banked in 3-point basket and Ashley Diboki, who had nine rebounds to go along with her 7 points, converted on a three-point play.

Andrades led Lathrop with eight points. Terrina Phillips contributed with eight boards and two steals.

For East Union, Wood and Daube, who also had four steals, shared top-scoring honors with 14 points. Vezaldenos chipped in with 10.



Sierra 61,
Central Catholic 57

The Timberwolves (4-6, 8-5) celebrated senior night in a big way, as they exacted revenge against visiting Central Catholic and prevailed in overtime.

Sierra led 53-50 with 7 seconds to go, but the Raiders (2-8, 8-15) were awarded four free throws after Danielle Freidrich was fouled en route to the basket. Sierra coach Martha Spivey was then whistled for a technical foul, giving Central a chance to go ahead from the free-throw line. Freidrich, who finished with 26 points, made three of the four attempts to force overtime.

Devi Coglio came through for the Timberwolves, scoring five of her 23 points in the overtime period. Kayla Wilson contributed 17 points in the emotional win. Sierra came into the contest shorthanded with starting point guard Keanna Barber out sick, and the team lost Haley Silva after she went down with a wrist injury in the opening quarter.

“I’m proud of the way our bench stepped up tonight,” Spivey said. “We played without two of our starters and didn’t miss a beat.”



Weston Ranch 44,
Oakdale 38

The Cougars (9-1, 18-4) won in Oakdale, as expected, but it was surprising that they struggled to put the Mustangs (1-9, 3-19) away.

Maddi Hackbarth scored 14 of her 17 points in the second half for Oakdale to keep it in range.

“She single-handedly kept them in the game,” Weston Ranch coach Chris Bauer said.

Elisabeth Alexander and Patricia King led Weston Ranch with 13 points apiece. Cierra Jones grabbed nine rebounds.

The usually-quick starting Cougars took a fragile 11-9 lead into the second quarter and was up 21-15 at halftime.

“We weren’t mentally prepared coming out of the box,” Bauer said. “Oakdale came out and executed. They slowed the game down to a snail’s pace and controlled the ball well in the first half.”



Sophomore

East Union 51, Lathrop 26

Haley Gosney spearheaded a balanced effort for the Squires (6-4, 13-8), finishing with 13 points. DeJohna Pryor chimed in with 10, and Faith Stofferhan had nine.



Freshman

Weston Ranch 47,
 Oakdale 13

Inesja Lomax and Jaylah Evans (eight rebounds) poured in eight points apiece for the Cougars, who limited Oakdale to single-digit scoring in every quarter.