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GIRLS HOOPS: Lathrop falters late in Delta Queen Classic defeat
Bulletin girls basketball 2019-20
Lathrop guard Leanna Orina (10) dribbles ahead of West defender Kimberly Noriega during a Tony Contreras Delta Queens Classic consolation game held at Stagg High on Friday. - photo by Photo By Sean Kahler

STOCKTON — The Spartans fell to West High in familiar fashion Friday in the annual Tony Contreras Delta Queen Classic.
They had their chances late in consolation-round play at Stagg High only to lose, 32-27.
Down 28-27 in the final minute, Lathrop High (1-6) came up with a steal along with a favorable turnover only to come up empty.
The Wolf Pack finally prevailed when 5-foot-11 post player Melisa Toilolo came up with the rebound, firing an outlet pass to Kayla Collins for a breakaway basket. The combo struck again seconds later to put the game on ice.
“We lost our last three games like that,” said Spartans coach Dwayne Davis. “We were in those games with a chance to go ahead.”
Lathrop’s inexperience stems from have only one returning regular from a year ago in Jasmine Denning, who scored early on against West (1-5) on a pass from sophomore guard Kierstin Constantino.
That was also the only basket that the Spartans mustered up in the first quarter.
Lathrop had consecutive baskets by Constantino and Hailey Hunter, closing the gap in early in the second, 8-6.
But outside of a pull-up jumper by Constantino, the Spartans were unable to get any closer, trailing 14-9 at the intermission.
Lathrop managed to keep pace with the Wolf Pack in the third, with Constantino burying a 3 and assisting Denning on her fastbreak basket in the third.
Constantino led all scorers with 18 points, netting 14 of that in the second half. Denning finished with five.
Collins and Toilolo had 11 and nine, respectively, for West.
The Wolf Pack built up a seven-point cushion in the final quarter only to have it chipped away by Constantino and Sanah Singh, who hit a pair of free throws make it a two-point deficit.
With 1:22 left in the game, Constantino hit a pair of free throws to make it a one-point game.
The Wolf Pack held on and will take on the winner of the Stagg-Orestimba game.
The Spartans will take on the loser at 3:30 p.m. today in the consolation game.