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GIRLS HOOPS: Lathrop stomps defending WAC champion
Bulletin girls basketball 2018-19
Lathrop's Kaysey Matela splits Los Banos' Holly Ballez (15) and Anissa Sanchez (21). - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL/The Bulletin

LATHROP — There were two things missing from the Lathrop High gym floor Tuesday night: the Spartans signature press and the Los Banos offense.
Even with the Lathrop press on the shelf, the defending Western Athletic Conference champion Tigers could not manage more than eight points in any quarter as the Spartans rolled to a 60-20 win.
Lathrop (7-0 WAC, 14-5 overall) is off to a dominant start in its inaugural season in the WAC after winning a share of the Valley Oak League title.
“We are trying to develop a few different things,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “Everyone comes out and expects us to press right away. We have four different presses that we work on so we are trying to do things differently.
 “We are trying to make sure we don’t give up lanes to the basket because we know we can get the rebound and run.”
The Spartans exploded on a 12-0 run to start the game and never looked back.
Ayon Carter had five steals for Lathrop in that impressive first half and finished with 18 points, seven steals, two rebounds and a block.
“We had to focus on defense and their No. 5 (Amelia Smith),” Carter said. “When looking at video we saw that she was the one that was supposed to score most of their points.”
Smith scored just four points.
 “When it came down to it our defensive stops is how we won this game,” Carter said.
Lathrop’s Mary Cotton came off the bench to score 11 points to go with five blocks, four rebounds, two steals and an assist.
“Without pressing we went to a man-to-man defense,” Cotton said. “And in the man defense we talk and help each other out.”
Khiya Thornton (five steals, four rebounds) and Kaysey Matela (three rebounds, three steals, block) added nine points each for Lathrop.
Sienna Hampton led the Tigers (4-2, 13-6) with eight points.
The Spartans host Ceres on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
 
Junior Varsity
Los Banos 52, Lathrop 34

Desiree Ambatali led the Spartans with 12 points and Hailey Hunter chipped in 10.
 
Freshman
Lathrop 41, Los Banos 34

Jayna Paras Dizon exploded for 20 points for the Spartans while Lyllianna Avila added nine points.