Emery Sipe’s conventional 3-point play with 1.4 seconds to go lifted host Oakdale to a dramatic 39-37 win over Lathrop on Wednesday.

Lathrop (1-4 Valley Oak League, 6-12 overall) led by as much as eight early in the fourth quarter but loosened up on the defensive end in crunch time.

Danya Phillips, who led all scorers with 14 points, sank two free throws to put the Spartans up for the final time with 17 seconds left. Oakdale (1-4, 3-14) missed on its initial attempt to win it, but Sipe (10 points) was there for the put-back layup while fouled on the play.

“We played a good game, we just allowed them back in it,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “We were going for steals and that gave them layups. It’s one of those things we have to learn in closing out games. As well as we played defensively there’s no way we should have allowed them to score 17 points in the fourth quarter.”

Lathrop carried an 8-2 lead into the second quarter and never trailed until the fourth period. Lauren Collins added nine points for the Spartans, and Terrina Phillips had eight.



Sophomore

Oakdale 41, Lathrop 23

Shelia Mertilen (nine points) and Julianne Justo (six) did most of the scoring for the Spartans.



Freshman

Lathrop 53, Oakdale 15

The Spartans improved to 14-0 on the season behind Myani Thornton’s 23 points and Semaj Steen’s 12.