Weston Ranch punctuated the game with a 9-0 run and avoided an upset loss at Lathrop 63-52 on Thursday.

The Cougars (7-1, 14-6 overall) remain in a first-place tie with Kimball in the Valley Oak League. Lathrop (2-6, 6-14) falls even farther from the rest of the pack in the race for a Sac-Joaquin Section playoff berth but has looked dangerous in recent outings.

“We made a furious comeback and our girls played tough tonight,” said Lathrop coach Ed Fang, whose squad was down 47-33 to start the fourth quarter. “Last time we lost to them by 30 (69-37 on Jan. 15), but tonight we came prepared and the girls are playing well right now.”

The score was 54-52 midway through the fourth, but turnovers kept Lathrop from completing the comeback down the stretch. At one point the Spartans gave up the ball on three straight possessions.

Lathrop center Loreal Taylor poured in 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead all players. Desiree Mendola chipped on 12 points for the Spartans, and Lauren Collins had 11.

A.J. Brown collected 17 points for Weston Ranch, and Rauline Martinez added 14. Elisabeth Alexander and Victoria Gulley pumped in nine each.

Sonora 61, Manteca 53

Manteca (3-5, 6-15) was slow to start at Sonora but managed to make it a game late after falling behind by as much as 19 points in the third quarter. The Buffaloes got to within three with about three minutes go.

Jessica Hasal poured in 22 points for Manteca. Ally Rachels added 12 points. Sonora (5-3, 10-6) had five players check in a at least eight points.

“Sonora played us well and going up to their place is always a tough one,” Manteca coach Cody Norman said. “They wanted it more than us tonight in the first half and that really hurt us; we didn’t get started until the second half. We gotta learn to put together a full 32 minutes.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Ripon Christian 65, Mariposa 32

Teagan Manus amassed 21 points and helped the Knights (9-0, 15-3) mount a staggering 17-4 second-quarter run.

Mariah Alger and Amber Hilvers chimed in with 10 points apiece.

Sophomore

Ripon Christian 84,
Mariposa 13

Jessica Orozco (five steals, four assists), Jessica Van Vliet (eight steals, six rebounds) and Lauren DeVries scored eight points each in a balanced effort for the Knights.

Weston Ranch 62,
 Lathrop 34

Jyriaynna King registered 18 points, 11 rebounds and four steals as the Cougars (5-3, 13-11) won in a landslide.

Jennifer Viguerias contributed 14 points, eight boards and five steals. Elysia Hernandez added 10 points.

Freshman

Manteca 38, Sonora 32

J.J. Santos shined for the Buffaloes, producing 15 points and 14 rebounds in a hard-fought win in the Gold Country. Malia Parangan accounted for nine points, and Kayla Holmes had six to go with eight rebounds.