LATHROP — The top two Manteca-area girls basketball teams will get to square off in the second round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV playoffs.
Lathrop did its part in the opener Tuesday, toppling 13th-seeded Hilmar, 52-33. The Spartans (21-5) host Trans-Valley League champion Ripon on Thursday.
Hilmar (16-12), also of the TVL, was able to keep pace in the early going with free throws, but Lathrop blew it open with a 13-4 third-quarter run before calling off the starters in the fourth. The fourth-seeded Spartans scored 13 points in each quarter while limiting the Yellowjackets to single digits in each of the first three.
“I was real happy with our defense holding them to single digits in the first three quarters, which is always our goal.” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “We turned up the pressure to start the second half and it really got us going.
Lathrop led 26-17 at halftime.
Myani Thornton led the way with 15 points, while Mary Cotton added 12 to go with nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Kaysey Matela chipped in nine points, Rylene Crull had eight and Semaj Steen finished with six points and nine rebounds.
Hailey Chavez registered 17 points for Hilmar.

Ripon 64, Calaveras 53
RIPON — Led by solid guard play, No. 5 Ripon (22-4) was able to pull away late despite a pair of 3-pointers from Calaveras’ Skyler Cooper.
Reina Sausedo paced the Indians with 21 points and six rebounds, Tianna Sidtikun added 17 points and Katie Kaiser chipped in 13 points off the bench. Rachel Sausedo hit three of Ripon’s eight 3-pointers and finished with nine points. Ripon had just 10 turnovers.
Twelfth-seeded Calaveras (14-12) was spearheaded by Kylie Alurcon’s 13 points and Olivia Long’s 11.
“Calaveras did a good job of not quitting, but I thought our depth helped later on in the game and forced them into quick shots and turnovers,” Ripon coach Rick Inderbitzin said. “Overall, it was a great win for us. It’s nice to get that first win out of the way but they get tougher as you go. I know Lathrop has a great team and we will have to play our best to stay close.”

Division III
Patterson 45, Manteca 26
PATTERSON — No. 7 Patterson (21-7) broke it open with a 16-5 closing run while No. 10 Manteca (17-11) struggled to get untracked offensively. The Buffaloes trailed 18-10 by halftime.
“In the first half I thought we played solid defense,” Manteca coach Ryan Bono said. “The ball just didn’t bounce our way tonight. We had some (layups) that did not fall and a couple 3s went in and out. Tip your hat to Patterson, they played very well defensively. We took a lot of contested, tough shots and they rebounded well.”
Jayda Jackson led the Buffaloes with 10 points and six rebounds. Kyaira Jacobs pitched in seven points and six boards. Ezi Ogbuli fired 13 points for the Tigers, who travel to No. 2 Kimball on Thursday.