With an outright claim to the Western Athletic Conference championship already secured, Lathrop’s girls basketball team is a win away from its first undefeated campaign in league.
The Spartans went on the road Tuesday and overcame a spirited start from second-place Mountain House en route to a 45-40 victory.
Lathrop (13-0 WAC, 20-6 overall) trailed 16-10 after the first quarter and flipped the momentum in the second by outscoring the Mustangs (9-4, 16-11), 14-5.
Marianna Delgado led Lathrop’s balanced scoring effort with 12 points, but it was on the defensive end where the Spartans were able to change the game.
“For the, it was going to be a big deal to beat us, so going in we knew they could come out fired up and they were,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “We just had to weather the storm. We started out down 9-2, and then our defense took over.”
Tatiana Lowery contributed 10 points, Sannah Sunner had nine and Alaba Olaleye scored eight. Mountain House was led by Jariah Indalecio’s 10 points. Sariah Fobert, the Mustangs’ top scorer for the season, was limited to just three points — a made 3-pointer late in the third quarter.
Lathrop ends the WAC schedule Thursday at Los Banos.
“We’ll try to close the season out perfect,” Davis said. “That’s a goal for us now it’s attainable.”
BOYS BASKETBALL
Downey 64, Ripon 51
Ripon (9-17) hosted one of the top teams in the region for a non-league tilt Monday.
Downey (21-5), the first-place squad in the Central California Athletic League, raced away behind a 20-8 second-quarter burst. Lloyd French led the Knights with 25 points.
Marcus Madoski and Jack Schoolland scored 14 and 12 points for Ripon, respectively. Ty Herrin tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“We were without our leading scorer, but I’m really happy with the effort,” Ripon coach Justin Graham said. “Downey is a really good team. Lloyd French is a tough guard at the high school level.”
Frosh girls basketball
Mountain House 33, Lathrop 31
Nevaeh Hubbard and Moira Ramones scored 10 points each in a tough loss for Lathrop, which looks to be part of a possible three-way title share in the regular-season finale Thursday.
