Lathrop’s girls basketball team showed no ill effects from its heartbreaking loss from the previous night on Thursday, dashing past University of Irvine 51-26 in the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic at El Capitan High in Lakeside.

The Spartans (8-5) finished second in their pool and will play California (9-4) of San Ramon in the third-place game of the FIBA West Division this morning starting at 10:30 at El Cajon Valley High. Lathrop was coming off a heartbreaking 48-46 loss to Fallbrook, which overcame a four-point deficit in the final minute.

“All 15 players got to play good minutes this game, with 11 of them scoring points,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said of the Spartans’ conquest of University (2-12). “A nice bounce back from a tough loss the previous day.”

Lathrop set the tone with defense, mounting a 16-2 lead in the first quarter with Marianna Delgado accounting for 11 points while nailing three 3s. She finished with a game-high 14. After leading 27-10 at halftime, the Spartans outscored the Trojans (2-12) 18-4 in the third quarter.

Sanah Sunner contributed eight points despite battling an illness. Tatiana Lowery added seven points, Alaba Olaleye collected 17 rebounds and point guard Dana Mandanas checked in with four points and four assists.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Manteca 69, Clovis East 62

Fourth-year coach Jason Hitt called it the “biggest win” in his time with Manteca so far.

The Buffaloes (11-3) are now in the consolation final of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Classic after outlasting one of the top squads out of the Central Section. They’ll play Pleasant Valley (13-3) of Chico starting at 4:30.

Clovis East (9-7) was chasing the Buffs all game after trailing 23-15 to start the second quarter.

“They came out and pressed us hard,” Hitt said. “Everybody we’ve played so far has slowed it down, but they played at a frantic pace and we were able to keep going.”

Elijah Nelson fired a season-high 24 points to lead Manteca. Noah Lyons contributed 13 points, Peyton Nieman knocked down four 3s for his 12 points and Ramesh Kabiri added 11 points. Santiago Sanders chipped in seven points and 11 rebounds.

Dalen Felder, a highly-regarded freshman, amassed 28 points for the Timberwolves.

Edison 60, Ripon Christian 54

Ripon Christian (8-6) is matched with Weston Ranch (1-8) in the seventh-place game of the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

Eli Terpsma had the hot hand early on for the Knights on Thursday, pumping in 11 points in the first quarter to help them take a 17-12 lead. He finished with 23 points. Jace Beidleman added 11 points, all in the second half.

Leon Mills Jr. anchored Edison (4-4) of Stockton with 30 points.

Sonora 48, Ripon 37

Ripon (3-9) tightened up defensively in the second half, holding the Wildcats (7-9) to just three field goals in the second half of the Oakdale Rotary Classic semifinal.

Sonora made up for it by making 15 of 16 free throws during that stretch and 19 of 24 in all. Ripon, by contrast, was 4-for-12 from the stripe.

Landon Gillespie led the Indians with 11 points, making three 3s. Jack Schooland pitched in 10 points, and Ty Herrin grabbed 10 rebounds. They’ll face tourney host Oakdale (5-8) in the third-place game tonight at 6:30. Sonora tangles with Stagg (9-4) for the championship.

GIRLS SOCCER

Manteca 2, Pitman 0

The host Buffaloes (13-1-1) played their final game of the calendar year, scoring both goals in the first half.

Cami Silva played a part in both, assisting Alexia Alva before scoring her own. Corrine Jones contributed an assist. Haylie Brasil came up with 10 saves, as Pitman (4-4) outshot Manteca 19-8 but made most of its attempts from long range.  

The Buffs host rival East Union next Friday, Jan. 6 in their Valley Oak League opener.