LATHROP — After never leading through three quarters, Ripon rallied for 10 straight points to start the fourth period to come within four points, but Lathrop repelled the charge with a six-point run of its own and won the non-league girls basketball contest 53-38 at Lathrop High.

“They made a run and got a little more physical than us late,” Spartans coach Dwayne Davis said. “We had a smaller unit in so we could get up and down the floor quicker and they were able to push on us a little bit.

“So we went back to our size and we attacked them. We were not going to adjust; we were just going to play how we play. We got our turnovers and fed our offense from our defense.”

Savannah Clark (11 rebounds) got a basket on a put-back with 4:34 left in the game to draw the Indians (2-2) within 40-36.

“I thought we did a pretty good job coming back and putting the pressure on them,” Ripon coach Rick Inderbitzin said. “Their pressure hurt us early on and at the end.

“They have a good team. They are athletic and I knew going in we would have a tough time with them rebounding-wise. But I think we did a good job responding to what we had to do in the second half and I think we are on the right track.”

Following Clark’s put-back, Danya Phillips (nine points, five rebounds) got back-to-back baskets to give Lathrop (4-1) some breathing room. The Spartans ended up closing the game out on a 13-2 run with Phillips getting six of those 13 points.

“I felt someone needed to step up and pick us up,” Phillips said of her fourth-quarter spurt. “And as a captain I did what I needed to do.”

Lathrop’s Myani Thornton led all scorers with 16 points along with six rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Thornton was forced to leave the game late when she drew a hard-charging foul. 

Mary Cotton (seven rebounds) had nine of her 13 points for the Spartans in the second quarter.

“I just play my game,” Cotton said. “I try and get the boards.”

Reina Sausedo paced Ripon with 11 points and teammate Mia Van Lewen grabbed 11 rebounds.

Sophomore

Lathrop 21, Ripon 19

Down 16-11 after three quarters, the Indians battled back and had the game-winning 3-pointer rim out as time was winding down.

Mia Culver led Ripon with eight points. Divine Loto and Jordan Corner scored four points apiece for the Spartans.

Freshman

Lathrop 38,

Ripon 35 (2 OT)

The Indians’ Mikaylah Vaught led all scorers with 18 points.

Izzie Lanzarin paced the Spartans with 11 points and Isabel Terra added 10.