Lathrop’s season-long struggles continued at Central Catholic on Thursday.

After scoring just four points in the opening quarter, the Spartans managed to stay within range early in the second half before succumbing to a 24-9 run in the fourth. The Raiders of Modesto rolled to a 65-39 win behind sophomore guard Jared Rice’s 18 points. Isaiah Ellis had 17 points and seven rebounds for Lathrop (0-2 Valley Oak League, 1-14 overall).

“When you start slow and finish slow that’s a bad combination,” Lathrop coach Nathan McGrath said. “We were able to cut it to nine with about three minutes to go in the third quarter, but as hard as we played we were a little outgunned and outmatched.”

Central Catholic (1-1, 9-4) has the size, speed and balance to compete well in its first year back in the VOL, and it was able to dominate Lathrop in all facets. McGrath was expecting his team to be at a disadvantage size-wise but was surprised by the overall quickness of the Raiders.

“They’re big, physical and deeper than we are,” McGrath said. They just kept doing what they do and it kind of wore us down as the game went on. They had easy buckets on second-chance opportunities and when we had to press they were scoring on breakaway layups.”

Sophomore

Central Catholic 70,
Lathrop 51

Two Central Catholic players pumped in 18 points apiece as Lathrop (0-2, 10-4) dropped its second straight contest.

Roman Martinez paced the Spartans with 15 points, and Anthony Blasé had 12.



Freshman

Central Catholic 66,
Lathrop 59

Lathrop (0-2, 3-5) did well to battle back after trailing 29-13 going into the second quarter.