Lathrop High’s varsity boys basketball team has one last chance to notch its first-ever Valley Oak League victory.
The Spartans fell 59-45 at Oakdale High Wednesday. They’ll cap their second varsity season against seniorless Kimball High of Tracy Friday at home.
Lackluster play set the tone early on, as Lathrop (0-13, 2-22 overall) scored just six points in the opening quarter and trailed by seven going into the second. It’s puzzling to coach J.J. Ramirez, whose team nearly upset title-clinching Weston Ranch and two-time defending champion Manteca in recent single-digit losses.
“We just came out flat,” Lathrop coach J.J. Ramirez said. “We had been playing well the last few games; our problem is that we usually play a step below our competition no matter who it is.
“We know we can beat Oakdale, we just don’t do the things we need to do to do that.”
Andrew Kouvanis and Sal Alvarez led Lathrop with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Daniel Linder had 14 for Oakdale (6-7, 15-11), which needed the win to stay in contention for a postseason berth. The Mustangs are ranked 19th in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoff power ratings, but only the top 16 qualify.
The Spartans fell 59-45 at Oakdale High Wednesday. They’ll cap their second varsity season against seniorless Kimball High of Tracy Friday at home.
Lackluster play set the tone early on, as Lathrop (0-13, 2-22 overall) scored just six points in the opening quarter and trailed by seven going into the second. It’s puzzling to coach J.J. Ramirez, whose team nearly upset title-clinching Weston Ranch and two-time defending champion Manteca in recent single-digit losses.
“We just came out flat,” Lathrop coach J.J. Ramirez said. “We had been playing well the last few games; our problem is that we usually play a step below our competition no matter who it is.
“We know we can beat Oakdale, we just don’t do the things we need to do to do that.”
Andrew Kouvanis and Sal Alvarez led Lathrop with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Daniel Linder had 14 for Oakdale (6-7, 15-11), which needed the win to stay in contention for a postseason berth. The Mustangs are ranked 19th in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-III playoff power ratings, but only the top 16 qualify.
