STOCKTON — Lathrop appeared to be in the driver’s seat after starting the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to take a nine-point lead with five minutes remaining in the semifinals of the Tony Contreras Delta Queens Classic over tournament host Stagg.

“We played scared,” Lathrop coach Dwayne Davis said. “With the shot clock in our favor, we came down five times in a row and just jumped the shot off. We had no semblance of an offense, and the girls were just shooting it when they found themselves open. I gave specific instructions — if we move the ball, if we work it inside out, we can get a layup. We just took the ball and threw it away.

“Nobody should speed us up. We work against the press every day. We have a drill that we call ‘trouble,’ to where if someone is pressing, slow down, turn around and find your teammate. Don’t throw 25-foot passes. Make a 10- or 15-foot diagonal pass and bring the ball up. We were nowhere close to what we do in practice.”

Tatianna Lowery (12 points, four 3-pointers) gave the Spartans (5-2) a 20-19 halftime lead with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the second period. She ignited Lathrop’s 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter with her fourth 3-pointer of the night.

Lathrop led 39-34 with 2:34 remaining when the Spartans committed a shot-clock violation for their first of five turnovers down the stretch. Stagg’s Shanique Manning converted a turnover with 17 second showing on the clock to put the Delta Queens (4-1) ahead 40-39 and with 6 seconds remaining she made a steal to ice the game.

“We are defense,” Stagg coach Finis Jones said. “That’s what we are.

“We hold teams to scoreless droughts all the time. It always comes down to the offense, and if we are going to score enough points. We play good defense.”

Jameelah Pharms of the Delta Queens led all scorers with 18 points and Rianna Delacruz added 11 for Lathrop. Shakara Porter grabbed 11 rebounds for the Spartans and Osen Ugbiyobo 10.

Lathrop plays Tokay of Lodi today at 4 p.m. for third place.