If the Burroughs High boys’ basketball team wants to make a run at a CIF Southern Section playoff berth, the Indians are going to have to greatly improve over the next month.
Playing in their first game of the year, Burroughs fell behind early and never recovered in a 67-55 home loss against Glendale.
“Our offense was stagnant. We forced way too many shots in the first half,” Burroughs coach Allan Ellis said.
Burroughs (8-11 overall, 1-5 in league) got a three-pointer from Emery Goulet to tie things at 3 early in the first quarter and that was the only time the Indians were level with the visiting Nitros.
Goulet, who had a game-high 25 points, did all he could to help keep the Indians in the game.
But Glendale (16-4, 4-2 in league) had a strong supporting cast and was able to display success with both its inside and outside game. Nitros center Elvin Hartoonian finished 17 points.
Glendale also got solid shooting from junior David Shamiryan, who had 15 points off the bench and hit three 3-pointers.
Burroughs trailed 22-12 at the end of the first quarter and went up by as much as 21 points on two occasions. A three-pointer by Goulet helped cut the deficit to 39-25 at halftime.
Another three-pointer by Goulet to start the second half got Burroughs to within 39-28.
Goulet helped cut the lead to single digits at 46-38 with 1:47 left in the third quarter. But Glendale quickly responded with a three-pointer by Cole Fajardo to stop the threat of a rally.
Burroughs Bryan Oasay hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to 53-43 going into the final quarter.
Carson Cardenaz hit a three-pointer with 3:05 left to play to once again cut the deficit into single digits at 59-50.
But Burroughs was only able to cut the deficit to within eight when Goulet completed a three-point play with 1:37 left to make it 63-55.
Cardenaz finished with 12 points and Oasay had 11. Walker Miller had three points. Steven Johnson and Nick Garcia each had two points.
