The CIF Southern Section playoffs have started and it seems like nobody really knows or understands who they are playing.
The Burroughs High girls’ basketball appeared to have an easy first-round draw on paper.
But when it came down to it, Sacred Heart of Jesus was a very tough opponent.
The Bears prevailed 54-39 in the first round matchup in Division 5.
“Whatever division you look at, there are teams that you don’t know about. We knew this team was pretty good. A lot of times it is matchups and how you matchup with the other team, can you press them, can you not press them. I’m proud of how our kids played,” Burroughs coach Vicky Oganyan said.
One common opponent the two teams had was Burbank High. Burroughs defeated Burbank by 40 points and Burbank defeated Sacred Heart of Jesus by eight.
Burroughs (19-10) will now host Culver City in the second round of the playoff on Saturday.
The visiting Comets (22-7) came out and made Burroughs earn every basket the hard way in the first half.
Jessica Mena hit a 3-pointer with 2:49 to play in the first quarter to give the Bears a 10-8 advantage.
Burroughs trailed 14-12 early in the second quarter, before Elizabeth Amoroso and Mena started to getting hot hands.
In the final three minutes of the first half Amoroso hit two 3-pointers and Mena added another as Burroughs went into the halftime break up 30-20.
Rielle Waddell played a key role in the third quarter off the bench for the Bears as she had back-to-back baskets that prevented Sacred Heart of Jesus from getting closer as it was just a five-point lead at the time.
A basket by Mena with 2:35 left in the third quarter gave Burroughs its first double digit lead. Grace Barton followed up with a 3-pointer to firmly put the Bears in front.
Amoroso finished with 21 points. Mena had 12 points, Barton had seven and Waddell had six. Isabella Amayakyan had four points and Valentina Morales had three.
Sofia Huerta led the Comets with 13 points.
