Burroughs Holds On For Girls Basketball Win

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If head coach Vicky Oganyan makes it through this season without having to see a doctor for some stress induced ailment than chances are she can make it through anything. Even when her young squad wins, they have those moments and mental lapses of an inexperienced team that makes things interesting.

In what was in effect a playoff game, February 7 at Glendale, the Burroughs girls’ basketball team built a 10-point lead in the final quarter, only to have the contest come down to a final Nitros’ possession and a hurried shot right under the basket.

With .5 seconds remaining, Glendale inbounded the ball trailing by two. A player leaked out from a crowd and had an open look at a game-tying score, however, the shot was hurried because of the time left on the clock and it clanked off the side of the rim as Burroughs held on for a 37-35 Pacific League victory.

The win, coupled with a Crescenta Valley loss to Muir moves Burroughs into a fourth place tie with the Falcons and sets the stage for the Indians to try to secure a postseason berth on Thursday when they host Burbank High. The Indians hold the tiebreaker edge on CV having swept the Falcons this season.

“Drama to the max,” Oganyan said late Tuesday. “We tried to give it away but we held on.”

Oganyan was called for a questionable technical with :14 left in the contest, which gave Glendale some life. Upset that the officials had missed an intentional foul in an effort to stop the clock she attempted to discuss with the head referee. As she approached she was warned to return to her bench area. As she turned, she heard a whistle and was informed she had been given a technical.

“He told the scorer’s table I had gone out onto the court, but I am allowed to go out on the court in front of my bench during a timeout,” she said. “It didn’t make any sense and it was one of several things that went wrong in the 4th (quarter).”

The Indians managed only three points in the final frame and surrendered 12 to a Nitros’ team that had only managed 23 points in its first three quarters. Aysia Shellmire had a key block in the game’s final minute and led all scorers with 12 points despite a poor shooting night (5-of-15 from the floor). DeLaney Nicol and Sidney Ortega each added eight points. Davina Del Castillo was held scoreless, but grabbed 10 rebounds.

Burroughs is 6-7 in league and 11-15 overall this season. Burbank has clinched second place in the Pacific League after beating Arcadia on Tuesday, February 7 but it will be gunning for its rivals and honing in on a rare sweep opportunity. The Bulldogs are 16-10 overall and 10-3 in league.