Burroughs boys’ basketball is too much for Glendale
GLENDALE — Behind a smothering defense and a zone-busting offense, the Burroughs High boys’ basketball team accomplished something it hadn’t done in the new year.
After a choppy start to Pacific League play, the Indians have picked up back-to-back victories at the expense of the city of Glendale, defeating the host Nitros, 67-33, on Friday evening.
With the triumph, the Indians are 11-6 and 3-2 in league, while having won two straight games for the first time since running off a streak for five consecutive victories from Dec. 17-29.
“We can play with anybody in this league when we play defense like tonight,” said Burroughs Coach Allan Ellis, whose squad defeated Hoover, 64-52, on Wednesday. “I liked the effort and we’re getting used to playing against zone defenses since that’s what teams have been playing against us. We’ve had two really good games.”
Forward Tristen Hull turned in a suburb effort for Burroughs, as the 6-foot-6 senior shot nine of 13 from the field and was five for five from the free-throw line to finish with a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds.
No other Burroughs player was in double figures, although Justin Henderson and Austin Marx added nine points each.
“We had a very strict game plan going into today to not overlook Glendale,” Hull said. “They beat Muir and they’re capable of beating anybody, so we weren’t going to relax in this game.”
Burroughs didn’t waste time, as the Indians scored 11 of the game’s first 13 points and raced to a 22-11 advantage after one quarter behind six points from Hull and six points via a pair of threes from Marx.
It was in the second quarter, however, where the Indians flexed their defensive muscles.
Though Burroughs only scored 11 points in the second period, the squad forced six Glendale turnovers and held the Nitros to three points – all from senior Daniel Madden – to take an impressive 33-14 lead into the half.
While Glendale (9-9, 1-4 in league) opened the second half on buckets from Dante Terteryan and Edrick Abnous Masihi (eight rebounds) to cut its deficit to 35-18, Burroughs roared back.
The Indians countered with a 14-3 run fueled by five points from Omar Searcy and four points from Hill to go up, 49-21, with just under two minutes left in the third. Burroughs eventually led after three, 51-24.
In the fourth, Burroughs unloaded its entire bench as a running clock was employed with 2:53 remaining in the game.
Glendale Coach Ib Belou was disappointed with his team’s effort, even though Glendale was without key starter Eli Degrate, due to illness.
“I just think it comes down to [Burroughs] coming out with energy and fire and they were more determined than we were from the start,” Belou said. “Giving up 22 points in the first quarter shows the lack of effort and lack of urgency that we played with.”
Madden led Glendale with eight points and six rebounds.
