Burbank basketball’s Woods earns All-CIF first-team accolade
Burbank High’s Michael Woods earned All-CIF first-team honors
As a junior during the 2015-16 season, Burbank High boys’ basketball’s Michael Woods helped the Bulldogs to the CIF Southern Section quarterfinals, earning him All-CIF second-team honors.
This past season, Woods stepped up his game and Burbank elevated its success in the playoffs, advancing to a CIF Southern Section championship game and earning a spot in the Southern California Regional semifinals of the state tournament.
For his contributions, Woods was honored as a Division III-AA first-team selection when the first teams for 12 divisions were released Monday by the CIF Office.
“Mike is very deserving of that award by just all he did for us this season,” Burbank Coach Jamayne Potts said. “What is great about him is that he plays well at both ends of the floor. He is a great scorer and he can attack the basket, but he was also our best defender.
“He has been a great player and a contributor in this program for the last three years. He put the time in to get better and that really showed this season. A lot of players sometimes kind of fall off during their senior season, but Michael really stepped it up this season for us.”
Woods, who was also an All-Pacific League first-team selection, led Burbank in scoring (14.9) and rebounds (9.4) and averaged 3.1 blocks a game.
After placing fourth in the Pacific League, the Bulldogs played their best in the postseason. Burbank advanced to a CIF Southern Section championship game for the first time in 91 years, where it fell in the Division III-AA final to Brentwood in overtime, 55-54.
The Bulldogs then embarked on the deepest state playoff run in program history. Burbank, which finished 25-10, saw its season come to an end in the SoCal semifinals against Reedley Immanuel, 58-57.
“It’s nice for the school when one of your players gets this kind of recognition,” Potts said. “That is always good for Burbank in general. For a coach, it’s great to see one of your players get honored, but it’s also something nice for the school as well.”
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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com
Twitter: @jefftsports
