Easy time for Tribe

BURROUGHS HIGH — Fueled by suffocating defense, the Burroughs High girls’ basketball team faced little resistance in winning its first round-game of the squad’s host tournament.

The Indians relied on their full-court press that resulted in easy baskets, and won handily, 83-47 over Sun Valley Poly in Tuesday night’s Burroughs Magnolia Park Optimist Club Tournament.

“Our pressure was good — it led to easy baskets,” said Indians Coach Vicky Oganyan, whose team is off to a quick 4-1 start to the season. “I wasn’t very happy with our half-court defense and that’s something we have to talk about.”

Sidney Ortega led the Indians with 23 points — 18 coming on layups and field goals inside the paint. The junior co-captain scored 10 in a first quarter when the Indians held the Parrots to five points.

Burroughs led by double-digits the entire game after taking a 12-1 lead midway through the opening frame. The lead wasn’t less than 20 points in the second half.

The Indians will next play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and will face the winner of Wednesday’s Arroyo Grande-West Hills contest.

“Our press helps us transition from defense to offense,” Ortega said. “The steals lead to easy baskets. We could do well if our press is effective.”

Delaney Nicol followed her backcourt mate with 13 points. Bailee Trotta also scored 13 points — 11 in the second half.

Despite the convincing victory, the game could prove costly looking back. With 3:15 remaining in the first quarter, Burroughs’ senior center Aysia Shellmire took a hard fall and stayed on the floor for a few minutes.

After the game, Oganyan said the injury looks like a hyperextension, and x-rays should give the team a better idea of how badly Shellmire is injured.

“We need to play better [defense], and continue to stay aggressive,” Oganyan said when asked what she expects moving on in the tournament. “I always want to see us improving. I tell the team that I never care what the score is.”