Glendale High boys’ basketball rallies, survives scare from Santa Fe

GLENDALE — A 23-foot, last-second three-point attempt that rimmed in and ultimately rimmed out vaulted the host Glendale High boys’ basketball team into the second round of the playoffs at the expense of Santa Fe.

Chiefs guard David Castro had his game-winning three miss at the buzzer to preserve what was a 62-60 victory for the Nitros in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I-A playoffs.

PHOTOS: Glendale holds on for 62-60 first-round win over Santa Fe

With the win, the first postseason victory for Pacific League second-seeded Glendale (16-11) since 2012, the Nitros earned advancement to the division’s next round Tuesday, where they’ll face fourth-seeded Huntington Beach Edison (22-6).

The victory also prolonged the 19-year career of Nitros Coach Steve Snodgress while also perhaps shortening his life span.

“I thought that shot went in,” said Snodgress, who announced earlier this season that he was stepping down. “We had planned to foul had [Glendale guard] Bobby Ekimyan hit both free throws.

“When the second one missed, our whole plan changed. At that instance, you tell your guys to put their hands up, don’t foul and play defense and if the other guy makes it, then he makes. They almost made it.”

While Del Rio League third-place finisher Santa Fe (11-12) had controlled most of the second half, about the only area the Chiefs had struggled with was fouls.

Santa Fe reached the one-plus-one bonus at the four-minute mark in the fourth as four of the Nitros’ final six points came at the foul line.

Overall, Glendale hit six of eight free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter, while Santa Fe didn’t have one try.

One of Glendale’s misses came with 27 seconds left when senior guard Eric Kirakosian (12 points) missed the back end of a double bonus, which left the Nitros with a 61-58 advantage.

While Santa Fe’s Jose George (eight points) missed on a three-point try the other way with 10 seconds left, teammate Cameron Fisher (team-high 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks) capped a wonderful effort with a rebound putback with seven seconds left to bring the visitors within 61-60.

After Fisher’s make, the Chiefs fouled Ekimyan (seven points).

The senior had made Santa Fe pay previously in going four for four from the line in the quarter. Ekimyan hit his first attempt, but missed a second, which was rebounded by Castro (11 points).

Santa Fe’s senior guard then raced downcourt and took aim just before the buzzer from 23 feet when the ball nearly went in before rimming out.

“I can’t believe I missed that last free throw,” Ekimyan said. “I wasn’t trying to miss the shot to waste the clock. I wanted us to go up three because you never know what can happen.”

The defeat was a bitter blow for Chiefs Coach Leonard Romero, whose squad didn’t trail in the second half until less than two minutes remained.

“There’s not much to say,” said Romero, whose team was out of timeouts. “I’m so honored to coach these guys. You look at the situation. We had about as a good a look as you can ask for. It just didn’t go in.”

Santa Fe led, 32-26, at the half and took its biggest advantage after a jumper from Adrian Uribe at 5:31 in the third to go ahead, 39-28.

Just as Glendale had cut its deficit to, 43-38, after a steal and lay-up from Ekimyan with 2:27 left in the third, the Chiefs countered with four of the quarter’s last six points in leading, 47-40.

Glendale trailed by that margin with under three minutes when the Nitros scored seven straight points with a three-pointer from Raffi Jivalagian (team-high 22 points, six rebounds and three blocks) and two layups from senior Tyler Lousararian.

The last of those field goals were created off a steal from Jivalagian, who passed behind his back to Eddie Uluchyan, who fed Lousararian for the lay-up with 1:37 left that knotted the game at 56.

Eventually Glendale’s run reached 11 consecutive points when Ekimyan hit two additional free throws and Kirakosian hit a four-footer with 41 seconds left to give Glendale a 60-56 lead.

Santa Fe answered with a 10-footer from Calvin Lawson to close within 60-58 with 22 seconds left, which set the scene for a wild finish.

“My heart skipped a beat on that last shot,” said Lousararian, who finished with nine points. “I thought that went in. It looked like it went in. When it fell to the ground I couldn’t believe it.

“We worked so hard for the win and we came that close to losing.”