Beating Burroughs Therapy for Royal

For Kristen Galbreath, it was a clean break with the past.

Royal High’s senior forward put to rest the painful memory of a tournament game last December in which she broke her right hand against Burroughs, forcing her to miss seven weeks and 15 games.

She had 16 points and nine rebounds to help the Highlanders to a 38-33 victory over Burroughs on Saturday night in the championship game of the Santa Clarita Shootout at College of the Canyons.

“We’re even now,” said Galbreath, the tournament’s most valuable player. “This meant a lot to me. Not to rub anything into them, but for my own emotional state.”

Galbreath, a starter since her freshman year, was a central figure in the Highlanders’ plans to repeat as Marmonte League champions last season.

Without her, Royal finished third and lost in the first round of the Southern Section playoffs.

Saturday was her chance for payback.

Galbreath’s four consecutive free throws in the final 35 seconds helped seal the victory.

Kelly Gesell added 10 points for Royal.

Shaina Zaidi scored 16 points for Burroughs, which is 14-6 this summer after failing to reach the section playoffs last season for the first time in 15 years.

Valencia 37, Hart 30--Valerie Pina scored 13 points for the Vikings, who won the third-place game.

Briana Brigandi scored 12 points for Hart.

Canyon 32, Crescenta Valley 26--Courtney Koenig scored 12 points for the Cowboys, who finished fifth. They lost to the Falcons in the 1998 tournament final.

Quartz Hill 33, Highland 23--Sharonne Herbert and Lannette Richardson each scored eight points for the Rebels, who claimed the consolation title.

Lamarra Burleson scored 11 points for Highland.

Burbank 47, Hoover 45--Christine Kepenekian scored 18 points and Kristin Aponik added 15 to help the Bulldogs win the ninth-place game.

Christine Hayrapetian had 17 points and Razan Ezzeddin and Candice Leung each had 12 for Hoover.