Newbury Park Walks the Line, Beats Burroughs

Perhaps there was a mix-up at the Southern Section office.

A wrestling match broke out where there was supposed to be a Division II-A girls’ basketball playoff.

It was a good one, though.

Newbury Park High defeated Burroughs, 82-73, in a second-round game that featured 51 fouls, 63 free throws and a few plays usually reserved for the final moments of a “Celebrity Deathmatch.”

“We knew the playoffs would be more physical,” said guard Alex Mallen of Newbury Park, who had 21 points. “You just have to adjust.”

The Panthers (23-4) did just that, absorbing 33 Burroughs fouls and making 29 of 39 free throws. The Indians made 15 of 24 free throws.

No. 3-seeded Newbury Park won its region-best 18th consecutive game and advanced to the quarterfinals next Wednesday against Antelope Valley (21-4), a 61-54 winner over San Luis Obispo, Obispo.

But that victory might have come with a price.

The Panthers, already playing without top player Bridget Harris because of a knee injury, might have lost guard Nancy Pabon, who injured an ankle after being fouled hard by Gracie Coronado in the final minute.

Pabon, who had 15 points and eight steals, will see the team doctor today or Monday.

Burroughs (19-9) traded leads with the Panthers 11 times and were tied nine other times.

But the Foothill League’s second-place team will spend the off-season grappling with the memory of a 77-second blitz that changed the complexion of the game.

Newbury Park led, 50-47, before Erica McGuire extended it with a three-point play with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

It was the beginning of a 13-0 run that left Newbury Park with a 63-47 stranglehold.

Burroughs closed to within 71-65 on Coronado’s free throws midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get closer.

Coronado finished with 15 points. Freshman guard Shaina Zaidi, who had four points in the first half, finished with 21 points and seven assists.

Zaidi scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, when the Indians outscored the Panthers, 24-19.

Jodi Gibbs had nine points and Danika Cunningham, Nadiyah Roberson and Esther Thompson each added eight points for Burroughs, which eventually ran out of gas against a deeper team.

Few teams can match up to Newbury Park’s depth, however.

The Panthers rotated 12 players to wear down the Indians.

Rachel Hever had 14 points and Jamie Dirksing added 11 points among nine Panthers who scored.

“It’s hard to match that,” said Coach Doug Nicol of Burroughs. “How many schools have 12 girls with that kind of talent?”