Valencia, Not Burroughs Steps Up in Foothill League

Burroughs High a bridesmaid again?

The balance of power was finally expected to shift to Burroughs, which has finished second to Hart in the Foothill League six of the last seven girls’ basketball seasons.

But Burroughs found itself in a familiar position after losing to Valencia, 55-51, in a Foothill League game Tuesday night at Burroughs.

If this early league game was any indication, it is Valencia, not Burroughs, that could break Hart’s string of eight consecutive league titles.

Valencia, a nice combination of size and speed, showed it might be ready to win its first league title.

“We’re not going to be too cocky,” said Coach Jerry Mike of Valencia, who is in his first year with the Vikings after building a solid program at Glendale. “But for us to pull this out, that’s a lot of guts.”

To no one’s real surprise, the Vikings (10-6, 2-0 in league play) fell behind early.

Valencia has a habit of starting slow, trailing 14-2 against North Hollywood, 16-5 to Royal and 19-3 against Burbank.

So the Valencia fans did not pack it in when the Vikings trailed at the end of the first quarter, 17-8.

Valencia outscored Burroughs in each of the final three quarters, making its move in the second quarter when freshman Shaina Zaidi of Burroughs picked up her third foul with 4:31 before halftime.

The Vikings, who had only 14 points at the time, pulled to within 30-24 at halftime.

“That gave them a little confidence,” said Coach Doug Nicol of Burroughs. “Their eyes seemed to light up a little bit. It’s hard to stop a team that’s confident.”

It’s equally hard to stop Valerie Pina.

The junior guard, a little out of control in the first half, began to assert herself in the second half, dribbling through the Burroughs full-court pressure and sparking the Valencia offense.

Pina finished with 19 points, 10 in the fourth quarter, and found teammates time and again for short shots.

“I thought Valerie was the key to the game,” Mike said. “Without her, I think they press us to death.”

Burroughs had no answer.

Zaidi finished with only three points. Gracie Coronado scored 19 points for Burroughs, but made only five of 14 shots.

Burroughs (13-5, 1-1) has some work to do if it wants to ditch its runner-up reputation.

“We just made our job a little tougher,” Nicol said. “We have to go to their place and win.”

But an attitude adjustment must first take place.

“That’s sad when you’re playing for the lead in league and a team comes to your place and wants it more than you do,” Nicol said.

Valencia plays at Hart on Friday night.

“That’s about as big as they get,” Mike said.

Only a Valencia victory would be bigger.