Newton’s Big Night Leads the Foothill

Not only was first place in the Foothill League on the line for the Burroughs High boys’ basketball team, so was city bragging rights.

Tyler Newton had career bests of 33 points and 24 rebounds to help the Indians defeat host Burbank, 61-51, in double overtime Tuesday night and take over sole possession of the league lead.

Burroughs (12-5, 3-1 in league play) outscored Burbank, 15-5, in the second overtime. Newton’s layup and three-point play gave the Indians a 54-46 lead, before he put the game away by throwing a length-of-the-court pass to Justin Ambos, who made a layup for a 58-51 lead with 35 seconds left.

“It was a tough game all the way,” said Newton, a 6-foot-9 senior center. “We really wanted to beat them. Not just because they are our rivals, but because it is an even league and every game is important.”

Burroughs led until Burbank guard Eddie Nazarian made a three-point basket from the corner to give the Bulldogs (11-7, 2-2) a 41-40 lead with 47 seconds left in regulation.

After Newton sank a free throw to tie the score, Burbank guard Frank Reed missed a three-point shot at the buzzer. With the score tied, 46-46, Reed missed another jump shot as time expired in the first overtime.

Nazarian led the Bulldogs with 28 points, including seven three-pointers. Reed finished with 13 points and five assists.

Ambos had 21 points, five assists and five steals for Burroughs, which leads Saugus, Hart, Valencia and Burbank by a game in the league.

The Indians outrebounded Burbank, 62-47.

Burbank made six of 26 shots in the first half, but trailed only 19-16. Nazarian’s three-pointer tied the score, 19-19, but Burroughs responded with a 7-0 run and led, 32-29, after three quarters.