Four basketball players make All-CIF

Jeff Tully

BURBANK -- With all eight boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball teams

making the CIF Southern Section playoffs this past season, the city

featured some talented squads.

With those teams came a fine group of talented players. Four of those

players were honored last week with All-CIF awards. All were named

second-team choices.

Leading the way was the Foothill League Player of the Year from the

Burroughs High boys’ team, sophomore Keith Jarbo. Jarbo, who averaged 16

points ans 13 rebounds for the league-champion Indians, was a Division

IIA choice.

The Division IV coplayers of the year were Marques Crane of Huntington

Brach Ocean View High and Artesia High’s Apolinar Fernandez.

In boys’ Division IVA, Providence High senior Shant Bekmezian was

honored. Bekmezian was a standout player at point guard, averaging 14

points a game.

At Bellarmine-Jefferson High, boys’ coach Eli Essa was livid that

senior center Carlos Arroyo was not a first-team Division IVAA choice.

“It is a travesty. It is a joke,” Essa said. “I’ve convinced thaat

some of these coaches who voted have never seen Bell-Jeff play.

“Carlos helped us win 23 games and he is by far the best post player

in the division.

“I think it was better when the writers voted for the All-CIF.”

Arroyo averaged 19 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks a game.

In girls’ Division IIAA, Gracie Coronado of Burroughs received the

honor. She averaged 17.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.8 steals for the

Indians.