Bulldog takes control

SAN MARINO -- Pat Gillan’s defensive strategy wasn’t much

different than any other opposing coach when it came to stopping the

Burbank High girls’ basketball team.

San Marino’s fourth-year mentor said if his squad could contain

senior Christine Kepenekian and limit the Bulldogs’ second chances,

the Titans stood a good shot of winning Monday night’s nonleague

game.

The strategy worked for the first 22 minutes, but the final 10

told a different story at San Marino High.

After scoring 14 points through two-plus quarters, Kepenekian

turned it on down the stretch, outscoring San Marino by herself in

the fourth en route to a season-high 36 points and a 63-53 victory

for the Bulldogs.

“We got beat by a better player, probably single-handedly,” said

Gillan, whose squad gave up 17 fourth-quarter points -- including

two three-pointers -- to the two-time Burbank Leader All-Area

selection.

“She’s just too good and too tough.”

In the first half, it looked as if San Marino’s top scorer, senior

forward Melody Cheung (24 points per game, including 21 on Monday),

was going to be able to keep pace with Kepenekian -- who also had 11

rebounds, three assists and three steals -- outscoring her, 13-11,

through the first 16 minutes.

But the Titans (2-1) went cold for an 8:51 stretch between the

second and third quarters, missing 13 straight three-point attempts,

which contributed to a 19-4 Burbank run.

“Christine’s been playing big for us and she continues to come

through,” Burbank (4-2) Coach Ricky Hawthonre said.

In the final 4:15, Kepenekian -- averaging 27.5 points a game --

took over a two-point game by scoring her team’s next 11 points.