Burroughs’ depth does in Burbank

Jim Riggio

Last year, Levon Maronyan was supposed to provide a key role as a

post player for the Burroughs High boys’ basketball team.

But he broke his left arm just before the season started, ending

Maronyan’s hopes for a breakout season.

Back at full strength, the 6-foot-4 Burroughs senior was a monster

on the boards for the Indians Wednesday night, helping his team

defeat rival Burbank, 58-44, in a Glendale High Summer League game.

Maronyan, who had 11 rebounds to go with seven points, said it was

difficult to watch from the sidelines last season, especially in the

CIF Southern Section playoffs, as the Indians stunned many by and

winning three games and reaching the Division IIA quarterfinals --

before losing to second-seeded Lakewood Mayfair.

“Everyone was succeeding, and I was on the bench,” Maronyan said.

With many key players returning from last season’s squad, Maronyan

said he thinks Burroughs has the potential to have one of its best

teams in years.

“This team is really deep,” Maronyan said. “We’ve got two good

players at every spot.”

Burroughs Coach Art Sullivan wasn’t pleased with how his team

played, as the rival Bulldogs were still getting used to their new

coach, Jose Hernandez.

“Summer is a time to get into a rhythm, and we didn’t do that

tonight,” Sullivan said of his team, which improved to 8-3. “This

looked like the first game of the summer.”

Hernandez, who was still learning the names of his players

Wednesday after taking over the team Tuesday, said he likes the

qualities he has seen in his players.

“They play hard,” Hernandez said. “I saw them play on Monday, and

what attracted me was that they play hard.”

Hernandez said his group will have a lot to learn over the course

of the next month -- and in the fall.

“We have to learn a new philosophy and different principles that

they’ll have to adapt to,” Hernandez said.

Burroughs dominated the game early, as Joey Paysinger showed why

he is one of the area’s best players. Paysinger hit three

three-pointers in the first half and finished with four threes and 16

points.

Kris Jones, who was Burroughs’ starting center last year in place

of the injured Maronyan, had nine points and seven rebounds.

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BOX SCORE

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Burbank 10 4 19 11 -- 44

Burroughs 17 9 15 17 -- 58

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BURBANK

Demircift 13, Awanessi 11, Zakarian 6, Sagoyan 6, Mardyan 4, Boada 4. * Three-pointers: Demircift 3

BURROUGHS

Paysinger 16, Jones 9 and 7 rebounds, Adams 9, Inmaung 8, Maronyan 7 and 11 rebounds, Radino 4, Meredith 3, Baltazar 2. * Three-pointers: Paysinger 4

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