INSIDE INFO

Burbank team has impressive big-time boys’ basketball program

It is definitely the “beginning of a new era” for the Burbank

High boys’ basketball team.

And that’s exactly what it says on the Bulldogs’ 2003-04 media

guide and program.

The fact the team even has a program, and it came out in the first

two weeks of the season, is proof that Burbank is heading in the

right direction.

Under first-year Coach Jose Hernandez, the Bulldogs have compiled

a media guide that resembles a college sports program.

The 79-page publication comes complete with a full-color glossy

cover featuring some of the Burbank players. Along with complete

profiles of the players -- varsity, junior varsity and freshmen --

coaches and administrators, the media guide also features schedules,

rosters and a lot of photos.

There is also a lot of advertising.

“The kids did a great job at getting advertising and sponsors for

the [media guide],” Hernandez said. “They put in a lot of hard work.

You can see that by all the ads that they got.”

After going 0-23 last season, Burbank got its first win of the

season Thursday when it defeated San Gabriel Gabrielino, 69-53, in

its own 35th annual Bulldog Tip-Off Classic.

Youth serving up wins for Providence girls’ basketball team

Andrew Bencze knew that replacing Selina Tech and Natalie Guzman

wasn’t going to be any easy task, but the Providence High girls’

basketball coach is feeling a lot better after watching the

performance of freshmen Heather Hansen and Elizabeth Reuter during

his team’s first five games.

Hansen and Reuter were instrumental in helping the Pioneers (4-1)

win three of four games in the inaugural San Marino Tournament,

including a 47-32 victory against Alhambra in Saturday’s third-place

contest.

“A lot of these kids I’ve had now for two years and that’s really

made a difference because they understand what I want,” said Bencze,

whose squad posted convincing wins against Flintridge Prep and Holy

Family after suffering a tough 40-29 loss to eventual champion Santa

Fe Springs St. Paul.

“But Liz Reuter as been a big difference for us.

“And [Heather’s] just a natural out there.”

In Thursday’s 65-33 victory against Holy Family, Reuter tallied 14

points and seven rebounds, and Hansen -- who earned all-tournament

honors after scoring nine points against Alhambra -- added six points

and a pair of steals.

In Friday’s 58-38 win against Flintridge Prep, it was Hansen

sharing the scoring load with seniors Talar Bouldoukian and Megan

Campbell, as the 5-foot-6 guard tallied 12 points, four assists and

three steals, to go along with Reuter’s eight points and seven

rebounds.

The freshmen, along with sophomore role player Vanessa Amran, will

be tested Saturday when the Pioneers travel to intracity rival

Bellarmine-Jefferson for a 3:30 p.m. contest.

Jeff Tully and Erik Boal