INSIDE INFO

Burbank hoop teams have postseason date

Even before the Foothill League campaign began, the Burbank High

girls’ and boys’ basketball teams had likely already earned berths in

the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The CIF allows basketball teams with at least 11 victories to

petition for a postseason spot. The past two seasons, every team that

has applied for a berth has been accepted.

That fact has to be good news for the Bulldog teams, which both

hit the 11-win plateau prior to opening league play Jan. 7.

The coaches and players from both teams are enjoying turnaround

seasons, after suffering through tough times a year ago.

After their first two league games, the Burbank girls had a 13-6

record (1-1 in league). That is a big improvement from the 9-14

record they had during the 2003-04 season.

A lot of credit has to go to Coach Paul Kim and his staff, as they

have the Bulldogs playing inspired and competitive ball.

That was never more evident than Tuesday, when Burbank just missed

a huge upset in a 60-59 league loss to a good Valencia team.

The team also got some recognition from its peers this week when

the Bulldogs were listed among the “others” in the Division IA top

10.

Under the direction of Coach Jose Hernandez, the Bulldog boys are

enjoying a bigger improvement. Burbank began the season 14-4, almost

tripling last season’s win total when it was 5-20.

Hernandez took over a program that was in shambles two seasons

ago, as its coach was fired midway through the season. Partly because

of forfeits, Burbank ended the season winless.

But Hernandez has instilled a winning outlook and his players have

followed suit.

Both Kim and Hernandez are in their second years with their

respective programs.

Burbank Bulldogs share their name

Sorry Burbank High, you are not the only high school in the nation

with that name. In fact, you aren’t even the only Burbank school that

has Bulldogs as its mascot.

Along with Burbank High from Sacramento -- with Titans as its

mascot -- there is a Burbank High in San Antonio, which also calls

itself the Bulldogs.

However, the local Burbank school can at least claim its colors,

blue and white, among its namesakes as unique, as the San Antonio

Burbank uses orange and white.

Jeff Tully