Accurate three-point shooting propels Burroughs boys’ basketball to rivalry win over Burbank
BURBANK — Just one point separated the Burroughs High and Burbank boys’ basketball teams at the end of the first quarter in a hotly contested Pacific League rivalry game Friday.
However, in a matter of minutes, the Indians started to hit their shots from three-point range. Their perimeter shooting established a double-digit lead over the Bulldogs midway into the second quarter.
Though host Burbank regrouped and pulled to within seven points in the final quarter, Burroughs held on for a 70-57 victory.
“We’ve been doing a lot of shooting in practice because, a couple of weeks ago, we were not shooting the basketball well,” Burroughs coach Allan Ellis said. “With Corwin [Smith] inside, we’re going to have a lot of open shots, so we have to knock them down. We’ve been shooting the ball with a better percentage the last few games.”
The Indians (12-5, 3-3 in league) were six-of-eight from three in the second quarter, with senior Emery Goulet leading the way with four three-pointers for a game-high 28 points.
“We shoot the ball and that’s how our team is made up,” said Goulet, who finished the second half with 16 points. “We have to have confidence in ourselves and we were knocking them down tonight. We were feeling it, which was great. It was great to see.”
Indians forward Blake Ballard scored 10 points in the second quarter to finish with 13 to go along with six rebounds and Smith contributed eight points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
The Bulldogs were led by senior Kevin Sarkes and junior Elmer Reyes with 14 points each, with the senior adding nine rebounds. Burbank senior Leo Tahmasian added 13 points.
Smith scored the final four points as the Indians took a 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Indians’ six second-quarter three-pointers launched the visitors to a 12-1 run and a 32-16 advantage with 3:20 left in the half.
Burroughs hit four straight threes with two from Ballard before the Bulldogs outscored the visitors, 10-3, to cut the lead to 37-30 at halftime.
“We told them before the game to put a hand up, but the first four or five threes, they had a hand down and didn’t pressure them,” Burbank first-year coach Sid Cooke said. “We played Pasadena with much more intensity. I think Burroughs just outplayed us. We didn’t execute. Bottom line. We’ll get there, hopefully. We’ll keep at it.”
The Indians restored their double-digit lead off of a steal and basket from senior Carson Cardenaz with 2:41 left in the third, and another put-back from Cardenaz ended the quarter with Burroughs up, 51-42.
Tahmasian banked in a three-pointer with 2:13 left to cut the Burroughs lead to 62-53 before the Indians closed out the game at the free-throw line.