Sports Briefs: Burbank’s Willis leads locals on all-league honor roll

All-Pacific League boys’ hoops has local quintet

Five players from Burroughs High and Burbank were recognized with All-Pacific League honors for the 2017-18 boys’ basketball season.

Leading the way with the lone first-team selection was Bulldogs junior Tyrese Willis.

Earning spots on the second team were Burbank junior Erik Harutyunyan and Indians senior Omar Searcy. Honorable mention went to Burbank sophomore Xavier Davis and Burroughs senior Amir Montgomery.

Willis averaged 14.7 points and nearly five assists. He was also an all-tournament selection in three tournaments.

“Tyrese really was a high-impact guy for us this season,” Burbank coach Jamayne Potts said. “He changes the game for us a lot in terms of how teams have to guard him. He is very quick and he can score in multiple ways. He also led us in free throws because of how much he attacked the basket.

“To have someone score like he did and also lead us in assists is a great accomplishment.”

For Burbank, Harutyunyan averaged 12 points and seven rebounds and Davis averaged 12 points.

For Burroughs, Searcy averaged 12 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals and Montgomery averaged 6.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Burroughs polo nets five all-league awards

Burroughs High made a run for the Pacific League championship during the 2017-18 girls’ water polo season.

The Indians came up short, losing to champion Crescenta Valley in the title match, 8-6.

For its efforts, Burroughs had five players honored with All-Pacific League selections, including two on the first team. Burbank had two players honored.

Making the first team were Indians senior attacker Gwen Turla and senior hole/set Bianca Sanchez.

Sophomore goalkeeper Emma Nathan and junior attacker Aleah Orizco made the second team for the Indians, along with Burbank senior driver Sune Aghakian. Honorable mention went to Indians senior attacker Cameron Flores and Bulldogs senior utility Lexi Lyneis.

Turla, a four-year player, led Burroughs in scoring with 57 goals and averaged 3.2 goals a game.

“Her experience and the leadership she brought to the team this year is what what made Gwen so valuable for us this season,” Burroughs coach Jacob Cook said. “She was someone we knew we could rely on.”

Sanchez was second on the team in scoring with 51 goals.

“All around she was a good player on offense and defense for us,” Cook said. “She really stepped up this season and helped us get as far as we did.”

Nathan had 150 saves, Orozco tallied 30 goals and Flores had 14 goals for Burroughs (12-6, 6-2 in league), which advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division IV quarterfinals.

For Burbank (7-13, 2-5), which finished tied for fifth in league, Aghakian had 41 goals, 19 steals and seven assists and Lyneis scored 27 goals to go with 16 assists.

Pioneer named all-league in basketball

Tevan Khudatyan stepped up this season for the Providence High boys’ basketball team and his efforts were recognized as he was the lone Pioneers player to be named to the singular All-Liberty League team.

The senior scored in double figures in all 29 games he played and tallied 20 or more points 18 times. Khudatyan led the team in scoring, averaging 21.9 points to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

“He was a big-time asset for us and he came out and tried to impose his will on opponents every game,” Providence coach Brandon Lincoln said. “He really gave us a shot to be in every single game we played this season.

“We also showed the rest of the team that we could compete, even if we were taking on better competition. He was a great ball-handler for us and he really helped us solidify our transition game.”

Providence (19-10, 7-3 in league) finished third in the Independence League and advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division V-AAA playoffs.

Burbank Pickleball Club available

Indoor and outdoor pickleball is available in Burbank.

The Burbank Pickleball Club plays pickleball at the Olive Recreation Center and at Larry L. Maxam Park. From 8 a.m.-noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from 5-8 p.m. Saturdays. Games will take place at Maxam Park. Indoor playing hours at Olive Recreation Center for the fall will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m.-noon.

There is also be free beginner instruction Wednesday from 8-9 a.m. at Maxam.

Questions can be emailed to Debbie Ludwig at debbieludwig@yahoo.com.