Burbank boys’ basketball heads to Cypress to start another playoff run
A season ago, the Burbank High boys’ basketball team took the Media City upon a riveting ride that made history.
The Bulldogs marched all the way to the CIF Southern Section Division 3-AAA title game for the first time and then journeyed to the CIF State Division IV Southern California Regional semifinal.
But this is not the same group of Bulldogs that will open the playoffs on Wednesday in the first round of Division 2-A play on the road at Cypress.
“Last year, that was a different group,” Burbank coach Jamayne Potts said. “This group, they’re very inexperienced [in the postseason].
“This year’s a new year.”
While Burbank will open on the road at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Cypress, Providence will host Garey in Division 5-AAA play on Wednesday night.
Entering the postseason, Burbank (17-10) has won two straight with victories over Crescenta Valley and rival Burroughs to end the regular season and take fourth place in the Pacific League. With a team that has football players who were part of a CIF semifinal run in the fall and some transfers finally all together, Potts believes that the team is playing its best at the best time of the season.
“I think we’re peaking right now,” he said. “Our chemistry is finally where I think it should be.”
Last season, Burbank advanced to the Division 3-AAA championship, where it lost to Brentwood, 55-54, and then advanced to the CIF State Division IV Southern California Regional semifinal.
Should the Bulldogs move on from Wednesday, they would square off with Great Oak (18-10, Southwestern League champion) or Tesoro (17-9, South Coast League at-large) in Friday’s second round.
The Pioneers (18-9, Independence League No. 3) will start off the 5-AAA playoffs at home on Wednesday against Garey (12-13, Miramonte League No. 3) with a victory sending them to Friday’s second round against Santa Maria (17-7, Los Padres League No. 2) or Rio Hondo Prep (11-11, Prep League at-large).
Last season, Providence lost in the Division 5-AA quarterfinals to Hesperia Christian, 70-58.
International League No. 3 entry Lycee International School of Los Angeles opened the postseason Tuesday evening with a long ride to Ojai Thacher (7-4) for the Division 5-AA wild-card playoffs.
Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon
