Fourth-quarter surge powers Burbank boys’ basketball past Burroughs

Burbank High boys’ basketball Coach Jamayne Potts has watched his team struggle at the free-throw line this season.

The coach witnessed another struggle by his squad during the first three quarters of Friday evening’s Pacific League game against cross-town rival Burroughs. Through three quarters, the Bulldogs converted just five of 18 attempts from the charity stripe.

That helped the Indians hang around, as the score was tied after three quarters.

Fortunately for Burbank, it began to hit its free throws in the fourth and that, coupled with a terrific defensive effort in the final stanza, helped the Bulldogs earn a 61-46 victory in front of a packed house at Burroughs High.

“The free throw thing was something that we kept drilling to the guys. When we started the fourth quarter, I actually said to our guys that our girls won and sealed it today because they made free throws,” Potts said. “I wanted them to concentrate on that; we were getting our opportunities and I told them to make sure they made their free throws, and they did.

“I think what also helped us was our defense. We held them to six points [in the fourth quarter]. We shut them down on defense and we also didn’t give up two and three chances on the boards and we were able to run.”

Burroughs (11-8, 3-4 in league) was fairly one-dimensional with its scoring against Burbank (15-5, 4-3). Senior Tristen Hull had 22 points and eight rebounds. However, the next highest Indians’ scorer was senior Ryan Del Castillo with seven points.. No other player had more than five.

In contrast, the Bulldogs had more balanced scoring, led by senior Michael Woods with 21 points. Burbank also received 15 points and seven rebounds from senior Faraz Khandaker, 10 from senior Cameron Sweeten and nine from Ben Chavez.

“We have a lot of different guys who can contribute,” Woods said. “If somebody is off or one person doesn’t have a good night, there is always someone else there who can step it up. We got players who can shoot, rebound, drive and everybody just puts their heart into Burbank basketball.”

The teams were knotted at 40 after three quarters. Through the first three, neither team could mount more than a six-point advantage.

But that changed in the fourth. The Bulldogs began the stanza on a 10-0 run and enjoyed a 50-40 lead with 5:19 remaining. A free throw by Hull finally broke the Burroughs scoreless string. However, when Sweeten converted a three-point play with 4:54 left, the Bulldogs lead had ballooned to 12 at 52-41.

Burroughs was outscored in the fourth quarter, 21-6.

“In the start of that fourth quarter, we were just stagnant on offense,” Burroughs Coach Allan Ellis said. “We have just struggled the last couple of games getting into our offensive sets. Part of that is because we’re missing our starting point guard Stefon Foster and another is that we’re missing one of our other key players, Brannan Shepherd, and they were vital parts of our team during the tournament season.

“We just don’t have the ability to run the things we want to run because we are missing key players. But the guys are battling, they are playing hard and they are giving all that they’ve got.”

Burroughs took a 14-13 lead after one quarter before Burbank erased the advantage and went into halftime with a 29-27 lead.

“We love to play in the rivalry games,” Woods said. “It’s like a city thing and the whole city is into it. From school all the way to the game, it’s just amazing to be part of it.”