Grigorian comes off bench to pace Burbank girls’ basketball past Glendale

Burbank — Stephanie Grigorian knows her role with the Burbank High girls’ basketball team.

As a reserve off the bench, the junior is looked upon to hit three-pointers and give Bulldogs a boost when they need it.

Grigorian filled that role perfectly Wednesday in a Pacific League game against Glendale. The junior came off the bench and scored 18 points on six three-pointers to propel the Bulldogs past the Nitros, 54-40, in a game at Burbank.

“The first three-pointer that I shot I didn’t think it was going to go in, but by luck it did,” Grigorian said. “After that, I just kept shooting and they went in. It’s nice when the first one goes in.

“When I get into the game I just try and share the ball, shoot as much as I can and play good defense.”

Burbank Coach Bruce Breeden said Grigorian has worked her way into the team’s lineup with a lot of hard work.

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Burbank’s Ani Sarkisyan drives against against Glendale’s Jillian Yanai in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Sabrina Zakarian drives to the basket against Glendale defender Lilia Vasghanian in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Emma Kerr drives to the basket against Glendale in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s head coach Bruce Breeden applauds his team during the game against Glendale in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s head coach Bruce Breeden pumps his arm happy with a scoring play against Glendale in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Osanna Tirityan grabs a rebound and escapes between Glendale defenders Cynthia Zamora and Zarineh Gharibian in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Osanna Tirityan brings the ball up court against Glendale in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Ani Sarkisyan brings the ball up court against Glendale in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Emma Kerr brings the ball up to shoot but is tied up by Glendale defender Jillian Yanai in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Burbank’s Christina Mkrtchyan brings the ball up coart against Glendale’s Sylvia Vartazarian in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Jillian Yanai drives to the basket against Burbank’s Ani Sarkisyan in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Jillian Yanai stretches backward to grab a rebound against Burbank in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Jillian Yanai drives to the basket against Burbank’s Ani Sarkisyan in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Claire Yanai drives to the basket to shoot against Burbank in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s head coach Tadeh Mardirosian during the game against Burbank in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Jillian Yanai brings the ball up court against Burbank in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Sylvia Vartarzarian drives to the basket against Burbank’s Emma Kerr in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Claire Yanai blocks the shot of Burbank’s Ani Sarkisyan in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Sylvia Vartazarian reaches across and fouls Burbank’s Christina Mkrtchyan while shooting in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

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Glendale’s Sylvia Vartazarian shoots against Burbank’s Sabrina Zakarian in a Pacific League girls basketball game at Burbank High School on Wednesday, January 13, 2016.  (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

“To have her score off the bench like that for us is huge,” said Breeden, whose team improved to 13-5, 3-1 in league. “She is one that we consider a shooter and it’s really a matter of her understanding and embracing what her role is for us. Today she did just that.

“She’s worked hard. She came up to varsity this past summer and she’s put in the work to become a better player. She just works her butt off every day.”

Complementing Grigorian, the Bulldogs had balanced scoring, with Osanna Tirityan contributing nine points and eight rebounds, Christina Mkrtchyan adding nine points and Emma Kerr scoring eight points with seven rebounds.

Glendale (9-9, 3-1) struggled with its shooting at times, none more than at the free-throw line where the Nitros were six of 20 in their first league loss.

“I think the pressure of the game got to our girls a little,” first-year Glendale Coach Tadeh Mardirosian said. “We have a very young team and we’re fielding four sophomores and five juniors. I just thought that we gave up a lot of breakaway layups and open shots, which kind of deflates our team a lot.”

The Nitros received a fine effort from sophomore Jillian Yanai, who finished with 10 points, six assists and five steals. Teammate Sylvia Vartazarian added 13 points and seven rebounds.

The teams were engaged in a close contest in the first half, with the Bulldogs enjoying a 12-8 advantage.

But the Nitros made up the deficit early in the second quarter, as Yanai sank a long three-pointer with the shot clock running down to give Glendale a 13-12 lead with 6:35 left. However, that would be the only lead the Nitros would enjoy on the night.

After surrendering the lead, the Bulldogs stepped up their game, going on a 16-3 run to take a 28-16 lead with 1:38 remaining in the first half after a bucket by Tirityan.

Burbank went into halftime up by 13 points, 30-17.

The squads played evenly for most of the third quarter and the Bulldogs increased their lead by just one after three, 41-27.

Any comeback by Glendale in the fourth quarter was derailed by the Nitros’ struggles at the charity stripe, as the team made just five of 16 free throws in the frame.