Burroughs’ Meltzer shares league’s top honor in girls’ basketball

Jordan Meltzer and her Burroughs High girls’ basketball teammates heard the rumblings around the Pacific League prior to the 2015-16 season.

“A lot of people didn’t expect that much from us this season,” said Meltzer, a senior point guard. “They didn’t think that we were going to do very well in league because we lost a lot of players from last year. We know a lot of people doubted us.”

And maybe for good reason. The Indians were coming off a 2014-15 campaign that looked hard to match, as the squad captured the league championship and advanced to the CIF Southern Section semifinals for the first time in program history.

“But I think we proved them wrong,” Meltzer said.

Burroughs turned in another stellar season that included an undefeated Pacific League run that led to a fourth league title and another trip to the CIF semifinals.

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Meltzer played a substantial role in helping the Indians succeed and she was rewarded for her efforts by being voted the Pacific League co-Player of the Year along with Crescenta Valley senior Alisa Shinn.

Burroughs High’s Kamryn Cardenaz dives to the floor and gets twisted up with Crescenta Valley High’s Polin Megerdichian in a Pacific League girls’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016.

(Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

Also a sold defensive presence for the Indians, Meltzer was adept at running the Burroughs offense. She led the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game and contributed 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals a contest. Crescenta Valley’s Shinn averaged 18.3 points,12.4 rebounds, 4.1 blocks, 3.8 assists and 3.7 steals per game.

“Obviously, I know Alisa is one of the best players in league, but for me, Jordan came up big for us in some of the bigger league games and she made some key free throws and made some substantial plays in those games,” said Burroughs Coach Vicky Oganyan, who was named the league’s coach of the year. “I really think both players deserved to share the award.

“For us to win league again this season, we needed the contributions of Jordan and she came through for us. She has worked hard to be the player that she is and every year she’s improved and really that’s all you can ask of a player. She played a big part in getting us into our offense as a point guard and she kind of set everything up.”

Meltzer said winning co-player of the year came as a complete surprise.

“I really didn’t think I was going to win something like this and I really didn’t expect it,” she said. “It being my senior year, I just wanted to do my best and try my hardest and make my coach proud.

Burroughs High’s Abbey Ibarra works through a ball-handling drill during practice on Monday, Nov. 16, 2015.

(Roger Wilson / Staff Photographer)

“I really tried to get better in the offseason and I worked out hard and grinded it out to be ready for the season. I’m just grateful to win something like this and it’s nice that the hard work paid off.”

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Burroughs went 24-8 and was a perfect 14-0 in Pacific League competition, extending its league unbeaten streak to 42 games. The Indians advanced to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I-A playoffs for the second straight season, losing to Mira Costa, 47-39.

Meltzer was joined on the all-league list by senior Abbey Ibarra and junior Kamryn Cardenaz, who both earned first-team honors.

Sophomore Marin Grote was a second-team selection, while senior Brooke Radcliff drew honorable mention.

While Ibarra averaged 7.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.2 assists a game, Cardenaz averaged 9.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals.

Grote turned in 7.7 rebounds, 3.3 points and 2.7 blocks per contest and Radcliffe had 5.7 points and 4.9 rebounds a game.

Cross-town rival Burbank had three all-league selections, led by first-teamer freshman Osanna Tirityan. Senior Christina Mkrtchyan made the second team and junior Sabrina Zakarian was an honorable mention.

Burbank High’s Osanna Tirityan drives into the lane against Glendale in a Pacific League girls’ basketball game at Glendale High School on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016.

(Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)

“To be a 14-year-old freshman and to come into this league and handle the different defenses that she had to as a freshman, I thought she did a great job,” Burbank Coach Bruce Breeden said of Tirityan, who led the team in scoring with 12.3 points a game to go along with 8.4 rebounds. “She took on the challenge and she worked hard to be the player she was this year.

“She was an impact player and she was strong around the basket and she battled for a lot of what she got.”

Mkrtchyan averaged 10.4 points and 5.3 rebounds a game and Zakarian averaged 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds.

The Bulldogs (18-11, 8-6 in league) finished fourth in league and lost in the first round of the Division II-A playoffs to Garden Grove in overtime, 49-44.

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Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com

Twitter: @jefftsports

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