Glendale humbled by Muir in 34-point loss
Hamlet Nalbandyan
The lead was only four at halftime, but the Glendale High boys’
basketball team had sung that tune before.
The Nitros trailed by that margin at intermission Friday in a
13-point loss against Crescenta Valley, but Steve Snodgress and
company could only wish the score was that close Tuesday.
Facing a Muir team that was no doubt seeking revenge after losing
to Glendale for the first time in nine years Jan. 13, the Nitros were
pummeled on the road, 86-52, in a crucial Pacific League loss.
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BOX SCORE
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Glendale 6 20 8 18 -- 52
Muir 12 18 28 28 -- 86
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GLENDALE
Khechumyan 19, Keshishian 18, Sahakyan 5, Shalvardzhyan 4, 5 assists and 3 steals, Woodcock 4, Tarverdyan 2. * Three-pointers: Keshishian 4, Khechumyan 2.
MUIR
Nolen 16, Finney 16, Lenard 14, Hudson 11 and 3 steals, Henderson 10, Finley 9, Gardner 4, Holland 2 and 4 assists, Carter 2, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks, Elder 2, Wilkerson 5 assists. * Three-pointers: Finney, Finley.
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Team Overall League
Crescenta Valley 18-6 7-0
Muir 12-11 4-3
Arcadia 10-13 3-3
Glendale 12-10 3-4
Pasadena 9-12 2-4
Hoover 6-17 1-6
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Coming in, Glendale, Muir and Arcadia were tied for second place
in league, but the loss drops the Nitros (12-10, 3-4 in league) to
fourth place, and they could be in fifth at week’s end depending on
how they do against host Pasadena on Friday.
The difference against the Mustangs (12-11, 4-3) was the third
period, during which Glendale was outscored, 28-8.
“That’s the second game in a row that the other team has come out
and pounded us in the [third quarter],” said Snodgress, whose team
was outscored 29-16 during the third in a 59-46 loss against CV.
“We don’t have enough guys that are consistent on offense, and we
couldn’t keep up with Muir.”
After a slow start, the Nitros had a strong second quarter against
the Mustangs to trail, 30-26, going into the break. Glendale scored
20 points in the second period, after a two-of-13 shooting effort in
the first.
The Nitros -- who are known for their defense -- must have thought
they could produce similar offensive numbers the rest of the way, as
they tried to keep pace with the up-tempo Mustangs.
They couldn’t.
In a matter of minutes, Muir turned a 34-30 game into a blowout. A
14-0 run turned into a 21-2 surge, which then turned into a 36-8
spurt.
Muir, which had six players score nine-or-more points, shot 55.7%
from the field, including 69.7% (23 of 33) in the second half.
Most of Muir’s buckets during the final 16 minutes came off
uncontested layups.
Muir showed little of its explosiveness during the first league
meeting against Glendale, which the Nitros won, 59-53.
In that game, Glendale received 19 points from Vahag Tarverdyan,
12 from Raymond Dagher and Egiche Sahakyan and eight from Wesley
Woodcock.
On Tuesday, that quartet combined for 11 points. Dagher, the
team’s leading scorer, was held scoreless, and Tarverdyan -- who made
five three-pointers Jan. 13 -- had just two.
Leonard Khechumyan led Glendale with 19 points off the bench, and
Elvis Keshishian added 18.