Nitros run to lopsided win
NORTHWEST GLENDALE — Before they realized it, the members of the Glendale High girls’ basketball team had a 17-point lead.
It happened so quickly that Nitros Coach Tania Adary wasn’t even aware of the lengthy run.
It proved to be the defining moment for Glendale in a season-opening contest on Tuesday night.
The Nitros received a game-high 17 points from senior Marlow Tomasian and 13 points and eight rebounds from senior Lidia Rivas to pick up a 68-37 win against North Hollywood in a pool-play game of the Hoover Tip-off Classic.
Glendale used its 17-0 run in the first quarter to build a 19-2 lead.
“I didn’t know about the run,” Adary said. “I just knew that we were playing real well on defense during the first quarter.
“With our offense, I’m not worried. We will get a lot of layups and easy baskets.”
That’s precisely what happened throughout the opening quarter for Glendale. The Nitros scored eight fastbreak points during the quarter to fluster North Hollywood.
Glendale also showed that it could make its share of three-pointers. The Nitros finished with 11 threes, including five from Tomasian.
“They stepped up and took the initiative,” said Adary, who got 11 points and eight assists, including six in the first quarter, from senior Anna Shahinian and 10 points from sophomore Serah Mirzaeian. “They took their shots and made them.
“We came out looking for the ‘W.’ I told them before the game that I didn’t want them to give up more than 31 points.”
Glendale nearly met Adary’s defensive expectation, but fell a bit short.
However, it wasn’t for lack of trying, as the Nitros finished with 10 steals. Rivas had three steals for Glendale, which will compete in another tournament contest at 3:15 p.m. today against L.A. Marshall.
Glendale also outrebounded its opposition, 33-18. Shahinian and junior Cynthia Garcia each had six rebounds.
