Markaryan leads Glendale girls’ basketball by Arcadia
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GLENDALE — Mary Markaryan is adapting quite well to the varsity level.
The Glendale High sophomore girls’ basketball player spent last season on the freshman/sophomore team before getting the nod to join the varsity squad this season.
Markaryan turned in an impressive effort Tuesday, as she contributed a game-high 18 points and five rebounds to lift host Glendale to a 47-44 Pacific League victory against Arcadia.
“I’m learning a lot after making the jump to varsity,” said Markaryan, who had four points late in the fourth quarter to aid the Nitros (13-7, 5-1 in league). “It’s definitely a much faster game, but I have real good support from my teammates.
“I’m getting the hang of it and we’re doing what we are supposed to do.”
Glendale, which advanced to the CIF Southern Section semifinals last season for the first time in program history, stayed within one game of first-place Crescenta Valley.
Markaryan scored a basket to give the Nitros a 45-38 lead with 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. Less than a minute later, Markaryan grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to make it 47-40 with 2:12 to go. Arcadia (8-8, 2-4) scored the game’s final four points.
“Mary is doing well and finding ways to help the team win,” Glendale coach Tadeh Mardirosian said. “She jump-started us in the fourth quarter and then made a couple of big baskets at the end.
“We made a million minute mistakes and Arcadia stayed in the game until the end.”
Glendale received 11 points and four steals from Jillian Yanai, seven points from Meri Chebishian and eight rebounds from Melissa Zamora.
Chebishian made a three-pointer from the right side to give Glendale a 29-24 lead with 2:11 remaining in the second quarter. Chebishian injured her right ankle after the shot and had to be helped off the court. She din’t return.
“Losing Meri was tough because she contributes a lot on offense,” Mardirosian said.
Arcadia got 11 points and 11 rebounds from Sahana Saikumar, nine points from Clarissa Kiyomura and eight points from Mychayl Phillips.
Twitter: @TCNCharlesRich
