Second-quarter collapse, threes sink Glendale

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — The Glendale High boys’ basketball team surrendered eight three-point field goals in its first-round game of the La Cañada Holiday Classic — a 70-49 loss to Saugus Tuesday.

Four of the eight came in the second quarter, where the Nitros were outscored, 20-7, by the Centurions, which quickly turned a tightly contested first quarter into an 11-point advantage for Saugus.

“Our transition defense gave up too many layups at the rim, and open shots,” said Glendale Coach Steve Snodgress, whose squad fell to 2-3 on the season. “We had a good start, pushed the ball, but we looked dead in the second quarter.”

Glendale’s senior center David Yetenikyan put in seven of his 11 first-half points in the second quarter, despite leaving the game late in the first due to a knee injury. After the game, Snodgress said Yetenikyan was limping and his status is uncertain for today’s tournament game.

The Nitros went on an early 9-0 run minutes into the game but made just two field goals in the final four minutes of the first period, as the Centurions answered with six straight points. Glendale’s Stephan Arakelyan pulled down an offensive rebound and scored as time expired off of a Sevan Pogosyan misfire from behind the arc to break a late tie. The basket would conclude a quarter in which the Nitros gave up the first two points of the game, but never trailed thereafter in the eight-minute frame.

Momentum shifted and the tables turned shortly after in the second quarter. Saugus’ Jeremy Gatewood tied the game at 17, prompting a Snodgress timeout. The Centurions wouldn’t look back.

The Nitros made three of 11 field goal attempts and they turned the ball over six times in the frame.

On the other end, Chris Lockwood torched the Nitros with 11 second-quarter points. Along with Gatewood, the duo combined for 24 of the team’s 33 first-half points.

“[Saugus] kept beating us to the other end, and we just looked shellshocked after that,” Snodgress said.

Glendale trailed by double-digits for the entirety of the second half, as its shooters couldn’t get going and Saugus maintained its timely scoring.

Ryan Webb put in 10 third-quarter points, helping the Centurions extend their lead to 21 after three quarters en route to a convincing first-round win.

Glendale’s shooting woes continued in the third, as it made just four of 12 attempts.

For the game, the Nitros shot 18 for 52.

Saugus received a balanced scoring attack with Gatewood’s 22 and Lockwood’s 13, followed by Webb’s 12.

Yetenikyan finished the game and led the team with 15 points.

“It made a tough game even tougher,” Snodgress said of Yetenikyan’s injury. “We’re not sure what’s wrong, but hopefully he’ll be able to go [today].”