Glendale High boys’ basketball sent to school in summer-league loss

BURBANK — With summer league winding down, the Glendale High boys’ basketball team is looking to shore up its weaknesses before the start of the regular season.

Against Golden Valley on Thursday in a Burbank High summer contest, the Nitros faced a gritty and scrappy Grizzlies squad and learned plenty in a 46-31 defeat.

The Nitros, a team with advantageous front-court size, was taken out of their game plan by Golden Valley’s full-court pressure. The relentless defense made it difficult for Glendale’s guards to set up the offense and feed the ball inside, something Glendale Coach Steve Snodgress said he’s going to focus on with four summer league games left.

“Their pressure got to us, and we couldn’t settle into our post game,” said Snodgress, whose team qualified for the playoffs last season. “Overall, it’s a game we needed. It’s good experience to play against that defense.

“Good schooling.”

Glendale never led in the 40-minute contest, trailing by as many as 11 in the first half, while connecting on six field goals in the first half.

A solid start to the second half cut the Grizzlies lead down to 26-23 on a basket by Alex Miralis. The Nitros’ offense squandered mightily thereafter and gave up eight unanswered points to trail, 34-23.

It was a forgettable 13-minute stretch for Glendale, which scored just eight points in that span.

Arthur Terzyan, who led the team with 10 points, didn’t start the game and missed the first 10 minutes of the first half. The 6-foot-6 senior made his presence felt on both ends when on the floor. However, he shared his coach’s and teammates sentiments about needing to improve on getting into the half-court offense.

“That’s the best guard pressure we have faced all summer,” said Terzyan, who added three blocks. “We lost it in the second half; there was a stretch where we gave away too many possessions. We need to work on it because Burbank, Crescenta Valley and other Pacific League teams have good guard play.”

Miralis, Glendale’s junior forward and a key component to the front court, finished with eight points. Nitro guard Tyler Lousararian added six points.

The Nitros missed six free throws. In summer league action with a running clock, that accounts for 12 points.

Glendale will not be focused on free-throw shooting as much as they will look to solidify its ball control and sharpen the offense overall.

“We lost three good ball handlers from last year, and with Alex and Art, we have good post presence,” Snodgress said. “We needed a game like this.”