Terzyan’s near triple-double paces Glendale High boys’ basketball to third
BURBANK — Behind a near triple-double effort from senior center Arthur Terzyan, the Glendale High boys’ basketball team punctuated its great start to the season with a trophy on Friday evening.
Terzyan hit eight of 14 field goals in scoring 19 points and tallying 12 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks in leading the Nitros to a 69-58 win over Hollywood High in the third-place game of the Burbank Varsity Holiday Tournament at Burbank High.
“We saved our best game for last,” Nitros Coach Steve Snodgress said. “And Arthur, he just didn’t facilitate in the middle, but he was a strong defensive force and hit his shots. It was just a great all-around game.”
Glendale (3-1), whose lone loss in the four-game tournament came against small-school powerhouse Village Christian on Tuesday, led by as many as 13 points before seeing its advantage trimmed to 54-47 with 5:09 left in the fourth quarter after a four-footer from senior center Manuel Valencia.
Seemingly on cue, the Nitros went inside to the 6-foot-8 Terzyan, who helped spur a game-clinching 10-0 run that began with a jumper from junior forward Tyler Lousararian.
That bucket was followed by a pass inside to Terzyan, who collected an assist when teammate Stephan Arakelyan buried a three-pointer after a kick-out to put Glendale up, 59-47, with 3:58 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Not yet done, Terzyan picked up a block on Hollywood’s next offensive series and then again dished to junior guard Eric Kirakosian for a jumper with 3:34 remaining that put the Nitros ahead, 61-47.
“This was my frustration game. I didn’t play as well as I would have liked in this tournament,” Terzyan said. “I wanted to come out and stop the frustration and do my best and have a great game.”
Terzyan scored 10 of his 19 points in the first quarter as Glendale raced out to a 19-12 lead.
While Hollywood pulled to within 21-17 with 4:57 left in the second quarter on one of two triples from senior guard Val Gazarov (an all-tournament selection), the Nitros closed out the quarter on a 13-4 run highlighted by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from junior forward Alex Miralis that propelled Glendale to a 34-21 advantage at the half.
“I know I didn’t play my best, but our team played its best ball and that’s all that matters,” said Miralis, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Miralis’ last-second shot was part of theme for Glendale, which also received a quarter-closing three-pointer from Arakelyan (10 points) before the end of the third that stemmed a run by the Sheiks (2-2) while giving the Nitros a 49-39 advantage.
Part of Glendale’s success Friday came from its balance as the team had four scorers in double-digits, including 10 points from Kirakosian, who was named to the all-tournament team.
“Credit our guys because that Hollywood team was really athletic and skilled,” Snodgress said. “I was really impressed that every time they made a run, we answered.”