Steven Hubbell scores two of his game-high 21 points in the win against Burbank (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
By Rick Assad
Special to MyBurbank
Winning is never easy, so the Burroughs High boys’ and girls’ basketball teams had to take it up a notch in the second half as each walked away with a Pacific League triumph at home on Friday night before a jammed-packed and noisy gym.
The Indians boys’ 65-48 decision over the Bulldogs was secured in the fourth quarter and was led by junior point guard Steven Hubbell’s game-high 21 points, while the Burroughs girls’ had to rally in the final quarter in order to pull out a 48-44 victory behind senior forward Davina Del Castillo’s team-best 13 points, as the Indians now own an impressive 17-game winning streak.
The Bulldogs had no room to operate against an aggressive Burroughs defense (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
The Burroughs boys’ shot 47.1 percent from the field (25 of 53) and nailed six three-pointers with Hubbell drilling four and adding 10 rebounds with six assists.
The Indians were stout on the glass in the fourth quarter, outrebounding the Bulldogs, 17-9, and at one point grabbed five consecutive offensive boards. But oddly enough the Bulldogs outrebounded the Indians for the game, 40-38.
“We knew we were the more experienced team,” Burroughs coach Adam Hochberg said. “We were the better team for 32 minutes. I was happy with our fourth quarter rebounding. But I think we gave them too many second chances, but that’s the perfectionist in me.”
Justin Henderson rises up for a shot (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Burroughs enjoyed a 15-11 lead after the first quarter while making six of 12 shots, hit seven of 10 in the second quarter and was in charge, 32-26, at the half as Hubbell had 10 points. “We wanted to reverse the ball and break them down,” Hochberg noted.
Burroughs (12-8 and 4-4 in league) outscored Burbank, 15-12, in the third quarter as senior power forward Jakob Davis accounted for five of his 14 points, while Hubbell knocked in five points including a three-pointer.
“I tip my hat to Burroughs,” Burbank coach Jerry DeLaurie said. “Defense and rebounding was the key. That team [Burroughs] wanted it more than we did. But that’s our youthfulness. We’re learning on the job.”
Burbank (9-10 and 1-6 in league) struggled from the field making 17 of 57 (29.8 percent).
Burbank tried to hang on for dear life but it didn’t work (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Sophomore forward Michael Woods dropped in 12 points, including two free throws in the third quarter, but didn’t score in the fourth quarter after tallying 10 points in the first half.
“I was getting tired in the fourth quarter,” Woods admitted. “I hurt my leg going around a screen. I think Burroughs wanted it more than we did. Rebounding is all about heart.”
DeLaurie agreed with Woods. “We need to get more from the guys off the bench. We need to dig deeper as a team. They played hard and they never quit.”
Hubbell’s six points were essential in the fourth quarter, while Davis (four blocks) added four points, as did senior small forward Chris Hovasapian (four rebounds), who also finished with 14 points.
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Burroughs’ Davina Del Castillo poured in 13 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and six steals in the victory (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Burroughs Girls Basketball Rallies to Keep Streak Alive
In the earlier game, the Lady Indians rallied from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to win, 48-44, and keep their remarkable streaks alive. With the victory, Burroughs has won 17 consecutive games and 22 straight league games dating back to last season.
The Indians are seeking a third league title in a row and currently have a game-and-half lead in the Pacific League.
Yazzy Sa’dullah of Burbank managed to score 22 points despite a superb defensive effort by Burroughs’ Delaney Nicol (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
The Burbank girls’ came out and took command 13-10 in the initial quarter as senior shooting guard Yazzy Sa’dullah scored 12 of her game-best 22 points, nailing five field goals including a trey.
Del Castillo tallied three points in the first quarter, added four in the second quarter, but the Indians were outscored by the Bulldogs, 15-11, who led 28-21 at the half.
There was a complete turnaround for the Indians (outrebounded 36-31 by the Bulldogs) in the third quarter as Del Castillo (12 rebounds, six assists, six steals) chimed in with six points, while senior center Sienna Brown added four of her eight points.
Burroughs (33.3 percent on 18 of 54) employed a full-court press from the outset and kept it up which allowed for numerous steals, turnovers and easy points.
Sienna Brown scored eight points for JBHS (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
Neither team had much success from the floor in the final quarter as Burroughs converted three of 12, and Burbank (13 of 33 for 39.3 percent) missed on all six shots they attempted.
Five players scored in the fourth quarter for Burroughs (21-2 and 8-0 on league) with Brown, junior guard Brooke Radcliffe (seven points) and senior point guard Delaney Nicol (four points) all scoring a hoop, and junior guard Abbey Ibarra (five points) and junior guard Jordan Meltzer (five points) each hitting three free throws.
The only points the Bulldogs (12-9 and 3-4 in league) managed in the fourth quarter were four charity shots from Sa’dullah, and senior point guard Ani Temurian (nine points) and junior power forward Christina Mkrtchyan (seven points) each making a free throw.
Burbank will host Burroughs in the final regular season game on February 12 with the girls tipping off at 5:30 pm followed by the boys’ tussle at 7 pm.
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