The goal this year was simple, it was to forget about last season’s 3-24 showing. And, when the Burroughs boys’ basketball team started the season 7-3 despite missing two key starters who were out with injuries, the Indians appeared well on their way to accomplishing that goal.
Burroughs Basketball Player Austyn Thompson (shooting a free throw vs. Burbank last week) scored 22 points as the Indians got in the Pacific League win column. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)
However, things collapsed in a hurry over the winter break and a 10-game losing streak that brought back eerie memories of last season ensued. Ultimately it took two overtime periods for Burroughs to break the hex of the streak on January 23, but that made it all the better in the end.
“I wouldn’t say we played real well, but we played hard and finally got a W,” head coach Adam Hochberg said after his team beat Hoover 68-65 to start the second round of Pacific League play.
Austyn Thompson scored a game high 22 points and Ezekial Zuniga added 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting to lead Burroughs. Pedro Gonzales added 11 points and seven rebounds.
It was a see-saw game as Burroughs trailed by six after the first quarter of play, but outscored the Tornadoes 21-10 in the second quarter to lead, 28-23, at the half. Hoover doubled-up on Burroughs 16-8 in the third quarter to take a three-point lead heading into the final period of play. Burroughs controlled the fourth quarter and after a sloppy first overtime period the Indians outscored the Tornadoes 11-8 in the second overtime period to earn their first win in league and improve to 8-13 overall (1-7 in the Pacific League). Hoover is also 8-13 overall but is 2-6 in league play.
