Izzy Amoroso and Valentina Morales clutch free throws propelled the Lady Bears to a second straight trip to the quarterfinals 

It was a Saturday night thriller in the second round of the CIF Southern Section girls basketball Division 2A Playoffs. Two teams that finished the regular season with unbeaten records in their respective leagues faced off for a spot in the quarterfinals. The John Burroughs Lady Bears escaped with a slim six point victory over the Village Christian Lady Crusaders behind clutch free throws by Izzy Amoroso and Valentina Morales in the fourth quarter. Amoroso and Morales’s clutch shooting helped send Burroughs to the CIF Southern Section Playoff Quarterfinal round for the second year in a row. This was also a matchup between two colleagues.  Vikki Oganyan and Vince De Guzman are both assistant coaches for the Glendale Community College women’s basketball team 

Sandrina Panaligan and Mariam Fahs started the first quarter by trading two-point baskets. Maddy Boquiren then responded with a  two-point shot of her own to give the Lady Crusaders an early lead. Both Burroughs and Village Christian continued to battle it out in a low scoring quarter with Mariam Fahs making one of her two foul shots at the line to tie the score at nine heading into the second quarter. 

Morales and Boquiren began the second quarter trading baskets. Morales made an inside shot and Boquiren nailed a three-pointer to give Village Christian a one point advantage. The Lady Bears and the Lady Crusaders provided an entertaining second quarter throughout with Burroughs leading 20-16 at the half. 

Following the halftime break, Boquiren began the third quarter with a layup to beat the shot clock buzzer to put the Lady Crusaders within two. Then Fahs nailed both of her foul shots to get the lead back up to four. Boquiren responded by converting both of her foul shots to get Village Christian back within two. Neither team had clear control throughout the quarter, but Village Christian turned their halftime deficit into a 28-26 lead over Burroughs. 

“We had to grind it out and coming in we knew Village Christian was going to be a tough game and Coach De Guzman does a great job coaching them.” said Vikki Oganyan. Oganyan said that this game was about getting off to scoring runs and that the girls kept on pushing in the win over Village Christian. 

The Lady Bears had their season on the line when they trailed 26-30 following Sandrina Panaligan making both of her foul shots at the line. Jessica Mena and Fahs came through by recording back-to-back shots to help Burroughs get within two of Village Christian. Amoroso nailed a clutch three-point shot to help Burroughs lead by one over Village Christian. Fahs, Amoroso and Morales sealed the game at the foul line to help the Lady Bears come away with a narrow victory over the Lady Crusaders. 

“This team came in hungry to work hard, we came into the gym bright and early in the morning which was a deserving win, everyone did their job in this win over Village Christian.” said Bears junior guard Izzy Amoroso. Amoroso also added her confidence in the Lady Bears continuing to work hard to prepare for the quarterfinals and to also take it all the way. 

“Coaching with Vikki plays a factor when Burroughs and Village Christian go head to head in a big game, she’s got a great team with a great group of girls but as a team we ran out of energy in the fourth quarter.” said Vince De Guzman. De Guzman mentioned that this team will grow from this game and that the future is bright for the Lady Crusaders. 

Burroughs will take on Pioneer (Whittier CA) on the road in the CIF Southern Section Division 2A Quarterfinal with a trip to the semifinals on the line. Tip off between Burroughs and Pioneer will be scheduled for 7:00 p.m.