Burroughs Lady Bears enter the new season with unfinished business after just missing the CIF Southern Section Division 2A Championship Game 

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Lorenzo Antonio

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Lady Bears looking to win back to back Pacific League titles along with aiming for CIF Southern Section & State Championships this year 

A basketball practice session featuring members of the John Burroughs Lady Bears team wearing red uniforms, actively participating on the court with a scoreboard showing 2:36 remaining in the period.
The John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing in a gym, wearing red uniforms, preparing for the upcoming season.
Indoor basketball court with scoreboard displaying 2:45 on the clock, home team 10, and visitor team 0. The scene includes players in red uniforms and various championship banners hanging on the walls.
A John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball player practicing shooting in a gym, with banners hanging on the walls celebrating previous achievements.

The John Burroughs Lady Bears enter the new season as the defending Pacific League Champions along with being a CIF Southern Section Semifinalist and participating in the state playoffs a year ago. This team is looking to aim higher this year as they are viewed as the clear frontrunner to win back to back Pacific League titles and to potentially make another playoff run to the CIF Southern Section Title and State Championship. 

John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing indoors, wearing red uniforms while dribbling and passing basketballs.
The John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing on the court, wearing red uniforms, with a scoreboard in the background.
A group of John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball players practicing on a gym court, wearing red jerseys, with banners highlighting past championships in the background.
A basketball player in a red uniform with the number 12 practices shooting hoops in a gymnasium decorated with championship banners.

Last season the Lady Bears finished with a 22-11 overall record and a 7-0 record in Pacific League play to secure their first Pacific League title since 2018. It was the seventh Pacific League Title that Vikki Oganyan has guided the Lady Bears throughout her tenure as head coach. The Lady Bears have won Pacific League Titles under Oganyan in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2025. In the CIF Southern Section Division 2A playoffs the Lady Bears advanced to the semifinals but ultimately fell to Rolling Hills Prep 57-45. They also participated in the CIF Division Two State Playoffs but ended up falling 64-25 to Arroyo Grande in the opening round of the State Regionals. 

Basketball practice session with John Burroughs Lady Bears players in red uniforms on the court, featuring a scoreboard showing 0-0.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing in a gym, with players in red uniforms and a coach directing them.
Three basketball players in red uniforms practice on the court inside a gym, with championship banners displayed on the walls.
A group of female basketball players in red uniforms practice dribbling and passing the ball in a gymnasium, with a scoreboard in the background showing 0-0.

Oganyan will be entering her 22nd season as the head coach of the John Burroughs Bears girls’ basketball program. She is currently one of the longest tenured head coaches in Burroughs athletics but will also have double duty this season. Oganyan will not only be the head coach for the Burroughs Lady Bears basketball program, she will also serve as the head coach of the women’s basketball program at Mission College in Sylmar.

Basketball practice session for the John Burroughs Lady Bears, featuring players in red jerseys and a scoreboard showing the start of the game.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing in a gym, with players in red uniforms and a scoreboard showing 0-0.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball players practicing in the gym, with one player preparing to shoot a basketball while teammates observe.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing indoors, with players in red uniforms engaging in drills and shooting at the basketball hoops.
Basketball practice in a gym with multiple players in red uniforms listening to a coach.
Basketball practice session with players in red uniforms on the court, including a scoreboard showing 1:46 in the third period.
A group of female basketball players in red uniforms practicing on the court, with banners highlighting past achievements in the background.
Two basketball players practicing on the court, with a coach observing and school banners displayed in the background.

The coaching staff under Vikki Oganyan will feature Art Sullivan (head junior varsity coach), Thomas Boulanger (head frosh coach) along with assistant coaches Bill Dunaway, Don Burke and Strength and conditioning coach Rick Lucero. Burke is the only new addition to the staff, joining with plenty of coaching experience, including stops at St Monica High School (2011-2019), Bishop Conaty Our Lady of Loretto High School for one year, and Palisades High School before joining the Burroughs staff to serve with Oganyan. 

A basketball player in a red jersey attempts a shot while being defended by another player, indoors on a basketball court.
A game action shot of two female basketball players competing on the court, one dribbling the ball while the other attempts to defend.
A basketball practice session showing the John Burroughs Lady Bears, with players in red uniforms attempting a shot under the basketball hoop, while a coach observes from the sidelines.
Basketball practice in the gym with players in red uniforms, a scoreboard showing a score of 16 to 17 and three minutes left on the clock.

“We’re very excited about the upcoming season, our team is gonna be very strong heading into the new season along with our culture being top notch.” said Vikki Oganyan. The veteran coach added that she loves coaching basketball when talking about her new role as the Mission College head women’s basketball coach following nine years at Glendale Community College. 

Two players in red basketball uniforms are practicing in a gym, with one attempting to dribble past the other who is playing defense. The gymnasium features banners celebrating previous Pacific League championships.
Two female basketball players practicing dribbling and defense on a gym court, with a coach observing and giving instructions.
A basketball player shoots at the hoop during practice in a gym, with teammates observing in the background. The scoreboard shows 6 for the home team and 11 for the visitor team, with under a minute left in the period.
A girls basketball practice session with players in red uniforms dribbling and passing a basketball in a gymnasium. The scoreboard shows the game score and indications of a basketball period, with training banners on the walls.
Three female basketball players practicing in a gymnasium, wearing red uniforms. They are engaged in drills on the court.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball players practicing on the court with a scoreboard showing 2:50 remaining in the half.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing indoors, featuring players in red jerseys with basketballs, engaging in drills on the court.
A basketball player from the John Burroughs Lady Bears practices a shot during a training session in a gymnasium, with teammates observing and various championship banners displayed on the walls.

The players to watch for this season will feature four returning all Pacific League players in Elizabeth “Izzy” Amoroso (First Team Pacific League guard), Valentina Morales (Second Team Pacific League center), Grace Barton (reigning Pacific League Honorable Mention), Jessica Mena (Second Team Pacific League guard). Joining that core is last year’s freshman sensation Isabella Amayakyan. 

A basketball game in progress with players in red and black uniforms, the scoreboard shows 5-0, with 8:30 remaining in the first period.
Players on the basketball court preparing for a game, with some in red uniforms and others in black, while a referee observes the action.
A basketball game is in progress, featuring two teams. A player wearing a red jersey and number 3 is jumping for the tip-off against an opposing player in a black jersey. Several players and spectators are visible in the background.
A high school girls' basketball game in action at Burroughs High School, featuring players wearing red and black jerseys as one player attempts a shot while defenders reach for the ball.

Amoroso, who is headlining a very deep senior class, led the team with 126 assists and was second on the team with steals per game with 1.2. She is expected to be one of the team’s two way stars in her senior season. Morales led the team with 234 rebounds, 27 blocked shots, and a field goal percentage with 53% and will be looking to replicate that effort. 

Girls basketball players in red and black uniforms practicing in a gymnasium, with spectators in the background.
Basketball game in progress with players in red and black uniforms; one player in red is shooting the ball while others are defending and moving on the court.
A female basketball player in a red jersey shoots a free throw while teammates and opponents watch in a gymnasium.

Barton was the second best three point shooter a year ago finishing behind team leader Mena, who led the team with a three point field goal percentage at 35%. Mena also led the team with a free throw percentage of 76% and was second on the team in scoring with 271 behind last year’s leading scorer in Mariam Fahs. 

A basketball player in a red jersey attempts a shot while other players in dark jerseys defend, set in a gymnasium with a scoreboard in the background.
A female basketball player in a red uniform shooting a basketball towards the hoop in a gymnasium, while a referee watches nearby.

Sophomore guard Isabella Amayakyan could be on the map as a potential All-Pacific League player after impressing in her freshman season with her bench scoring and with her creative finishes at the basket. Amayakyan finished third on the team last season in field goal percentage at 39% and in three-point field goal percentage at 29%. 

Girls basketball practice with players in black and red uniforms on the court.
Girls basketball players practicing at John Burroughs High School gym, with a scoreboard displaying the game's score
Basketball game in progress with John Burroughs Lady Bears team members in red uniforms gathered on one side, scoreboard showing 20-18 in favor of the home team with time remaining in the third period.
Basketball game in progress, showing the scoreboard with home and visitor team scores, and players on the court and sidelines. The gym is adorned with championship banners.

The Burroughs Lady Bears will begin the 2025-2026 season at the Girls Basketball Hawaii Invitational in Konawaena High School in Kealakukua, Hawaii. They travel to Kealakuka on Tuesday, November 18th and return home Sunday November 23rd. They will play games from Thursday November 20th-Saturday November 22nd against Konawaena, Kohala, and Campbell for three contests in three days during the showcase. Following their annual Hawaii Trip, the Lady Bears will play a four game road trip beginning with three non-league opponents, Santa Margarita, Bonita, and St Bonaventure. 

Girls basketball players in action during a game in a gymnasium, featuring athletes wearing black and red jerseys, with spectators seated in the background.
Girls basketball game in a gym at John Burroughs High School, with players in red and black uniforms on the court and a scoreboard displaying the game's score.
A basketball game in progress, with the scoreboard showing a close score of 20-18. Players from the Lady Bears basketball team in red uniforms are gathered on the court, while a referee observes the game. The gym displays banners for various league championships.
Basketball game in progress with score displayed; players in red uniforms and referees present on the court.

Pacific League play will begin on Friday, December 12th with the Pasadena Bulldogs on the road at 5:15 p.m. Their season home opener will be against the Crescenta Valley Falcons on Tuesday, December 16th at 5:15 p.m. along with the crosstown basketball showdown with the Burbank Bulldogs which will take place on Thursday, January 15th at Burbank High School and again on Tuesday, February 3rd at John Burroughs High School. The contest on February 3rd will also feature senior night ceremonies for the graduating class of 2026 on the Lady Bears basketball team. 

A girls' basketball game in progress, showcasing players in red and black uniforms on the court. The scoreboard shows 3:49 remaining in the period. Walls display banners for various sports championships.
A group of young female basketball players, some in black uniforms and others in red, are positioned on the court during a game. The scoreboard shows 3:54 remaining in the first quarter, with both teams still tied at 0. The gymnasium features banners for league champions in various sports hanging on the walls.
A basketball practice session featuring players in red and black uniforms on the court, with a scoreboard visible in the background.
High school girls basketball game in progress, with players wearing red and black uniforms. The court features a gymnasium setting with bleachers in the background.
A basketball game in progress featuring players in black and red uniforms, with one player in the red team preparing to shoot the ball while being guarded by a player from the black team.
Youth basketball players participating in a practice session in a gym, wearing red and black uniforms. The scoreboard shows 3:40 remaining in the game, with a bench of teammates observing in the background.
Basketball game in a gymnasium featuring players in red and black uniforms, with a scoreboard displaying the score.
Basketball players from the John Burroughs Lady Bears compete in a game with a scoreboard displaying 3:42 left in the game. The gym features team banners and a mix of players in red and black jerseys on the court.

The Lady Bears will be hosting the annual JBHS Varsity Tournament from December 8th-13th and then participate in/host the annual West Coast Holiday Festival from December 26th-31st along with the JBHS Varsity Showcase on January 10th. They will also participate in the La Salle Showcase on Saturday, December 20th and then the Santa Monica Tournament on Friday, January 2nd. Stay tuned for coverage of John Burroughs Bears Girls Basketball all season long.

Girls basketball team in red uniforms practicing in a gymnasium, focusing on teamwork and skills development.
The John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing on the court in their gym. Several players are in red uniforms, engaging in drills and warm-ups. Baskets and scoreboard visible in the background.
Basketball players in red jerseys practicing on the court, with a scoreboard displaying 2 minutes and 39 seconds on the clock and a score of 3-1.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball practice with players running and shooting in the gym, featuring banners commemorating past achievements.
Basketball practice session with players in red uniforms practicing on the court, coach overseeing them, and scoreboard visible in the background.
John Burroughs Lady Bears basketball team practicing in a gym with banners celebrating their achievements on the walls.
Basketball practice session featuring players from the John Burroughs Lady Bears in a gymnasium, with coaches observing and assisting.

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