MidValleySports.Com

Pacific League battle preview in Third Place game of tournament.

(La Canada) – As the year ended, two teams that already are scheduled to face each other in two weeks took it to the hardwood for the third place game in the La Canada HS-Midvalleysports.com tournament which pitted Burbank and Arcadia.

Both teams battled for four quarters with the Bulldogs holding off a furious rally by the Apaches with a 49-44 win.

Beginning the fourth quarter it appeared that Burbank was on the verge of a route with Arcadia unable to hit key shots from outside. Then the tide changed with Julianna Okamoto hitting a three-pointer early in the fourth.

That began the 10-0 run that tied the game at 40 with 4:58 remaining. Five of the ten points were scored by Melody Chang.

With the score tied at 41, Irene Pashapour calming hit a three with 3:13 remaining only to have Okamoto mirror her shot at the other end to tie the game at 44.

Okamoto’s three was the final shot the Apaches would make as the Bulldogs clamped down on defense.

Lysette Perez hit a crucial jumper with 1:26 left in the final quarter to make the score 46-44. Perez added a free-throw to extend the lead before Courtney Seidler closed out the scoring with two free-throws.

Perez ended the night with 11 points to lead Burbank and Joy Kang led the Arcadia with a game-high 15 points.

Both teams will begin league play next week and face each other on January 15^th.