Pasadena Takes Bite out of Burbank to Remain Pacific League’s Top Dog

Pasadena’s athleticism and speedy transition game led them to an 81-56 win over Burbank on Tuesday. – Photo by Aaron Valdez / Beacon Media News

By Aaron Valdez

The expectation of living up to last season’s major success continues to be a daunting task for Pasadena boys’ basketball.

However, the Bulldogs are taking it one step at time as their latest 81-56 win over Burbank on Tuesday keeps them undefeated in league play at 7-0.

Having lost in the CIF-SS Championship game last year, Pasadena is back this season looking to finally get the job done. Despite losing several key starters to graduation and a record that does not fully reflect the talent on their squad, the Bulldogs are still a force to be reckoned with as shown in their recent play.

Burbank is having a solid season in its own right as it sported a 12-6 overall record going into Tuesday’s contest. While the Burbank Bulldogs did have their moments, it was the Bulldogs of Pasadena that proved to be too explosive.

Pasadena had already built up a double-digit lead at half and quickly blew the game open in the third with an array of fast-break points that ended in easy layups or thunderous dunks. On the defensive end, the team’s length also posed a big problem for Burbank, which forced them to settle for low-percentage outside jumpers.

Along with starting a new winning streak, this victory further cements Pasadena’s first-place status in the Pacific League standings. The team with the next-best record is cross-town rivals Muir at 4-2, who happens to be the Bulldogs’ next opponent on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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