BURBANK — It was a fine 2008-09 season for the four local boys’ basketball programs.
Although neither Burroughs, Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson or Providence highs were able to win a league championship, all four qualified for the postseason.
Unfortunately, all four squads lost their share of players to graduation. However, with an influx of new talent, along with the maturity of some returning athletes, the quartet is expecting to again make it to the playoffs.
Here is a closer look at the area’s teams.
BURBANK
Jose Hernandez is in his seventh year as the program’s coach. Hernandez, who has made the Bulldogs a perennial playoff participant and usually has the team among the top squads in the league, said he is pleased with this year’s group.
“When you take over a program, you usually have a seven-year cycle to get everything together,” said Hernandez, whose team was 18-11 and tied for second place in the Pacific League last season. “I feel this is the season we should keep up the progress we’ve had with the program.”
The Bulldogs did lose All-CIF Southern Section senior Andre Alexandrian to graduation — along with a crop of other seniors. Despite the departures, Burbank will field a team with seven seniors.
“We have guys who have been in the program, and they have been with me throughout,” Hernandez said. “This group knows what’s expected of it and they know what their supposed to do.”
Leading the group is senior Argin Gerigorian. He will be the team’s point guard, and Hernandez said he has given the senior the reigns to run the team’s offense. The coach said Gerigorian is more than capable of guiding the team.
Also returning is 6-foot-5 junior forward Adam Colman, the starting quarterback for the school’s football team. He is fresh off of leading the Bulldogs to a share of a league title and a win in the playoffs on the gridiron.
Senior forward Andy Karandganyan and 6-7 junior center Chris White should give the Bulldogs some talent up front, and senior guard Eric Pashapour should provide stability.
A newcomer Hernandez said should make an instant impact is 6-3 sophomore guard Austin Pope, whom Hernandez said “has a ton of athletic ability and is a very good player.”
