Golden Valley found different ways to scores at will, led by a game-high seven three-pointers from junior guard Maverick Ahanmisi. When Ahanmisi (25 points) wasn’t busy scoring, the Grizzlies turned to senior center/forward Steven Lopez, who had 12 points, for scoring near the basket.
“They are a bigger and stronger team,” said Glendale Coach Steve Snodgress, whose team recently yielded long scoring runs en route to finishing fifth at the 39th annual Bulldog Tip-Off Classic at Burbank High. “Defensively, we are not stepping it up.
“Early on, we broke their pressure. We had opportunities to score, but we didn’t cash in.”
Glendale held a 14-13 lead through the first quarter before Golden Valley got its offense on track. The Nitros couldn’t catch the Grizzlies, who seemed more crisp in every facet.
Glendale junior guard David Mansuryan said the Nitros couldn’t stop struggling.
“We’ve got to get after it,” said Mansuryan, who finished with 12 points and four assists. “We are starting to let games pass us by.
“We gave up seven three-pointers [to Ahanmisi.] That’s something we have got to figure out fast.”
Ahanmisi had three first-half three-pointers before helping the Grizzlies pull away with four more in the second half. Golden Valley had 11 three-pointers, compared to five by the Nitros.
A jump shot by Mansuryan cut Golden Valley’s lead to 29-27 with 2:59 left in the second quarter. Then the Grizzlies seized control during the remainder of the first half to build a double-digit advantage.
The Nitros received a team-high 19 points from junior forward Derenik Kaloosi and 10 points and three steals from senior guard Narek Ayvagyan.
Kaloosi was called for a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct with 4:47 left in the third quarter. Golden Valley’s Paul Abesamis made both free throws to give the Grizzlies a 44-33 lead.
Glendale will next compete in another pool-play contest at 4 p.m. today against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Its last pool-play game will begin 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Alhambra.
“Offensively, we need to get out of our slump,” Mansuryan said. “We all know that we can shoot.”
Golden Valley, which got 17 points from sophomore guard Trevor Wiseman, will battle Alhambra in another pool-play game at 5:30 p.m. today.
CHARLES RICH covers sports. He can be reached at (818) 637-3228 or charles.rich@latimes.com.
