BURROUGHS HAS A LITTLE EXTRA TO BEAT CANYON SOPHOMORE SMITH LIFTS INDIANS IN OT BURROUGHS 71, CANYON 66.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

With the clock winding down in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, Burroughs High of Burbank sophomore Chris Smith had two choices: pass it to an open teammate or heave up a desperation shot.

He did the latter, making a 3-pointer from just inside half court, sending Friday's Foothill League game against host Canyon of Canyon Country into overtime.

``I didn't hear anything. I just kept on thinking, let me make this shot,'' Smith said.

Smith, a 6-foot-3 wing, was just getting started. He scored eight of his 15 points in the four-minute extra session to spark the Indians to a 71-66 victory in a pivotal Foothill League game with four regular season games left.

Burroughs (18-4, 4-2), ranked No. 13 by the Daily News, moved into a tie for second place with No. 12 Canyon (14-8, 4-2), a game behind first-place No. 11 Valencia (18-4, 5-1).

``Smith made an improbable shot. It vaulted us over the top,''Burroughs coach Art Sullivan said. ``This was a must win for us. We're in the hunt again. We control our own destiny.''

Leading by one in overtime, Smith helped seal the game with a turnaround jumper and a 3-pointer on the next possession to give the Indians a six-point lead with 1:55 left. His 3-pointer with 41 seconds remaining sealed the victory, and he fittingly ended the game by dribbling around to run out the clock.

``Smith killed us,'' Canyon coach Chad Phillips said. ``It was a great effort by a sophomore. His desire won the game for them.

Sang Lee helped keep Burroughs in the game. He scored six consecutive points and eight of 10 during a stretch of the third and fourth quarters as the Indians rallied from a 14-point deficit to cut the lead to 52-47 with 4:53 left in regulation.

``He changed the game,'' Sullivan said.

Lee finished with 19 points, 15 in the second half.

Lucas Guidroz made a pair of free throws to give the Cowboys a 60-57 with 22 seconds left on the clock, setting up Smith's improbable shot.

Guidroz was key for Canyon, scoring 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second and third quarters. Teammate Chase Willmore had 13 and Chris Rincon added 12.

``We were playing to lose,'' Phillips said. We were not destined to win this game. How we respond to this game will make or break our season. We have to move. I have confidence that this team can bounce back.''

Canyon was without Bryan Lewis, its starting forward and second-leading scorer, for most of the game. Lewis played only five minutes because of back spasms.

Sean Ceglinsky, [phone]

sean.ceglinsky(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Canyon's Kris Rincon looks on dejectedly after the Cowboys lost.

(2) Burrough's Chris Smith, left, and Sang Lee celebrate during the Indian's win at Canyon High of Canyon Country on Friday.

Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News