La Crescenta — There’s been plenty of times throughout the season when the Crescenta Valley High boys’ basketball team has been able to count on Trey Ballard to make key shots in the fourth quarter.
It proved to be the case again Tuesday, when Crescenta Valley took on Burbank in a Pacific League contest.
Ballard made two three-pointers midway through the fourth quarter to propel host Crescenta Valley to a 64-62 home victory.
“You have to trust how you can play,” said Ballard, who made five three-pointers to finish with a team-high 18 points and added three steals. “Those were very important shots against a team like Burbank that’s one of the better teams in the league.
“It’s always a battle when you play Burbank. You have to play loose and confident.”
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Burbank’s Michael Woods grabs a rebound against Crescenta Valley’s Eric Yun in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Koko Kechichian leans to the side to shoot against Burbank’s Thomas Clark in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Cameron Sweeten on a fast break is tackled on the way to the basket by Crescenta Valley’s Arman Pezeshkian who is called for a foul in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Koko Kechichian hangs in the air to shoot against Burbank’s Michael Woods and Faraz Khandaker in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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/Burbank’s Michael Woods catches a pass in the air and turns to pass it again against Crescenta Valley’s David Heckmann and Edgmin Rostomian in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s head coach Shawn Zargarian during the game against Burbank in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s head coach Jamayne Potts squats on the sidelines during the game against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Journey Shank gets in to the paint against Burbank and passes toward the basket in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Abdullah Kobaissi turns toward the basket as Crescenta Valley’s Trey Ballard reaches in to foul in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Koko Kechichian drives to the basket to shoot against Burbank in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Trey Ballard drives against Burbank’s Michael Woods in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Eric Yun pulls up for a shot against Burbank’s Cameron Sweeten who leans back in a block attempt in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Crescenta Valley’s Koko Kechichian takes a running shot into the defense of Burbank’s Faraz Khandaker in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Michael Woods drives to the basket and is fouled by Crescenta Valley’s Arman Pezeshkian in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Cameron Sweeten brings the ball up court against Crescenta Valley in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Michael Woods brings the ball up cart with Crescenta Valley’s Edgmin Rostomian and Kudzai Kachingwe pursuing in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Cameron Sweeten brings the ball up court against Crescenta Valley’s Journey Shank for a last second first half shot in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
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Burbank’s Ben Chavez grabs a rebound against Crescenta Valley’s David Heckmann in a Pacific League boys’ basketball game at Crescenta Valley High School on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. (Tim Berger / Staff Photographer)
Ballard made a three-pointer to bring Crescenta Valley (14-6, 6-2 in league) to within 58-57 with 4:03 remaining before putting the Falcons ahead for good at 60-58 with another three-pointer at the 2:43 mark.
Crescenta Valley completed the two-game season series sweep against Burbank (15-6, 4-4), though the Bulldogs, who are ranked seventh in CIF Southern Section Division III-AA, made 14 three-pointers Tuesday. Burbank got eight three-pointers from Faraz Kundocker, who registered a game-high 24 points.
The Falcons, who picked up a 55-46 win at Burbank on Jan. 3, survived Kundocker’s splendid shooting effort.
“Burbank got to the quarterfinals last season and they have a lot of seniors,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Shawn Zargarian, who got 13 points and four assists from Koko Kechichian. “We came back and we expect Trey to make those shots. Those were huge. And Koko then made a tough three-pointer.”
Kechichian made a three-pointer from the left side to extend the Falcons’ lead to 63-58 with 1:34 to go. He then made one of two free throws to make it 64-60 with 31 seconds left after Burbank couldn’t capitalize on its prior possession.
A basket with five seconds left by Cameron Sweeten of Burbank closed the scoring. The Falcons then ran out the clock without inbounding the ball.
“Our effort was much better and we gave ourselves a shot,” said Burbank Coach Jamayne Potts, comparing the Bulldogs’ effort Tuesday compared to their previous loss to CV. “We just needed to make a few more shots down the stretch. It’s a game that could have gone either way. CV made those big three-pointers and you have to give them credit.
“Faraz has been our best player all year and he had another great game. He’s our leader.”
Kundocker had three three-pointers in the first quarter to help Burbank build a 20-10 lead.
The Bulldogs held a 36-34 halftime lead.
Crescenta Valley got eight points each from Christopher Arzoumanian and David Heckmann, who contributed seven rebounds. Kudzai Kachingwe finished with seven points for Crescenta Valley.
Ben Chavez had 10 points for the Bulldogs, who got eight points and three steals from Sweeten and six points from Michael Woods.
