Crescenta Valley girls’ basketball’s Bouchard, Megerdichian share Pacific League POY

There’s a comfort zone when Caity Bouchard and Polin Megerdichian step on to the court together.

The Crescenta Valley High girls’ basketball players have thrived as teammates the last couple of seasons. The guards played huge roles in helping the Falcons win the Pacific League championship this season for the first time since 2004.

Bouchard and Megerdichian posted some quality numbers throughout the season and were tabbed the league’s co-players of the year.

Bouchard, a sophomore, averaged 10.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per contest. Megerdichian, a senior, contributed 7.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game despite missing the first several games because of an ankle injury.

“We’ve played a lot of years together, so we know how to push each other to be successful,” Bouchard said. “We were able to progress as the season moved on and we wanted to help the team win league. That was one of the main goals. It’s so cool to share the honor with Polin.”

Megerdichian said splitting the award with Bouchard was a fitting way for her to complete her career.

“We always seemed to know where the other person would be on the court,” Megerdichian said. “It helped when it came to shooting and spreading the ball around the court. To share this with Caity is very important to me.

“We had a fun time as a team and we put in the work to win league because there were so many good teams out there.”

Bouchard’s playmaking skills and Megerdichian’s leadership aided the Falcons.

Crescenta Valley finished 17-10, 9-3 in league, one game ahead of Burroughs and Pasadena. The Falcons fell to St. Anthony in the first round of the Division I-AA playoffs.

“I don’t think we could have won league without the two of them,” Crescenta Valley Coach Jason Perez said. “They really came up big throughout league, especially in the last few games.

“Caity proved to be one of the best defenders in the league and she did a very good job of leading the offense. Polin came back from her injury and got her game going. Polin made a lot of big three-pointers, especially during the second half of league.”

Including Bouchard and Megerdichian, nine local players received all-league honors.

Glendale senior standout Sylvia Vartazarian of Glendale (19-12, 7-5 in league for fourth place) was the lone player to receive first-team recognition after helping the Nitros enjoy a breakthrough season.

Vartazarian, a forward, averaged 16 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest to help the Nitros reach the Division II-A semifinals.

“We all knew what Sylvia could do and it started with her never missing a practice,” said Glendale second-year Coach Tadeh Mardirosian, whose team fell to champion Leuzinger in the playoffs. “A lot of good things happened for Sylvia and the team throughout the regular season and then into the playoffs.

“She bought into the system and did what was needed for the team. She could score, rebound and play defense so well.”

Rachel Dayag of Crescenta Valley, Glendale’s Jillian Yanai and Mary Cantos of Hoover (1-23, 0-12 for seventh place) were selected to the second team.

Dayag, a junior guard, averaged 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

Yanai, a junior guard, contributed 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.5 assists per contest.

Cantos, a senior guard, averaged eight points per game.

Crescenta Valley’s Kaitlyn Jabourian, Claire Yanai of Glendale and Hoover’s Khiara Almendras received honorable mention.

Jabourian, a senior guard, averaged 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. Yanai had 4.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest. Almendras, a senior guard, finished with five points and three rebounds per game.