Forgettable fourth quarter leads to Crescenta Valley boys’ basketball’s demise

PASADENA — In more than a few ways, it was a fourth quarter to forget for the Crescenta Valley High boys’ basketball team.

The Falcons were outscored by nine points and head coach Shawn Zargarian was ejected in the final period of a 62-54 Pacific League defeat to host Muir.

With the loss, the Falcons (18-8, 8-5 in league) missed a chance to move into second place in league and instead dropped out of a two-way tie for third into fourth, while the Mustangs (15-10, 10-3) remain in second with one game to go.

A close contest took a strange turn with less than two minutes left when Falcons senior guard Tadeh Tarverdians, who led his team with 15 points, slashed through the lane and was contacted, but no foul was called.

Zargarian was livid with the no-call, particularly because he felt the play mirrored what took place 12 seconds earlier. Muir’s Javonte James, who led all players with 26 points, had been fouled in the paint and sank two free throws with 1:49 left to give the Mustangs a 55-48 lead.

Zargarian voiced his displeasure and was immediately whistled for a technical foul. The coach continued to dispute the non-foul and was called for a double-technical foul and ejection.

“That’s the official’s prerogative,” Zargarian said. “If he thought I deserved a second one, then I did. I’ve been coaching for 20 years at three different levels and I’ve never been ejected out of a game. I don’t even think I’ve gotten five technicals over my 20 years.”

Falcons assistant DoVall Boykins took over the rest of the contest and will likely coach the squad Thursday against Arcadia in the season finale as Zargarian will need to sit out one game.

As for the double-technical, Muir’s Simaine Stewart Jr. hit two of four free throws to give the Mustangs a 57-48 lead with 1:37 left to ice the game.

Crescenta Valley led, 36-35, after three quarters but succumbed to a three-point shooting barrage, as Stewart picked up assists on three consecutive three-pointers (two from Tiyon Martin) to put the Mustangs up, 53-44, with 2:56 left.

“The difference was that we just made a couple of plays, nothing really special,” Muir Coach Simaine Stewart said. “Crescenta Valley is a good team and I know what it’s like to feel like you’re not getting the calls.”

The contest started out well for the Falcons, who took advantage of the absence of Muir 6-foot-8 center Darius Henderson (arm injury) by going to the hole and leading, 10-4, after one quarter.

The Mustangs responded with a 15-4 run capped on an offensive putback from James to go up, 19-14, with 1:24 left in the second quarter.

Crescenta Valley closed to 21-20 on a three-pointer from Tarverdians right before the half.

As for the third quarter, the one-point deficit for the Falcons remained until a runner from Gabe Ajemian (14 points and six rebounds) right before the end of the third gave Crescenta Valley a 36-35 lead.

“Officiating is going to go either way,” Zargarian said. “I really don’t honestly feel like officials have a grudge against one team over the other. Calls swing either way and I think it happens all the time. Our guys know that it’s not worth fighting that battle so you just go out there and play the game and deal with the calls.”