Crescenta Valley High boys’ basketball strides into postseason after win over Arcadia
LA CRESCENTA — Approximately 30 minutes after the Crescenta Valley High boys’ basketball team closed out its regular season with a win over rival Arcadia, the team learned that they finished third in the Pacific League standings.
But the game between Glendale and Hoover 10 miles to the west was not on the Falcons’ minds, as they were looking to close out the season winners of nine of their final 10.
As it played out, the Nitros prevailed over the Tornadoes, clinching the No. 2 seed. But Crescenta Valley Coach Shawn Zargarian wasn’t yet aware of it and wasn’t concerned with it after his squad notched a 72-55 victory over the Apaches on Thursday evening at home.
“We know we need to win, we can’t rely on other teams,” said Zargarian, who coached the Falcons to a 19-8 overall record, including 10-4 in Pacific League play. “We control our own destiny. We’re playing well and we’re happy with where we are.”
Crescenta Valley never trailed in Thursday’s season finale en route to sweeping the season series over the Apaches, who finished the season on an eight-game losing streak after securing their only league win at Muir’s expense.
Berj Krikorian paced the Falcons with 18 points — 12 in the first half, including the team’s first eight. The senior guard, along with Kyle Currie, John Park, Thulani Kachingwe and Jimmy Smiley were recognized on senior night shortly before tip-off.
Currie finished with 14 points with three from behind the arc — two in the third quarter that ultimately saw the Falcons put the game away by outscoring Arcadia, 19-12, in the frame to increase an eight-point advantage at halftime into a 55-40 cushion after 24 minutes of play.
The Falcons connected on four three-pointers in the second half on eight attempts after making six of 15 in the first half. Currie was bottled up until hitting a three to close out the first half, capping a 7-0 Falcons run.
Tadeh Taverdian started the first-half trend, nailing a three as time expired in the first quarter to give Crescenta Valley a 22-14 lead after one.
The rhythm was still there for Currie in the third, as he hit a pair on consecutive possessions to highlight a defining quarter for the defending Pacific League champions.
“We took way too many threes in the first half,” Zargarian said. “We took 15 and we made six which is good, but we wanted to attack the paint. It’s best when you get the threes off drives and in transition.”
A long season and being on their way to dropping a second game to Crescenta Valley by double digits may have been the catalyst for frustration boiling over for Arcadia in the fourth, as they sent the Falcons to the free throw line 20 times, including two on an intentional foul midway through the quarter.
With one last run in them, the Apaches cut Crescenta Valley’s lead down to nine with a 9-0 run, but the lead proved to be insurmountable and the Falcons sealed their fifth straight win in the home gym.
“Winning record, losing record, we don’t care,” Zargarian said about the team’s mindset going into the game with the Apaches. “Rivalry game, last game of the season, we want to compete and win no matter what. That’s the scariest team to play, the ones with nothing to lose.”
Arin Ovanessian added 12 points. Taverdian also finished in double figures with 11 for the Falcons, who were able to play every player on the roster and will head into the postseason with confidence and momentum.
“It’s nice to be playing good basketball going into the playoffs,” Zargarian said. “We’re in a very tough division, so it’s going to be a tough first round matchup no matter what your seed is.”