HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL : Crescenta Valley’s Gift to Coach--a Tie

Crescenta Valley High earned a share of its first Pacific League boys’ basketball championship Friday night in Coach John Goffredo’s 17-year tenure with an 87-72 victory over Arcadia.

Nathan Sinning, who had 26 points and 10 rebounds, spearheaded a second-half rally in which the Falcons (24-1, 9-1) outscored Arcadia, 55-34.

Crescenta Valley finished in a first-place tie with Pasadena, which defeated Muir Friday.

Sinning gave Crescenta Valley its first lead, 45-44, on a pair of free throws with three minutes to play in the third quarter.

Arcadia (18-8, 5-5) on the strength of 15 first-quarter points from guard Tom Teller, opened a 23-11 lead and threatened to turn the game into a rout.

Sinning, however, scored 15 in the second quarter to close the gap to 38-32 at halftime.

“We came out kind of flat and Teller was hitting from all over,” Sinning said. “It feels good to win. Coach wanted this so bad.”

Arcadia’s defense focused on senior forward Brock Jacobsen, who averages 26 points to rank second among area scoring leaders. Jacobsen had 25 points, 11 in the first half.

“They were really concentrating on stopping Brock,” Goffredo said. “Sinning was open for some threes, and he made a few and that helped his confidence.”

Sinning spurred a 12-2 run in the second quarter that pulled Crescenta Valley to within 25-23. However, Gerard Gamboa, who had 18 points, made three three-point baskets and Teller made his fourth of the half to keep the Apaches ahead. Teller finished with 23 points.