Artesia Is Up Next for Fountain Valley

There is no good time to have to play Lakewood Artesia. The Pioneers (25-1) are the top-seeded team in Southern Section Division I-AA and the favorites to win the championship.

But Fountain Valley, thanks to a 77-65 wild-card victory over La Crescenta Crescenta Valley Wednesday, will get first crack.

The Barons (15-11) move on to Friday’s first-round game because they played a more cohesive, all-around game than the visiting Falcons.

The Barons took advantage of their superior height, outrebounding Crescenta Valley 31-21. Even though the full-court pressure by the Falcons caused 16 turnovers, Fountain Valley still shot 55% from the field (30 of 54) and 85% (17 of 20) from the free-throw line.

And when the game got close in the second half, the Barons got the final edge they needed from center Brad Keenan. Crescenta Valley got to within 45-39 by scoring six quick points, including two free throws after the Fountain Valley bench was given a technical foul.

Keenan, the 6-7 junior, did not start the game because he missed Monday’s practice. In fact, he did not make an appearance until Fountain Valley Coach Mike Warrington put him in with 3:29 left in the third quarter. Keenan quickly turned the momentum back toward the Barons.

He made six of eight shots, including a three-pointer, three of four foul shots, collected four rebounds and blocked four shots.

When Keenan left the court with less than a minute to play, the victory was safely in hand. His 16 points equaled the output of teammate Eric Edmunds and Falcon forward Alex Tima as the game’s leading scorers.

“He was definitely a key,” Warrington said. “Considering the situation, I’d have to say it was his best game.”

The night began ominously for Crescenta Valley when their best player, Christ Shakhmalian, sprained his left ankle after making the game’s first basket. He didn’t return.

It got worse. After a relatively even first quarter--Fountain Valley led, 17-16--Crescenta Valley suffered a four-minute span of turnovers and ill-advised shots. Fountain Valley went on a 19-5 run to take a 36-22 lead.

Crescenta Valley Coach Jim Smiley put the brunt of the blame on his guards, who threw away passes and forced up three-pointers.

“Our guard play has been a strength their season, but tonight it was subpar,” Smiley said.

Fountain Valley led, 41-29, at the half, and, after recovering from their early second-half lapse, was ahead, 57-44, after three quarters.

Crescenta Valley never got closer than 12 in the fourth quarter.

While he was glad for the victory, Warrington wasn’t ready to start thinking about Friday’s encounter with Artesia.

“I’ve not seen them but you know they’re one of the best teams in the state,” Warrington said. “We’ll go down there, play our butts off, and see what happens.”

Crescenta Valley’s season ends at 16-11.