Crescenta Valley Makes Quick Work of Glendale

Glendale High may have its best girls’ basketball team since the 1990-91 season, when it won the Pacific League title.

Apparently, that doesn’t mean much to Crescenta Valley, which easily dispatched the Dynamiters, 66-28, Friday night at Glendale in a game that featured the league’s only unbeaten teams.

Next to Crescenta Valley (13-1 overall, 3-0 in league play), Glendale (11-7, 2-1) entered as the only other team in the six-school league with a winning record.

The Dynamiters were confident they could slow down the pace and challenge the Falcons, ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times and No. 1 in the Southern Section Division I poll.

Then the game started.

The Falcons led, 21-4, after one quarter, 40-13, at halftime and forced Glendale into 33 turnovers in 66 possessions.

“That may be the state’s No. 1 team,” Glendale Coach Jerry Mike said. “I mean, is there a better one? I’d like to see it.”

Crescenta Valley’s only loss was to New York Christ the King, the nation’s top-ranked team, at the prestigious Tournament of Champions in December.

The Falcons have easily defeated Southern Section powers Peninsula, Chino and Hart, Northern California powerhouse Archbishop Mitty and Scottsdale Chaparral, Arizona’s top-ranked team.

Tonight, Crescenta Valley travels to Perris, another traditionally strong team and a school that produced UCLA star Maylana Martin.

Next Saturday, the Falcons will play at three-time defending Division I-A champion Buena in a rematch of the 1996-97 section final.

Crescenta Valley players insist they were not looking past their league opponents and toward the upcoming marquee matchups.

“It’s gotten to a point where everyone comes at us ready to play their best game,” said forward Sinnamonn Garrett, who scored a game-high 17 points.

Tara Gregory added 12 points, nine assists and eight steals, All-American guard Michelle Greco had 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots and guard Kristie Umemoto added nine points for the Falcons, who won their 25th consecutive league game.

“There will be no letdowns. . . . ever,” said first-year Coach Damian Scribner. “We really want this to be our year.”

Glendale’s Mike believes defense is what may indeed make this the Falcons’ year.

“Their defense is more impressive than anything else,” said Mike, whose team got off only one shot in its first six possessions. “Not only are they quick, but they do all the little things so well.”

Said Gregory: “We work so hard on our defense. For us, defense creates offense. Basketball is defense.”

Crescenta Valley limited Alina Markari, the Dynamiters’ leading scorer, to five points.

Mania Houspian scored a team-high seven points for Glendale before fouling out with 7:27 left.

The toughest part of the Falcons’ league schedule is behind them.

Defending Division III-A champion Muir, Pasadena and Glendale were supposed to be Crescenta Valley’s top challengers.

The Falcons have outscored the three teams by a combined 222-80.