Falcons Show They’re A-OK After Going AWOL Earlier

For the first two months of the girls’ basketball season, it seemed like Crescenta Valley High’s “A” game had taken the A-train.

The Falcons stumbled through preseason girls’ basketball tournaments and failed to win the Pacific League for the first time since 1994.

But fret not for Crescenta Valley, which found its groove when it needed it the most.

A late-season drive continued Thursday night with a 61-41 rout of Palmdale in the first round of the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs.

“Earlier this season, we were a turnover machine,” said Coach Allen Freemon, whose team has won six of seven games. “It just took some time to find our game.”

Crescenta Valley (17-9) played perhaps its best game of the season, make 47% of its shots (27 of 58) and committing a season-low five turnovers.

It was a welcome highlight for a team that has suffered its share of playoff disappointment, including an upset loss to Santa Barbara in the first round last season.

“We’re playing with a lot of confidence right now,” said guard Sinnamonn Garrett, who had 20 points and nine rebounds.

“This is the [Southern Section] playoffs. You only get one chance, so you have to bring out your A-game.”

Crescenta Valley travels to Pacific View League champion Oxnard (21-6) for a second-round game on Saturday night.

It was Palmdale (14-14) that was hoping for the chance to avenge a last-second loss to Oxnard in the first round last season.

“But this was Crescenta Valley’s year,” said Coach George Corisis of Palmdale, which battled injuries and inexperience all season and failed in its attempt to capture a sixth consecutive Golden League championship.

With only one senior among its top 10 players, fourth-place Palmdale alternately showed flashes of greatness and ineptitude.

It defeated Antelope Valley, Quartz Hill and Littlerock, but lost twice to fifth-place Highland.

“We were inconsistent,” said Judy Collier, a junior who had nine points while playing the last two weeks on what is believed to be a broken foot. “It’s a big price to pay for being so young, but next year I think a lot of things will change and we’ll grow up.”

Tiffani Spottiswood, who also broke her foot this season, led Palmdale with 14 points.

With such injuries, Corisis was forced to use a zone defense for only the second time in 19 seasons at Palmdale.

Crescenta Valley had little trouble dissecting it with quick, accurate passes that found every seam.

Post players Ashley Powell, who had 14 points, and Laura Zerebko, who had eight, were the primary beneficiaries, often scoring uncontested layups when the zone extended to cover guards Garrett and Kristie Umemoto.

“We’re taking care of the ball better and finishing on a strong note,” Umemoto said.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCORES

SOUTHERN SECTION

First-Round Games

From Top Three Divisions

Division I-AA

Rio Mesa 49, Leuzinger 48

Crescenta Valley 61, Palmdale 41

Bell Gardens 60, Glendale 45

Valencia 66, Santa Monica 61

Channel Islands 69, Warren 43

Camarillo 50, Righetti 29

*

Division I-A

Hart 60, California 26

Burbank 50, Mark Keppel 49

Quartz Hill 69, Saugus 57

*

Division II-A

Burroughs 52, Bonita 31

*

Division III-AA

Nordhoff 56, Gladstone 47

Chaminade 55, Santa Paula 39

Harvard-Westlake 87, Western 25

La Canada 67, Banning 44

Notre Dame 71, Gabrielino 29

* BOX SCORES, PAGE 18