Falcons Fall to La Canada Rally, 62-60

Crescenta Valley High’s boys’ basketball team’s midseason slump continued Saturday night with a 62-60 loss to La Canada in a McDonald’s Invitational game at Pasadena City College, its fifth loss in eight games.

Despite the loss, Coach Jim Smiley said his team, ranked first in the region by The Times and second in Division IAA, took “a step in the right direction.”

“We played together,” Smiley said. “I thought we made some great calls at the end.”

Jordan Ballard made two free throws with 43.8 seconds remaining, putting La Canada (16-4) ahead, 61-60, capping a comeback from a 52-42 deficit early in the fourth quarter.

Jimmy Goffredo missed a three-point shot and short jumper in the final 24 seconds for Crescenta Valley (15-5).

“We got a very good look to win it,” Smiley said. “Jimmy gets bumped, but that’s a tough call for an official to make. You’ve got to win the game. La Canada deserved the win. There can be no excuses. The scoreboard does not lie.”

The Falcons played the final 43.8 seconds without James Jenkins, their leading scorer and rebounder, who fouled out on the play resulting in Ballard’s free throws.

When the 6-foot-6 senior center was on the bench for the final 5:39 of the first half after being called for his third foul, La Canada outscored Crescenta Valley, 13-4, taking a 32-29 halftime lead.

With Jenkins back on the court, the Falcons scored 12 consecutive points for a 48-40 lead with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

The Spartans’ comeback began when Billy Hofman and Robbie Neyland made three-point baskets during a 10-2 run, cutting the deficit to 54-52 with 4:36 left to play.

Jenkins’ two free throws and Brian Kang’s basket gave Crescenta Valley a 58-52 lead with 3:58 remaining, but the Falcons were outscored, 10-2, for the remainder of the game.

Neyland had 20 points, Ballard added 14 and Philip Swenson 10.

Jenkins had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Goffredo scored 16, Chris Tarne 11 and Kang 10 for Crescenta Valley.