Career night by Kilgour leads Falcons past Nitros

LA CRESCENTA — With a playoff spot and second place already secured, Crescenta Valley High boys’ basketball player Dylan Kilgour managed to accomplish two things on Tuesday night.

First, Kilgour set a career high for points in a game. In the process, Kilgour kept Glendale’s automatic playoff hopes flickering.

Kilgour scored 28 points and Christian Misi added 13 points and 12 rebounds, as Crescenta Valley held off a late comeback attempt by visiting Glendale to secure a 76-70 Pacific League victory.

Kilgour made six three-pointers to help the Falcons improve to 19-7, 11-2 in league. Glendale, which scored 32 fourth-quarter points, dropped to 11-14, 6-7. The Falcons completed the two-game season series sweep of the Nitros, who remained tied for fourth with Burbank, which lost to league-champion Pasadena on the road Tuesday. Arcadia entered its game against Muir a game behind both Glendale and Burbank. The Apaches’ result was not available at press time.

Kilgour heated up shortly after the opening tip-off. The junior guard had eight first-quarter points.

“I made my first three-pointer and then I made my first four free throws and I was feeling it from there,” said Kilgour, who made 10 of 11 free throws. “A lot of my shots came off transition.

“We swung the ball around well and we made our open shots. A game like this can help me with my confidence.”

Crescenta Valley Coach Shawn Zargarian said Kilgour has showed promise throughout the second half of league. Tuesday’s effort further backed it up.

“He’s been playing better and better as the season has progressed,” said Zargarian, whose team posted a 58-45 victory at Glendale on Jan. 18. “The combination of making his shots and plays had led to his confidence [rising].

“He didn’t play timid and he was aggressive by taking and making those shots.”

Glendale received 21 points and three blocks from senior forward Linden Anderson and 18 points from senior guard Anthony Tahmazian. The Nitros also got 15 points and seven rebounds from junior center David Yetenikyan.

The Nitros played considerably better in the second half after trailing, 32-24, at the intermission. Anderson made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 75-70 with 23.7 seconds remaining.

“There was no quit,” said Glendale Coach Steve Snodgress, whose team will face cross-town rival Hoover on Thursday at Hoover. “We got it going pretty good in the fourth quarter.

“We had a few defensive miscues in the first half and we couldn’t convert on some layups in the first half. CV is so big and you have to manufacture on those shots. For us to be able to compete up here, I’m proud.”

Kilgour made a three-pointer to give the Falcons a 23-14 lead with 4:31 left in the second quarter. He then made a three-pointer to extend Crescenta Valley’s lead to 47-33 with 2:47 remaining in the third quarter.

Misi, a junior center, contributed eight second-half points.

“These last three games against Muir and Glendale and this Thursday against Arcadia are against teams that are fighting for a playoff spot,” said Zargarian, who got 11 points from junior forward Rudy Avila and 10 from sophomore guard Cole Currie. “So, the target is on our back and we need to respond better.”