Glendale girls’ basketball avenges overtime loss with lopsided win over Crescenta Valley
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — With some nice passing from her teammates, Ellin Avanessian proved she could be a closer from three-point territory.
The Glendale High girls’ basketball player showcased her long-distance shooting skills Tuesday, helping the Nitros avenge one of their toughest losses from earlier in the season.
Avanessian finished with a game-high 21 points — including six three-pointers — to spark host Glendale to a convincing 57-38 Pacific League win against rival Crescenta Valley.
“The credit goes to my team for being able to swing the ball to me,” Avanessian said. “We had good ball movement and that’s where it starts.
“I felt good with my shooting. CV is always a good competitor and we wanted to pick things up after losing to them the first time.”
Glendale improved to 12-7, 5-3 in league. Crescenta Valley, which posted a 42-41 overtime home win against Glendale in the first meeting Jan. 7, dropped to 8-13, 3-5.
Avanessian had 12 first-half points, including a three-pointer at the buzzer to give Glendale a 28-11 halftime advantage.
“She can get those open looks and that’s big for us,” said Glendale Coach Tania Adary, who got 10 points and five assists from Erlin Keshishzadeh and 10 points and nine rebounds from Kristina Sahakian.
Crescenta Valley Coach Jason Perez said the Falcons had no response to contain Avanessian.
“She was out there going off on three-pointers,” said Perez, who got 13 points and four steals from Tanisha Minassian. “It got to the point after her second three-pointer where we had to cover her.
“After she made her third and fourth ones, you become irritated.”
Glendale built a 9-0 lead, capped by a three-pointer by Avanessian with 4:26 left in the first quarter. Jacqueline Wilson scored the Falcons’ lone basket in the first quarter to trim the deficit to 9-2 with 3:27 remaining.
Crescenta Valley closed to within 30-17 on a layup by Alisa Shinn with 5:19 to go in the third quarter before Avanessian made a three on the ensuing possession.
