By Brandon HENSLEY

It was not a good beginning, middle or end for the Crescenta Valley High School boys’ basketball team on Feb. 12 as they were eliminated from playoff action by Crespi High in the CIF Division I first-round playoff game, 61-41.

Crespi was big and physical and CV couldn’t make shots, which led to a disastrous opening quarter as the Celts took a 20-5 lead. The remaining three quarters were played more competitively, but it never felt like the Falcons had a chance in this one. Senior Tyler Carlson, the team’s most consistent player all year, took a spill late in the third quarter and stayed on the floor for several minutes while trainer Junko Nakayama stretched the wincing guard. It was a tough quarter that saw the Falcons get a technical foul for arguing some rough play as a tense CV gym grew more distraught. The Falcons won the fourth quarter 15-13, but it would have to be a consolation prize.

The Falcons followed up a stellar 2018-19 season where they were runners up in the Division 3 state regional tournament with a solid campaign this year, tying Pasadena for the Pacific League crown. It was the first league title for the program in six years. They were 25-3 in the regular season, one of the best marks in the program’s history, despite not having Carlson and senior center Chuck Meyer for some games in December due to injuries.

Crespi fell to Valencia in the second round, 78-65.

The Falcons girls’ varsity basketball team went down in the first round of the CIF Division 3 playoffs. They fell to Ventura, 42-37. The team went 19-10 overall, 9-5 in the Pacific League.

The CV boys’ varsity soccer team lost its first-round playoff game on Feb. 12 to Artesia, 2-0, eliminating the Falcons from contention. Coach Grant Clark’s team finished 9-1-4 in the Pacific League this season, and 11-7-5 overall.

Likewise, the CV girls’ team bowed out in the opening round of its playoff bracket, losing to Etiwanda 2-0 on Feb. 13. The girls had a successful season as they went 13-3-5 overall and won the Pacific League with an 11-0-3 record.

  Brandon Hensley