By Brandon HENSLEY

The fall sports season at Crescenta Valley is coming to a close, with only cross country still competing. The boys’ water polo team lost to Wilson HS on Nov. 9 in the CIF Division II playoffs, 16-7, ending its season with a 13-13 record, 5-3 in the Pacific League.

Water polo will now continue with Falcon girls, as Coach Ricky Mulcahey will try and lead his team to another Pacific League championship. He’ll have to do it with a younger core than in previous years. Crescenta Valley won its seventh straight league crown last season and reached the CIF semifinals. Key members of that team who have graduated include Audrey Taylor, Mackenzie Drewe, Brynn Fernandez and Esma Dollaku. This year’s team will be led by sophomore Alex Garas, who shined as a freshman driver last season, and Kaitlyn Moguel who, along with Taylor, was an All-CIF selection.

Another note worth mentioning: the Falcons have moved up after the CIF realigned divisions; CV, previously in Division V, is now in Division II, which will make the playoff competition ostensibly tougher.

On the hardwood, the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will each have something to prove. The Lady Falcons are coming off a banner year, having won their first ever CIF championship. Their thrilling Division 1A victory against Mira Costa last March will be a lasting memory, but a new season brings new challenges.

Senior leaders Josie Brock and Alisa Shinn have graduated, and it’ll be up to a younger core to compete in the Pacific League and make another playoff run. Coach Jason Perez’s roster will have 13 players, only four of them seniors (Michelle Gee, Kaitlyn Jabourian, Polin Megerdichian and Kaylee Siu). The Dayag sisters, Rachel and Denise, will lead the backcourt; sophomore Caitlyn Bouchard will most likely be an important offensive weapon, Senayt Tessaw and Mary Baun will be power forwards and centers, taking over Shinn.

The girls played former Falcons in their alumni game on Tuesday, and next up is the Tip-Off Classic at home, going from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3. There will be two other tournaments for the team in December before league play tips off on Jan. 3 at home at 5 p.m.

For the boys, word around the team is that it will be another year without a dominant big man, but the team is confident it will find a way to compete and make the playoffs like it always seems to do. David Heckmann will be counted on down low for stability, but it’s likely the team’s style of play will once again revolve around increasing the tempo and shooting from the perimeter. Guards Journey Shank, Koko Kechichian and Trey Ballard will be the ones to watch. Shank is a senior who will probably get more opportunities than he has ever had to shine. Zargarian loves Ballard’s ability to take care of the ball and hit open shots, and Kechichian became an integral part of the rotation last season, displaying an aggressiveness that was sorely needed.

The boys played in their annual alumni game on Wednesday. They are participating in the Christian Heritage on Monday, Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. at Heritage HS. That will continue until Dec. 8. The first league game is at Burbank HS on Jan. 3 at 5 p.m.

  Brandon Hensley