By Brandon HENSLEY

Teams for Crescenta Valley High School started CIF playoffs this week. The boys’ basketball team played its first round opponent, the Foothill Knights, in Santa Ana on Wednesday. The Falcons were hoping to advance despite a shaky second half to its Pacific League season. They finished 8-6 in league, which put them at third place. Pasadena was first with a 13-1 record, and the Falcons were the only team to beat them.
Led by shooting guard Arman Pezeshkian, the Falcons were competitive all season despite some tough losses such as a loss to Muir in which they let a 14-point lead get away. CV was also swept by Burbank. The Falcons did manage to squeak out a 60-57 win at Arcadia in the season finale.
The Knights were 14-14 overall, and 4-2 in the Crestview League.
The CV girls’ basketball team had to settle for a share of the Pacific League crown after it lost in the finale against Arcadia, which meant Glendale and Burroughs tied with them with records of 11-3. CV is 20-7 overall. The girls will play the Newbury Park Panthers tonight at 7 p.m. in a Division 2AA matchup. CV comes into tonight’s game with a statistical advantage in every major category over the Panthers (13-11, 8-2 in the Marmonte League), including averages in points, rebounds and assists.
CV’s boys’ soccer team will kick off the Division III playoffs on Friday at home vs. Ventura at 3 p.m. The Falcons were dominant all year, winning league and posting a 12-0-2 record (17-4-3 overall). If the boys win, they would play on Wednesday the winner of Claremont vs. California.
The girls’ soccer team plays today at Centennial of Corona at 3:15 p.m. The Falcons were third in league at 8-2-2 (10-7-5 overall). They lost to champion Arcadia in the season finale. A win would have tied them for second place with Burbank. If the girls win, they would play Tuesday against the winner of North High School and Polytechnic High School.