By Brandon HENSLEY

With football fever gripping the Falcon community this season, it might have been easy to overlook the unofficial start to basketball season last week. The annual alumni game between former Falcon greats and the current varsity squad went head-to-head on Nov. 27 inside the main gym at Crescenta Valley High and, as usual, the older guys pulled out a win, this time 67-46.

The varsity wasn’t at full strength as guard Tyler Carlson and center Chuck Meyer were both in street clothes on the bench (Meyer sports a cast around his right wrist).

Then again, it seemed the alumni roster was also a bit sparse. The team trotted out the usual participants, such as Matt Oliver, Eric Strangis, Barrie Eget and Jimmy Goffredo (sporting a mustache for the first time, maybe ever?).

Dylan Kilgour and Cole Currie, who both graduated in 2013, played for the second year in a row. But some of the other guys who routinely play, like Josh and Jake Willis, were absent. Greg Goorjian, the great scorer who averaged over 40 points a game in 1977, wasn’t there. He’s played in the alumni game on and off since 2015.

It didn’t matter for the alumni. The varsity raced out to 9-0 lead, but then that always seems to happen. The alumni closed the gap to 14-12 after the first quarter, and led 31-24 at halftime en route to a comfortable victory.

Still, maybe more this year, the game felt a bit different. In their younger years (which is odd to say considering they’re both barely in their mid-30s) Oliver would open the game with a steal and emphatic slam dunk, and Goffredo would entertain the crowd with three-point shots way beyond the arc. Those flashy moments don’t happen anymore and guys like Eget, who graduated in 1988, tried to catch their breath a little more and let Currie shine, though he didn’t try to take over either.

Not to mention, the CVHS cheer team had their full squad routine delayed due to audio difficulties. Though both teams came out to start the second half the cheer team hadn’t yet made an appearance.

The Falcons are currently playing in the Northeast Valley Tournament at Vaughn High School. They tip off the Pacific League season on Dec. 10 at Pasadena High School at 6 p.m. CV hosts Burroughs HS on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

  Brandon Hensley