Team play leads way for Crescenta Valley in Vaquero Summer Classic

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — It was more than just a lopsided victory, it was a sign that everything is coming together for the Crescenta Valley High boys' basketball team when it defeated Alhambra, 61-21.

It was the Falcons' hustle, particularly on the defensive end, that led to the 40-point victory, as the Moors committed 28 turnovers to CV's 10 against a full-court press in the 40-minute, running-clock 2012 Vaquero Summer Classic pool-play game Thursday at Glendale Community College.

"We don't really work on a full-court press but we just get out and play as hard as we can," said Crescenta Valley Coach Shawn Zargarian, whose team also held a 33-21 rebound advantage over Alhambra. "Our guys are just moving their feet, willing to dive on loose balls and willing to help each other when things break down. You can be unselfish on offense but I think they're being unselfish on defense as far as helping each other out."

Elliot Wilson led Crescenta Valley on the offensive end with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds with five of his eight field goals coming on assists.

"My focus today was running the floor," said Wilson, the incoming 6-foot-2 senior forward. "What I look to do best is run the floor and get those open looks."

Both teams were tied at 8 nine minutes into the game before the Moors saw the Falcons pull away with a 15-4 run to close out the first half.

"We started out slow with less rebounds and missed shots, but as the game progressed we kept moving the ball, running down the floor and looking for some open looks," said Wilson, whose team had 16 assists to Alhambra's two. "What we do best a lot of the time is we're unselfish with the ball and we pass a lot, which gives us more open looks."

CV went on a 9-0 run, sparked by three straight assisted layups, to take a 17-8 lead on a free throw from Wilson at the 7:50 mark.

Wilson scored four of the final five buckets via layups in the half. The first came off his own steal, the second came off a Cole Currie pass and the fourth and fifth were assisted by Kris Jabourian and Barj Krikorian, respectively, to help put the Falcons up, 29-12, headed into the break.

Crescenta Valley used an 18-0 run to take a 55-18 advantage on the game with 5:09 remaining when Currie hit a leaning jumper while being fouled and sank the ensuing free throw to convert the and-one opportunity.

Falcons wing Kevin Dinges, a sophomore transfer from Renaissance Academy, finished with 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Narbeh Grigorian finished with five points and four rebounds for CV, which got five rebounds and four points each from Jabourian and Eric Patten.

"For us to be successful next year we're going to have to get production from four or five different positions and I think that's really been the case for us this summer," Zargarian said. "For guys like Kevin and Elliot, it's about confidence. Last year they went from a role where they're not playing a lot and they're not scoring a lot to this year they're going to have to start doing that."

In earlier tournament action, St. Francis defeated Alhambra, 56-29, while Glendale High fell to Grant, 52-47. Play resumes today with Crescenta Valley and Hoover at 2 p.m., Glendale and Burroughs at 3:05 p.m., Alhambra and Hoover at 4:10 p.m. and Grant squaring off with Burroughs at 5:15 p.m.