Simi Valley Pioneers 59, Crescenta Valley Falcons 57

In the tightest game of the entire tournament, Simi Valley (2-2) outlasted Crescenta Valley (1-3) and prevailed, 59-57, in a consolation game on Saturday.

There were 16 lead changes and the game wasn’t decided until the game clock finally expired after the Pioneers grabbed one last rebound.

Simi Valley held a one-point lead at the half and the only time either team had a two-possession lead in the second half, it lasted 8 seconds.

You talk about a wire to wire nail-biter!

Simi scored first and senior Joaquin Aleman later hit the first of his six 3-pointers to extend the lead to 5-2. The Falcons responded with four free-throws to grab the first of the many lead changes, 6-5.

Those free throws were the beginning of an 11-0 run for Crescenta Valley and its lead was 13-5. But that trend would soon be nullified with a Simi Valley 9-0 run, as the Pioneers reclaimed the lead, 14-13.

Simi’s run consisted of three 3-pointers, two by Aleman and one by senior Josiah Dale. Simi led after one quarter, 16-14.

The Falcons scored first in the second quarter to tie the game at 16-16 after senior Mike Sahagian stole the ball and went coast to coast for the score.

It took a while but Simi finally answered at the 5:20 mark on a nice pass from senior Derek MacLean to sophomore CJ Temme to give the Pioneers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the half.

Simi grabbed its largest lead of the game at the 1:10 mark after another nifty assist by MacLean, 28-23. The half ended with Simi on top, 28-27

Crescenta Valley regained the lead to open the third quarter when senior Vaughn Zargarian completed a nice three-point play to make it 30-28.

The teams battled back and forth the rest of the quarter, as the lead changed hands several times. The only lead larger than two came when Sahagian hit a beautiful step-back jumper to make it 44-41. The quarter ended with Crescenta Valley on top, 44-42.

It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, as neither team could take control. The last tie came at the 3:10 mark when Sahagian made another highlight reel play on a steal and score to make it 53-53.

Temme gave Simi the lead for good with a three-pointer at the 2:55 mark to make it 56-53.

Both teams had trouble scoring after that and with the game clock winding down under a minute, Simi had possession and was looking to get some breathing room down the stretch.

But the Pioneers turned it over with 50 seconds left in regulation and Crescenta Valley had a chance to tie on a three ball.

Junior Garen Samuelian got off a three-point shot with 30 seconds left but it missed the mark and Simi rebounded. Aleman was fouled with 24 seconds left and made both freebies, as the Pioneers matched their largest lead at 58-53.

But the Falcons soon answered. Samuelian found the range this time and nailed a three-pointer to make it 58-56 with 16 seconds left. The Crescenta Valley coach was so confident he was yelling “time out!” while the ball was still in flight.

Then things really got interesting when play resumed. Simi turned the ball over on the inbound pass and then committed a foul on junior Arman Bedrossian who went to the line with 6.3 seconds to play.

Bedrossian made only one of two foul shots so Simi still had the lead, 58-57. The Falcons fouled Temme right away and he went to the line with still 6 seconds left. He also made one of two and Simi’s lead was 59-57.

The game was still in doubt, as Crescenta Valley quickly pushed the ball upcourt. Simi still had a foul to give before the bonus kicked in and they took it with 5.5 seconds on the clock.

That still gave Crescenta Valley time to get the ball to Zargarian in the corner for an open three-pointer for the win with 3 seconds to go. But the shot missed and Simi’s Aleman rebounded. He was fouled with 1.1 seconds left. He missed both free throws but Simi rebounded and the final horn soon sounded.

Simi Valley had finally prevailed, 59-57, in a thriller.

Aleman led all scorers for Simi with 26 points and Temme also was in double figures with 15. For Crescenta Valley, Zargarian and Sahagian led the way with 22 and 16 points respectively.

Temme was awarded Player of the Game honors, and Aleman and Zargarian made the All-tournament team.

Individual Scoring:

Simi Valley (59):

0-Harshith Rahan 3

2-Josiah Dale 6

3-Trevor Hiscocks 2 (7 reb, 5 assists)

4-Joaquin Cunanan 3

12-Andrew Oglivie 4

22-CJ Temme 15

23-Joaquin Aleman 26

Three-pointers made: Aleman 6, Temme 2, Dale, Cunanan

Crescenta Valley (57):

1-Vaughn Zargarian 22

10-Garen Samuelian 9

12-Mike Sahagian16

21-Luke Derkalustian 2

34-Arman Bedrossian 6

55-Mateo Mesrobian 2

Three-pointers made: Samuelian 3