GIRLS' BASKETBALL DIVISION I-AA: CRESCENTA VALLEY OVERMATCHED S. CLEMENTE 57, CRES. VALLEY 38.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

LA CRESCENTA - For a few fleeting moments, the notion the Crescenta Valley High girls' basketball could upset San Clemente - the top-seeded team in the Southern Section Division I-AA playoffs - didn't seem all that preposterous.

In the end, the Falcons, who were coming off upset victories over Palmdale and Valencia, were overmatched by San Clemente in a 57-38 loss.

But to hear players and coaches tell it, the loss ended a season that, for Crescenta Valley, was positive.

``It was awesome,'' senior forward Emily Forsythe said. ``We've had a great season.''

The Falcons (17-12) stunned their opponents early, as freshman guard Jeanine Deno scored nine points to spark an 11-2 run to start the game.

But then it fell apart for Crescenta Valley. The Tritons (26-3) responded by going on a 24-2 run to take a 24-15 lead early in the second quarter.

The Falcons, limited to three points in the second quarter, went nearly eight minutes without a field goal.

``That early run was nice, but I guess we lost our confidence,'' Forsythe said.

San Clemente applied relentless full-court pressure for almost the entire game, and its distinct size advantage - the Tritons started three players over 6-feet - bothered La Crescenta all night.