Canyon Crest Academy wins 2012 North County Academic League Championship

After two years of being the “bridesmaid” at the North County Academic League championships, Canyon Crest Academy came out on top last week over host and rival Torrey Pines High School, earning the right to represent North County at the San Diego County finals on Thursday, April 26 (after presstime for this newspaper).

Canyon Crest Academy pulled out to a seemingly insurmountable 46-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the 35-minute match. The Ravens’ correctly answered the first seven toss-up questions that were buzzed in on, with captain Anthony Tokman answering the first three. But defending champion Torrey Pines, which dealt the Ravens their only loss in a nail-biter during the regular season, can never be counted out.

The Falcons clawed back to within five points, 88-83, with seven minutes remaining. That would be as close as Torrey Pines would get, however, as CCA got back on track and went on to win the championship battle, 125-94. Torrey Pines and CCA are both in the San Dieguito Union High School District.

Ravens Coach Brian Shay will next take his team to the ITV (channel 16) studios in San Diego to participate in the county championships for the first time in school history April 26. Canyon Crest will face off against the champions of the City, Grossmont, and Sweetwater leagues. The Ravens’ semifinal match will air live at 5 p.m. If victorious, CCA will play in the title match at 7 p.m.

The North County Academic League playoffs involved the top two finishers from its four divisions. Canyon Crest’s road to the league championship began with a first-round victory, 176-60, over Inland Division winner, Rancho Bernardo. The Ravens, runner-up in the Coast Division, went on to defeat the North Division champ, Rancho Buena Vista, 136-70, in their semifinal. The Longhorns had downed Valley Division runner-up, Fallbrook, 99-58, in the first round.

Torrey Pines, winner of the Coast Division, earned its place at the championship table by first defeating North runner-up Carlsbad, 121-77. The Falcons went on to beat Westview, the Inland Division second place finisher, 138-75, in their semifinal match. The Wolverines had defeated Valley champ, Escondido, 103-63, in the first round.

Junior varsity and freshman

Canyon Crest Academy also won the junior varsity championship, while Westview took the Freshman title in the tournaments held at Rancho Bernardo High School last week. For the NCAL junior varsity and freshman playoffs, the winners of each of the four divisions squared off.

In the junior varsity title match, CCA, representing the Coast Division, defeated Rancho Buena Vista of the North Division, 79-54, in a battle that was neck-and-neck until the final minutes of the 30-minute match. The Longhorns were within striking distance, 64-55, with four minutes left, but the Ravens never let up.

In the junior varsity semi-finals, RBV defeated Valley Center, of the Valley Division, 95-15, while CCA beat the Inland Division’s Rancho Bernardo, 114-56.

Westview’s freshman team held off Canyon Crest, 81-69, to win its championship. The Wolverines got out to a quick, big lead, but the Ravens had fought back to tie the score at 43 with eight minutes remaining in the 25-minute match. Coast Division champ CCA went on to forge a 60-56 lead before Westview, of the Inland Division, turned the tables and went on to victory.

In the first round of the freshman tourney, Westview beat the North’s Carlsbad, 83-23, and CCA downed the Valley’s Escondido Charter, 79-14.

The North County Academic League consists of 27 public and private high schools. For team photos, season scores and standings, and further information about the North County Academic League, please visit the league website (www.rbvhs.org/teachers/ferreirae/ncal/index.htm).