HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL LEAGUE PREVIEWS : Mutual Support Bolsters Grecos

Similarities are to be expected between Mike and Michelle Greco of Crescenta Valley High. They are, after all, brother and sister.

He dribbles, he scores.

She dribbles, she scores.

Both are key players for contenders--if not favorites--in the Pacific League boys’ and girls’ basketball races. For both teams, Muir appears to present the most formidable challenge.

Mike, a 6-foot-4 senior center, is averaging 17.8 points and 9.6 rebounds for the Falcons, who have surged to a 12-3 start entering tonight’s opener against visiting Hoover.

Michelle, a 5-8 sophomore forward, is averaging 17.4 points and 9.9 rebounds for the Falcons, who are 15-1 and also open against Hoover, this afternoon at Crescenta Valley.

When not on the floor, each can be found in the stands watching the other play.

“I always try to go to his games and he goes to mine,� Michelle said. “[The boys] sit in the stands and watch our games. And when our game is over, we come out and sit in the stands and watch them.�

Yet while the Grecos appear to have ascended to an equal level of prominence, they have reached their destinations through different routes and contrasting styles.

Mike, in his third varsity season, is making a long-awaited impact as a starter after suffering a severely fractured left arm as a sophomore.

Greco injured the arm while participating in an impromptu dunking contest with a classmate. He wound up wearing a cast for more than five months and still bears eight-inch scars on both sides of his forearm.

A projected starter as a sophomore, Greco was sidelined the entire season. Last year, he played as sixth man, averaging fewer than five points a game.

“[My arm] bothered me my junior year too,� he said. “I was really never in sync and I didn’t have much confidence.�

This season, Greco has emerged as a solid inside player. He averaged 17 points and earned most-valuable-player honors as the Falcons won their own tournament in December.

“They’re similar by their looks but not by the way they play,� said John Goffredo, Crescenta Valley boys’ coach. “Mike’s an inside kinda guy. Michelle’s more shake ‘n’ bake, more like a guard.�

Michelle, who says she has never suffered an injury more serious than an ankle sprain, made an immediate impact as a starter last season and has developed into one of the area’s most talented and versatile players.

Greco averaged 18.7 points--fifth among area scoring leaders--and was selected the league’s most valuable player. Last month, Greco averaged 18 points and was selected most valuable player as the Falcons won the Cheyenne tournament in Las Vegas.

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Although listed as a forward, Greco displays characteristics of a guard, dribbling adroitly, bringing the ball up the court, penetrating the lane for points.

“Michelle can play any position,� Coach Marc Ward said. “I’ll run her at point guard if a team plays [man-to-man defense] against us. They can’t stop her.�

About the only thing that can stop Michelle is herself. She concedes that challenging larger, stronger opponents is a weakness.

“I kinda get afraid when I play against bigger people,� she said. “I look at [Mike] and he is so strong.�

Mike considers his weakness ballhandling against smaller, quicker defenders.

Each has relied on the other for improvement--which has come slowly through countless games of one on one in the family driveway.

“This goes back, probably, to when they were 4 or 5 years old,� John Greco said of his children. “We got them one of those miniature basketball backboards, cardboard and plastic. Later, we got them a taller one that went up to six feet. We’d set it up out in our driveway and go out and play with them, but they would always go out there and play by themselves.�

The height of the backboard grew steadily, along with the heights and skill levels of the Grecos.

Whose team will rise farther than the other?

“Ours,� Mike said.

“I beg to differ,� countered Michelle.

“I don’t know. We’ll both have strong teams.�

With a talented player named Greco to match.

Pacific League Boys

CRESCENTA VALLEY

1994-95: 25-2, 9-1

The Falcons remain among the region’s best teams with a good blend of size, experience and talent. Senior forward Nathan Sinning (6-5), who averaged 13.8 points and 8.6 assists last season, ranks among the region’s best players. Senior point guard Jake Willis (6-5) averaged 9.4 assists. Senior center Mike Greco (6-4), a three-year letterman, anchors the post. Senior forward Brad Lyans (6-5) was most valuable player of last year’s JV. Sophomore guard Ken Pritchett (5-8) was MVP of the sophomore team.

GLENDALE

1994-95: 12-12, 3-7

Senior guard Steve Avetyan (5-10) is the best player on a team of good shooters. Avetyan is averaging 22 points and has scored at least 27 in four games, including a 41-point performance. Senior forwards Arman Apikov (6-3) and Ariel Caro (6-0) are returning varsity players. Junior point guard John Caro (6-0) moves up from the junior varsity. Senior forward Mike Moradian (6-0) is an excellent three-point shooter. Junior forward Armen Kazaryan (6-2) and senior forward Viken Kazarian (6-5) will be relied on for rebounding.

HOOVER

1994-95: 7-15, 0-10

The Tornadoes might be the league’s most-improved team. Senior guards Eric Jenkins (6-0) and Arbi Baghdasarian (5-11) are returning starters and team leaders. Senior forward Hamlet Azarian (6-1), the team’s best rebounder, also returns. A deep roster includes sophomore forward Mark Hull (6-4), a good perimeter shooter and best player of last year’s 10-0 sophomore team. Junior center Andy Russell (6-4) has a good hook shot. Senior Fernando Ramirez (6-2) is the backup center and junior guard Martin Avanessian (5-10) is a defensive specialist.

Pacific League Girls

CRESCENTA VALLEY

1994-95: 23-7, 8-2

The Falcons are a fast, high-scoring bunch, led by sophomore forward Michelle Greco (5-10) and senior guard Amirah Leonard (5-8). Sophomore guard Tara Gregory (5-2) was an All-Rio Hondo League selection at Temple City last season. Senior Stephanie Coulter and freshman Kelly Paige are 6-2 centers.

GLENDALE

1994-95: 11-14, 5-6

Experience is a strength. The Dynamiters have five returning players, three of them seniors and starters. Forward Narineh Hartoonian (5-6) was an all-league selection two years ago. Forward Alenoush Khachikian (5-9), a three-year starter, averaged 11.1 points and was an all-league selection last season. Center Karen Shirikjian (5-11) is rebounding from an ankle injury suffered at midseason last year.

HOOVER

1994-95: 3-15, 1-9

Junior center Karolin Bidrussian (6-0) is a returning starter who averaged 10 points last season. Senior guards Maria Petros (5-4) and Alex Gicanov (5-4) also are returning starters. Junior guard-forward Chrishanna Peters (5-7) saw considerable action.