Girls’ basketball: Spotlight on Crescenta Valley’s Cassie Pappas

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Senior guard Cassie Pappas has led Crescenta Valley (24-5) to its first quarterfinal appearance since 2001. The Falcons will host Ayala on Wednesday in a Southern Section Division 1A quarterfinal game.

Pappas has more than 1,900 points in her four-year varsity career. She is averaging 25 points and has scored 21 or more points in 27 of the team’s 29 games this season.

She also leads the Falcons in rebounding and steals, and is an 82% free throw shooter.

Pappas’ consistency helps her teammates relax, according to Crescenta Valley Coach Jason Perez.

‘When you have a player on your team that scores 25 points a game you know you’re never going to be out of the basketball game,’ Perez said.

She has a 3.8 grade-point average and is being recruited by the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Loyola Marymount and Occidental--among other universities.

‘If you look at her, she’s not the prototypical Division I player,’ Perez said. ‘She doesn’t fit the mold of the 5-foot-10 shooting guard.’

Pappas is only 5-foot-7, but she makes up for what she lacks in height with athleticism, speed and drive.

‘She doesn’t have to be told to do anything,’ Perez said. ‘She always asks me to open up the gym so she can practice.’

Perez admits that Wednesday’s game against a much taller Ayala team is going to be a struggle.

‘My tallest player is 5-foot-8,’ he said. ‘They have two starters that are 6-foot-2.’

But with Pappas on the court, anything is possible.

--Melissa Rohlin