Boys and Girls Basketball, New CIF Polls out

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Ive been meaning to read this and just never got a chance. Its an issue that Im very interested in, I just started reading and Im glad I did. Youre a great blogger, one of the best that Ive seen. This blog definitely has some information on topic that I just wasnt aware of. Thanks for bringing this stuff to light.

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I hate that I will not be at the game between the mhs and lchs girls. I remember going to see West when she was a freshmen against them. I remember her looking like she knew that she can beat them if she had another shot. But I'll defintely be at the game when they play again at MHS. Lets see if we can stop their two stars and make sure they stay disciplined on defense. It's gonna be a great game Im sure of it

I gotta believe that the team that plays the best, high intensity and smart defense will win.

Now that the new week is beginning, let's start looking at one of the hottest rivalaries in the area: Monrovia Girls vs. La Canada, Wednesday, 5:30 at LC. This match-up has proven to be for real. La Canada's only losses in league have come from Monrovia ever since Coach Wagner showed up 4 years ago. And consequently, Monrovia's only losses in league have been to La Canada. This Wednesday's game should be as tight as ever with Lelo and Ballard (LC), battling West, Jacobs, Jenkins, Hernandez and Gordon (MHS). Who will win the team with 2 stars or the team with balance. Both teams are 4-0 going into the match....should be good.

Fred,

Your common opponents argument does not hold up. Yesterday, PHS blew more out. At one point, the Bulldogs led by over 30 points. La Canada had a much more difficult time with the Mustangs. Also, the Spartans played Hoover in the pre-season as they did when they played Muir. Once again, if PHS and La Canada played next week, there is no doubt the PHS would probably blow them out also. PHS has won 26 straight Pacific league games. Everyone that they play is going to have their best game of the year. Look at what CV, Glendale and Hoover did after they played PHS. Coach Tucker is in a no win situation. If they don't beat everyone by 20 points, you and many others are going to write and say, "What's wrong with PHS?"... As for the PHS girls program, you have got that wrong too. Mayberry, your coach-of-the-year selection from last year is doing a horrible job. The Lady Bulldogs got embarrassed by Muir. His team could not break a simple press or execute any type of offense. Don't get me wrong, Muir is good, but they are not THAt good. PHS made them look like one of the greatest teams to ever grace the court. Perhaps if Mayberry would practice more with his team (they did not practice once over the Thanksgiving Break nor the Christmas Break) they have been practicing sparingly now that the Pacific League has began. This is a note to Mayberry and the PHS athletic department. THE GIRLS DESERVE BETTER THAN WHAT THEY ARE GEETING FROM MAYBERRY AND IF HE DOES NOT WANT TO COACH ANYMORE SINCE BRITTANY SPEARS AND AMBER MAYS HAVE GRADUATED, THEN HE SHOULD RESIGN OR HE SHOULS BE REPLACED!... Now that's the story I would like to read about in the Star-News

Anyone know the score from the PHS - Muir boys game today?

Renaissance was notified this week that they will be placed in Division 3A. They will be ranked in that division next week.

Local guy, I have stated before I never attended Muir High School. I graduated from Edgewood High in West Covina, and if you want to know my connection to Muir, yes, both of my parents graduated there.
It's always amusing when someone like yourself thinks I have some hidden agenda. By the end of the season, I will have covered the PHS boys and Muir girls basketball teams more than any other, because they're having the most successful years, and are deserving of it. I try to do the same for all sports. I covered the PHS girls basketball team many times last year because they were a big story and had a great season. This year, it's been tough on the Lady Bulldogs so our focus has been on other teams performing well in the area, like the Monrovia's, La Canada's, South Pasadena's, Flint Prep and Westridge. And there is no truth about Muir girls running on the front page and PHS going on the inside page. PHS have been on the cover, and will be on the cover again following tonight's game against Muir. We're also shooting a video highlight reel of the game like we did in football, and this week we did a player profile of Nigel Ajere, a Pasadena player. So, you tell me where the bias is?
As far as the rankings are concerned, I felt with PHS' two losses and La Canada's undefeated season, it was justified. If you want to compare a score, La Canada handled Hoover rather easily in the La Salle/Temple City tournament and PHS needed overtime to defeat the Tornadoes last week. So, based on a common head-to-head opponent and the records, I think the rankings are reasonable.
Now, if they played each other on a neutral court, who do I think would win? I'd go with PHS, but wouldn't be surprised if the Spartans defeated them. Remember last year's game at APU between the Spartans and Bulldogs. PHS won in a game hat came down to the final basket, and that Spartans team had Kyle Austin.
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Also, I wrote a notebook in Tuesday's paper about the Lady Bulldogs, and how tough it was in nonleague and how they're turning it around in league. I guess I am biased, they're the only sub .500 team I've written about this season.

Fred,
It is very obvious that you attended Muir High School. As far as full disclosure is concerned, your readers should know that fact. Anytime there is a PHS-Muir game, you will almost always put a big picture and story about the Muir girls and place the PHS boys on an inside page. I have a daughter that plays basketball and I am certainly for gender equity, but come on! PHS' boys is the only team in the area that is ranked #1 in the CIF in their division. So how is it that PHS competes in a higher division than La Canada and has played a much tougher Pre-league schedule than the Spartans, yet they are ranked #2 in the Star-News Poll. Does anyone out there really feel that if PHS and La Canada played head-to-head again this season that La Canada would beat the Bulldogs? Instead of Buroughs and Burbank, I wish that La Canada could have been added to the Pacific league. No disrespect to the two new Pacific Leage teams... On the girls side, sure Rittany Spears (who is arguably one the best players to ever play in the area, and Amber Mays have graduated, but shouldn't PHS' girls program get a little more respect than you are giving it. Three of their top six players from last season are back and the coach you selected as Coach-of-the-Year is on the bench. You consistiently print the wrong record for the Lady Bulldogs. Four of the losses that you keep reporting belong to the PHS Junior Varsity team. The JV's played in the CV Tournament. If you eliminate those for losses, PHS is nearly .500 like La Salle a team you ranked in your top 10. I know the Lady Bulldogs are rebuilding, but I am certain that PHS would beat must of the teams you ranked in your top 10.

Andrew: How are you doing? Pete S is correct and thankfully we don’t see Whittier Christian in Boys Basketball this year. Whittier Christian is in Div IV-A and rated #1.
I was at the Whittier Christian game last year and Tom Granado was unbelievable. That kid is huge and imagine he doesn’t play football.

Campa--
I think you might have a mixup. Whittier Christian (thank goodness) isn't in the the same division as Maranatha (at least on the boys side). Thankfully, MHS won't have to see the Mountain because Whittier is a divsion above---right? Or have I mis-spoken?

Tom S,

Much like in football, Maranatha's biggest challenge in the division will be Whittier Christian...it's going to be tough to knock them off. They return two big stars from last year including the Mountain... 6-foot-10, 270 pound center Tom Granado.

I'm just not sure Maranatha can handle him. With 35-point-a-game Derrick Strings last season, Marshall still lost to WC at home last season in a must win game. Maranatha was also swept by WC last season in two meetings, losing both games by an average of 22 points. Should both teams meet in the playoffs, it will be difficult to pick against the Heralds...but I have been wrong about Maranatha before.

Looks like Maranatha and Marshall have a good shot at the title in a somewhat weak Div V-AA. With the 60 to 53 win over Marshall last night and a match up against #1 ranked Pacific Hills next Monday things might be looking very good for a strong Minutemen squad. Injuries are healing up and looks like this team is getting to full strength just in time for their final league games.

I heard there was a brawl at a recent duarte basketball game and some fans from the stands got involved. Does anyone have info about this?

As of right now until I see some sort of upset. La canada runs the rio hondo league in boys B-ball. I dont see anyone giving them any trouble this year, at least in league. Monrovia girls are looking very good though. I saw the game against south pas and I really think until they play la canada again they will not be tested

I think La Canada has the least chance because of Campbell Hall and Price. PHS has a better chance in their division, and expect Marshall or Maranatha to have a shot at a boys hoops title.

im thinking La canada boys basketball will win the whole thing