....Star Picks....Stumbling into Week 10
Star-News preps writer Keith Lair and I will be going head-to-head throughout the season, and I will update our records each Monday on the "Star Picks" thread.
Melendez: Last week: 14-5; Overall: 114-45
Lair: Last week: 16-3; Overall: 127-32
Last week: You can't overlook 114 wins this season. But just like The Stang Fan stated, I've had some laughable picks at times, and on top of that I started the season 3-9. Steve Ramirez over at the Trib seemingly goes out of his way to remind me every time I see him. Among my "laughable" picks last week were: South Pasadena (lost to La Canada); Alhambra (lost to Bell Gardens); San Marino (lost to Temple City); Arcadia (lost to Burbank); and Bosco Tech (lost to St. Bernard). Lair's wrong picks were: Alhambra, Bosco Tech and Arcadia.
ATTENTION COACHES, ATHLETIC DIRECTORS AND BOOSTERS: If your game changes from Friday to Thursday please let me know. I can be reached at 626.578.6300, Ext. 4485 or miguel.melendez@sgvn.com
This week: Nothing like league titles on the line in the final game of the regular season. Be sure to check back here Sunday for continuing updates when the CIF brackets are released. Here's how this week's season finale breaks down among leagues with titles that are up for grabs.
ALPHA LEAGUE: Maranatha will (finally) face a formidable opponent when they travel to Brentwood. The Minutemen seem to bring their best when they see some real competition (such as Rio Hondo Prep). Schilz leads the Maranatha to victory.
MISSION LEAGUE: If St. Francis beats Chaminade and St. Paul beats Alemany there could be a three-way tie for first. A coin flip will determine the league placement for the playoffs. St. Francis beats Chaminade and Alemany prevails against St. Paul. Final league standings: Alemany, St. Francis, St. Paul and Chaminade.
MONTVIEW LEAGUE: Duarte can clinch a share of the crown with a win at home against La Puente combined with an Azusa loss to Bassett. The Falcons can wish, right? Azusa pulls away with the crown and Duarte finishes second.
PREP LEAGUE: Rio Hondo Prep (5-3, 3-1) is a battle-tested team. The Kares have suffered some tough nonleague losses but it prepared them for league and the playoffs. Flintridge Prep (3-5, 3-1) got its act together when league rolled around. Look for Tim Esguerra and Antonio Alaniz to be too much for the Rebels to handle. FYI, Calpreps has Rio Hondo Prep winning, 31-8.
RIO HONDO LEAGUE: There could be a three-way tie for first at 4-1 if Temple City beats La Canada and San Marino beats Monrovia. A coin flip determines the final league placement. The call here is Monrovia wins outright by edging SM by 3, Temple City finishes second and San Marino third.
Thursday's game with prediction:
Pasadena Poly at Webb, 3 p.m. -- Melendez (Pas Poly)
Friday's games with predictions:
Muir vs. Pasadena at Rose Bowl, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Muir)
San Marino at Monrovia -- Melendez (Monrovia)
La Canada at Temple City, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Temple City)
Crescenta Valley at Arcadia, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Crescenta Valley)
Flintridge Prep vs. Rio Hondo Prep at Occidental, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Rio Hondo Prep)
Maranatha at Brentwood, 2 p.m. -- Melendez (Maranatha)
Chaminade at St. Francis, 7:30 p.m. -- Melendez (St. Francis)
Blair at South Pasadena, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (South Pasadena)
Marshall vs. Kilpatrick at PCC, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Kilpatrick)
Bishop Montgomery at La Salle, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Bishop Montgomery)
San Gabriel at Montebello, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Montebello)
La Puente at Duarte, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Duarte)
El Monte at Gabrielino, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Gabrielino)
Alhambra at Keppel, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Alhambra)
Bosco Tech vs. Harvard-Westlake at St. Matthias, 7 p.m. -- Melendez (Harvard-Westlake)
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About this blog
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
I got what you intend, thankyou for putting up.
Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by and say that it's been a pleasure reading your blog. I have bookmarked your website so that I can come back & read more in the future as well. plz do keep up the quality writing
Muir, people think everyone is scared of them, but they will soon see on Friday that, steak for dinner won’t be the meat of choice at the “RoseBowl”! They will be serving pure “Mustang” meat, specially ordered by the PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS!!!!!! LET’S EATEM UP DOGS!!!!!!
Stangs03
One thing you need to realize is we don't bow down to mustangs. Muir is the enemy now and forever. I bet you are kids are going to try and knock the snot out of your players. These kids know each other and NOBODY is afraid. HS will show up and it won't be a thing of talent that separates both teams. Your players won't look so dominate when the opposititon is just as skilled. They are going to play hard in spite of their coach. If we get any kind of confidence in this game I can't wait to hear the excuses. Remember this they still have to play the game!
Angry Dena Dog...
Faith is the sured expectation of the things hoped for...
Ye has alot of faith... and thats good.
But your hope, any hope that the dogs beat the Stangs is laughable... I mean, at some point and time, you just have to submit to reality... Bulldogs have just as good of a chance at the Tussle as the Cincy Bengals at a superbowl this season...
First playoff game TC vs. LC either team losses they are out.
LETS GO SPARTANS!!!!!!
lc in a shocker. they look motivated to make the playoffs
what is the playoff chances for san gabriel? and whats the scenario?
@Stangs03
IT'S RED & WHITE, ALL DAY & ALL NIGHT!!!!
IT'S FEED'N TIME
GET OUT THE CAN OF DOGFOOD, BULLDOGS EAT HORSEMEAT!!
DO YOU KNOW WHERE DEAD HORSE'S GO?
AIN'T NO THANG, BUT A BULLDOG THANG!!!
STOMP THE STANGS!!!
WHO'S HOUSE? DOGS HOUSE!! BOW WOW WOW, YIPPEE YO YIPPEE YEA.....
BULLDOGS, HELL YEAH, MUSTANGS HELL NO!!!!!!!
Good luck to TC too against LC. I didn't mean Forgatch is a bad QB, but SM have an unbalance attack. Other teams are already starting to stack 8-9 guys in the box. You have to be able to pass and run for the defense to play honest.
SM Fan
Thanks for the good word. However, I would not unload the loss on Forgatch (sp), or lack of a top notch QB. The kid did OK, considering he was under constant rush pressure every time he dropped back.
Damn, remember you guys are 8-1...so saying "you can't see SM win much" sounds a little strange.
Don't go to M-town feeling that way or a massacre awaits you. You have some experienced, smart coaches and a good team, your kids will show up and play hard.
Good luck on Friday.
Its Tussle Week!!! EVERYBODY GET UP!!!!!
I smell CIF on the grill cooking, and it smells oh so good!!! But I think we'll season the excitement with a lil 'Stomping of Dogs'. First things first, right? Nothing but Blue and Gold all week baby!!! Pasadena, is 'The Stangs House'; The Rose Bowl is 'The Stangs House'. They might as well pull up the UCLA markings on the field and put MUIR, cause we own HS in the Bowl. When I say OWN, I mean OWN!!!
TC played a great game against SM. I really don't see SM win much without a decent QB. All of Scott Dooley's yards were bruisers at the game.
Miquel,
I am still in your corner. You saw a pass happy TC against Alhambra and a non-aggressive TC against the Mead. It is not surprising how you came to your opinion. However, you still have not come out and stated the Rams are anywhere near the level of Monrovia. At this stage the way we completely destroyed San Marino - it was a statement game. There was no 2 back attack from SM, there was only Dooley, barely breaking 100 yds, and leaving the field dazed and drained, unfamiliar this season with the constant pressure and banging an attacking defense can bring. We are not the same as either team you saw back then. We have morphed into the Rams our opponents are accustomed to seeing - meaning not particularly fast, but tough, focused and with 11 guys on the field who carry out their assignements to the hilt.
There are some issues at TC right now the Rams will need to overcome. The kids can do it. Team leaders - time to step up and bring it together from within the locker room.
Go Rams!!
Anonymous,
You're on the wrong blog for glendale sports... There are a ton of rivalry games this weekend outside of PSN's area... Two big ones in the Pacific League... Glendale v. Hoover and Burbank v. Burroughs (gets a couple thousand attendants every year)
Its sad how no one has mentioned the battle for glendale; glendale vs hoover this friday @ GHS. aka the"BAKLAVA bowl" aka "beamer vs. Benzo" aka "Hummus vsTabouleh". There's tons of history in this game let alone pride.
Winner treats loser to cafe bravo on glenoaks.
Wake up people!!
Good luck to all of the local teams vying for league titles, playoff berths, and playoff seeding.
Miguel
SG will not loose to montebello. If they do then count yourself really lucky. But hopefully you get your rookie card out again....