Got to talking with La Caada coach Tom Hofman who said besides Blair’s talented front line, there isn’t much tall presence in the Rio Hondo League and that this season is one of the more heaviest in guards he’s seen in a while. Each team is guard-heavy this season, led by Temple City’s James Chen. He’s the area’s leading scorer with 20.5 points per game average. He’ll be tough to stop today when La Caada (15-3, 2-1) visits Temple City (12-5, 3-0) tonight in a Rio Hondo League showdown. The Spartans’ Mike McGlashan is averaging 9.4 points per game and Omar Rady is averaging nearly eight points per game, respectively. Monrovia’s Chris Bullock is averaging 16.6 points per game, Chris Smith is averaging 14.4 and Isaiah Braime is averaging nearly 10 points. South Pasadena (6-15, 1-2) has two talented guards in Kevin Kohler (10.6 points per game) and Djon Ellams (10.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg). Blair is loaded with a tall front line, led by 6-foot-7 senior Katorio Walker, 6-foot-6 sophomore Marcus Bagnerise, 6-foot-5 senior Brice Hill and four players who measure 6-foot-4: Lance Green, Carlos Valenzuela, and Evan Colbert. But it’s clear the source of the Vikings’ offense comes from point guard Deon Geary. He’s averaging 18 points per game thanks to a soft touch. Bagnerise is the Rio Hondo League’s leading rebounder with an average of 10.7 per game. You would think that with all of Blair’s (10-6, 1-2) size its record would be better. You would think they could clog the lanes which they’ve shown what they can do. They were able to keep La Caada outside for most of the game but the problem was the Spartans were nailing many mid-range jumpers. And when the Vikings concentrated on isolating players beyond the perimeter, La Caada found a way to sneak backdoor with quick bounce passes. Does that come down to good coaching who can make the adjustments? I would say it did in last week’s instance when La Caada hosted Blair. The Vikings started hot but the Spartans made the adjustments, using its speed and ball-handling skills to their advantage, and it all came down to the quick-thinking guards.

FYI: San Marino has not submitted its stats or roster.