As usual, the top 10 rankings will more than likely start with Pasadena on top, but what about everybody else? Temple City lost the San Gabriel Valley’s highest scorer in James Chen; Alhambra is doing without coach Joe Petralia who retired after nearly three decades at Alhambra; Monrovia and La Salle are young this season, and was Keppel a one-year wonder or can they be counted on as a basketball school?

LAST YEAR’S REGULAR-SEASON FINAL RANKINGS

1. Pasadena (19-5); 2. Temple City (15-7); 3. Alhambra (16-8); 4. Monrovia (16-7); 5. La Caada (18-6); 6. Flintridge Prep (16-6); 7. Keppel (15-9); 8. La Salle (13-11); 9. Marshall (16-6); 10. Blair (12-9)

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There never seems to be a shortage of good girls basketball teams, is there? Monrovia and Muir advanced to the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division III-A playoffs. The Wildcats mounted an amazing comeback after trailing by 22 points, and then-freshman Gina Hendreson dropped 38 points. Muir lost in the final seconds to Inglewood, and if not for those two losses we have ourselves an all-WSGV final. Keppel met its nemesis in Bishop Amat early in the playoffs, and you know La Caada is always tough and disciplined with Tamar Hill at the helm.

LAST YEAR’S REGULAR-SEASON FINAL RANKINGS

1. Muir (18-3); 2. Keppel (15-10); 3. Monrovia (15-5); 4. La Caada (18-6); 5. Pasadena Poly (17-4); 6. La Salle (14-9); 7. South Pasadena (14-9); 8. Alhambra (13-9); 9. Rosemead (10-10); 10. Flintridge Prep (13-10).