The dust has settled and the CIF-Southern Section playoffs are over. You’ve seen and read about the teams making impressive runs in these last playoffs.
St. Francis was short from making the semifinals in the Western Division as was San Marino in the Mid Valley Division. Both teams at some point were leading against their quarterfinal opponents but let the win slip away.
What about Muir? Talk about playing your hearts out and surprising the heck out of everyone, except me of course. Charter Oak was on the brink of elimination in the first round of the Southeast Division playoffs. One play. That’s it. If Muir converts the two-point conversion there would be no back-to-back championships and a fifth CIF ring for the guy they call “The Don” — Charter Oak coach Lou Farrar. You have to wonder what kind of season the Mustangs would have had if they had played like that all year long. Instead, Muir was a bit of an enigma and there was no telling which team was going to show up. This much we know: Muir will be one of the top young guns next year along with Arcadia.
You know about Monrovia’s undefeated season during its run up to the Mid Valley Division finals against No. 2 seed San Dimas. Rio Hondo Prep was no different, taking its 13-0 record and No. 1 seed into the Northeast Division finals against No. 2 seed Linfield Christian. That being said, we will be releasing our final top 10 rankings on Christmas Day, also the day our All-Area team publishes.
So I ask, which team belongs at No. 1?
To be honest, the only teams in contention for the top spot is St. Francis and Monrovia. Muir had a nice late-season run, but the inconsistency leading up to the Pacific League finale rules the Mustangs out of contention.
Don’t you hate the hypothetical questions — Who wins in a Monrovia vs. St. Francis matchup?
Ultimately the winner would truly decide the area’s No. 1 team. They’re not slated to play next year and there’s little to zero assurances they’ll meet in Week 0 next year. That said, I still think Monrovia would not only give St. Francis a run for its money but beat the Golden Knights in a close game.
That St. Francis plays in the tough Mission League and Western Division is irrelevant when the question is asked. Irrelevant? Yes. Because Monrovia’s just as talented overall with insane speed and depth. I know, I know. Monrovia lost in the finals against San Dimas, and I know you St. Francis pundits are saying “They couldn’t beat San Dimas, how can they claim to beat St. Francis, which plays in a much tougher division”. …. Well, that’s why every argument for and against each team is subjective, and we’ll never truly know which team is better. For now, you make the argument.
