Muir’s 8-0 start is the best start in nearly two decades, but as to when exactly the Mustangs had their best start in school history is just that, a mystery.
Muir coach Gamal Stalley said it’s been a “really long time” since the Mustangs opened the season with eight consecutive wins, and its 6-0 start was its best in 16 years. Muir is coming off a win over Saugus last weekend to win the La Canada Tournament.
That the Mustangs, ranked No. 8 in the CIF polls, are playing well may not come as much as of a surprise considering they return 10 players from last year’s team that reached the Division 5AA title game.
That success moved Muir to Division 4AA, dubbed the “super division” because it includes powerhouse La Verne Lutheran, L.A. Price and Windward, among others. Early in the season, Smalley said “we might as well be playing the Lakers” after learning Muir was moved up a division. But success in Division 4AA is not farfetched especially the way Muir has played as of late.
Over the summer, Muir played Loyola and Orange Lutheran, two powerhouses that were nationally ranked in the preseason. Muir lost to Loyola by two and lost to Orange Lutheran on a buzzer beater.
“So we know we have something special this year,” Smalley said. “We have to find a way to remain consistent. We’re still trying to find our way, but it’s a good start, nonetheless.”
Muir is one of two teams (the other being Crespi at 7-0) to remain unbeaten among the 44 teams in Division 4AA.