LA CANADA-FLINTRIDGE — So much for the La Canada High School girls basketball team running away with the Rio Hondo League title.

South Pasadena put a stop to that in a big way on Wednesday night thanks to a hot start and a unrelenting defense. The visiting Tigers held first-place La Canada scoreless for the entire second quarter and almost half of the third en route to a 52-27 win.

“We knew we had to play our best game against La Canada and the girls came out ready to go,” Tigers coach Tammy Lai said. “We’re getting better. We’re still pretty young.”

The win improved South Pasadena to 16-4 overall and 4-1 in league. The Tigers’ loss last week to San Marino combined with La Canada’s 4-0 start in league had the Spartans sitting pretty entering Wednesday as they could have finished the first round of Rio Hondo play perfect. Instead, La Canada fell to 13-8.

While La Canada threw up bricks in the second quarter, South Pasadena was busy parlaying its high-energy defense into points. The Tigers took their first double-figure lead of the game three munutes into the second quarter and had the lead up to 18 at halftime thanks to a layup by Kristen Kafkaloff.

La Canada wasn’t any better offensively to start the second half and South Pasadena capitalized by eventually taking a 36-10 lead in third quarter. That would be the Tigers’ biggest margin of the game, and the damage was more than done.

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This is a boys hoops Top 10 rankings of the Star-News teams, but not necessarily the Top 10 you’ll see in the paper.

1. Pasadena (13-5) — This one’s obvious …
2. Muir (12-9) — Suggestion: Just let DADA flow.
3. Flintridge Prep (12-5) — That win over La Salle is nice.
4. Maranatha (16-5) — I admit it, not getting enough love.
5. La Salle (10-7) — Tough league taking its toll.
6. Keppel (15-7) — Getting by on hustle, system and 3s.
7. Temple City (14-5) — Decent inside/outside game.
8. Gabrielino (14-6) — Eagles have had their moments.
9. La Canada (11-9) — Still dangerous because of coach.
10. Alhambra (11-7) — Keppel preventing Moors of more.

Tuesday: Keppel can put the Almont on ice with a win over Montebello, which was a pretty good outfit the past couple years. This year, not so much.

Wednesday: La Canada girls can take another huge step toward the RHL title by beating South Pas. Or, South Pas can win and keep the race interesting.

Thursday: I dunno, the Thursday special at Taco Lita? What’s that, a taco and a combo burrito for $6.95?

Friday: Muir can take its Pacific League title hopes off life support by winning AT Crescenta Valley. Won’t be easy, but Stangs have a shot. If they lose, forget it.

Saturday: Tommy Hofman and Sparta take on Glendora and Mike LeDuc in a game that Valley fans have waited WAY TOO LONG for. It will be at APU at 1:30 p.m.

Underdog Muir can’t say that didn’t have its chances. The Mustangs fell in a 18-point hole early against rival Pasadena on Friday night, but rallied to make things interesting in the second half.

PHOTOS

It would have been REAL interesting if not for a dramatic turn of events. Trailing 47-41 with four minutes to play, Muir came up with a steal and found Taturs Mayberry alone in the back court for what looked like an easy score. But Mayberry opted for some showtime than a guaranteed deuce and bricked a layup that would have made it 47-43.

The Dena’s Andre Spight said thank you very much on the next possession and drained a 3-pointer that sent the Dogs on their way.

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La Salle’s girls hoops team is 0-4 in the Del Rey League after a 60-41 loss at Bishop Amat on Thursday. But … the Lancers will probably still make the playoffs.

Anyway, no bueno.

First-place showdowns

Temple City 54, La Canada 33 PHOTOS

Crescenta Valley 57, Pasadena 54

Girls semi-shocker

San Marino 47, South Pasadena 46.

(And no, I cannot believe my alma mater is a basketball school capable of taking out La Canada in the Rio Hondo League.)

La Salle High School varsity girls basketball coach Kevin Cormier was fired Friday, a day after the Lancers’ 84-49 loss to Del Rey League powerhouse St. Bernard.

Cormier was in his fifth season at the school and the Lancers are 12-5. He declined to comment on why he was let go. Dana Hughley, Cormier’s top assistant, has been named the interim head coach.

La Salle plays in the near-impossible Del Rey League, where even Bishop Amat is 0-2 in league play despite a winning overall record. The Lancers and Lancers play Thursday (I will be there) at Bishop Amat.

Aram’s take: I heard things. Parents complaining things. Have you heard things? If so, what kinda things?

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IMPORTANT: Tip off on Friday is 5:15 p.m. at Muir

Seems like just yesterday that The Good Doctor, Gamal Smalley, had the Stangs as the kings of the Dena. Now, PHS will be a prohibitive favorite on Friday when it travels to Muir for the first meeting of the season between the two rivals. I have no clue if Muir can even hang in this game, which is sad. I kinda liked how competitive it was last year. But, the Dena has gone back to being Tuck’s town (until Jelani gets stupid at La Salle).

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CLICK THIS LINK TO MEET THE STAR-NEWS ALL-AREA TEAM

Player of the Year — GeVontray Ainsworth, Monrovia, Sr.
Offensive Player of the Year — Nate Tayco, Rio Hondo Prep, Jr.
Defensive Player of the Year — Brett Walsh, Monrovia, Sr.
Newcomer of the Year — Marqus Valenzuela, San Gabriel, Jr., QB
Coach of the Year — Russell Gordon, La Salle

QB – Joshua Muema, Muir, Sr.
RB – Ryan Wood, San Marino, Sr.
RB – Isreal Lacy, La Salle, Sr.
RB – Joseph Mayorga, San Gabriel, Jr.
WR – Tommy Scheper, St. Francis. Sr.
WR – Jake Holguin, Rio Hondo Prep, Sr.
AP – Jared Lebowitz, St. Francis, Sr.
OL – Addison Farmer, Muir. Sr.
OL – Zareh Hairapetian, San Marino, Sr.
OL – Isaac Miravet, Monrovia, Sr.
OL – Matt Norman, Monrovia. Sr.
OL – Rico Perez, Rio Hondo. Sr.
PK – Mason Bryan, Monrovia, Sr.
Defense
DL – Christian Caraveo, Alhambra, Sr.
DL – Cole Ramseyer, St. Francis, Sr.
DL – James Bettancourt, Temple City, Sr.
LB – George Frazier V, Monrovia, Sr.
LB – Lorenzo Mena, Gabrielino, Sr.
LB – Austin Ford, Arcadia, Sr.
DB – Lamarr McDaniels, Muir, Sr.
DB – Garrett Stone, La Salle, Sr.
DB – Colby Rivera, Rio Hondo Prep, Sr.
DB – Anthony Craft, Monrovia, Sr.
DB – Stefan Smith, Flintridge Prep, Sr.
P – Matt Wofford, San Marino, Sr.

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OK, I get it. Inactivity and blandness has killed this blog. But good news, Little Stevie R.’s Star-News All-Area Football Team comes out on Saturday and we will all have plenty to talk about.

Little Stevie R. is no stranger to All-Area controversy. He’s kinda like the MLB Hall of Fame voter who votes for Shawn Green because he “did a lot for the Jewish community”. I’m sure this year will be no different.

I will post his team and we can all discuss … also, the hoops brigade rolls on. I covered my first Flintridge Sacred Heart home game last nite. Unbelievable campus … I just didn’t know it was located in Mammoth. (Men’s restroom was immaculate).

By the way, first thing I’m gonna do when I get my Hall of Fame vote is vote for Steve Bedrosian … for all he did for the Armenian community.

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