Miramonte League prediction: Uncharted territory
With Miramonte League play beginning Friday, here's how I think it will turn out:
Charter Oak: 3-1
Diamond Ranch: 3-1
Bonita: 3-1
H.H. Los Altos: 1-3
H.H.Wilson: 0-4
Defending CIF and Miramonte League champion Charter Oak not only has all the hardware but its current 5-1 record is a stark contrast to Diamond Ranch and Bonita's 1-5 and 1-4 respective marks. This league's title appears a forgone conclusion, right?
Wrong... Charter Oak is not the juggernaut it was a season ago. Both Diamond Ranch and Bonita played better nonleague schedules. While DR and Bonita were dropping winnable games to Glendora, Chino Hills, Claremont, and San Diego Westview, Charter Oak was eeking out a 3-point victory over an unproven Damien team and putting together a miraculous comeback win over Etiwanda. But the biggest difference was the two gimmies on the defending champ's slate - Bonita and DR didn't have those luxuries.
Give Charter Oak plenty of credit for their spot atop the standings, it was hard earned; what I can't help but wonder is: can the Chargers can stay hungry? The defending champ's games have gotten progressively tighter - and it doesn't get any closer than 27-26 last week, their second 1-point win in 2009. Meanwhile, how hungry is a Diamond Ranch team that lost twice to Charter Oak last season, including once in the CIF title game? I'd venture to say ravenous.
Bonita's nonleague schedule didn't have the name recognition of Charter Oak's or Diamond Ranch's, but its opponents are a combined 19-6. When it's all said and done, Charter Oak may have beaten a league champion-caliber Damien team. It may have beaten a CIF-champion caliber Etiwanda team and lost only to a Rancho Cucamonga squad that's already won a CIF title.
But... heavy lies the crown
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