Monrovia’s No. 1, but is that the No. 1 spot?


Above:That’s right I said it.

There is a discussion on the Star-News blog about Monrovia being in the best shape to win its first championship after like, seven or eight finals trips. I’m sorry to say it, but they’re not getting to the finals.

Mid-Valley rankings 1. Monrovia, 2. San Dimas, 3. Azusa, 4. Baldwin Park, 5. Paraclete, 6. San Marino, 7. Village Christian, 8. Arroyo, 9. Gladstone, 10. La Puente.

Message to Monrovia: I post these rankings to show the championship is going to be San Dimas and Paraclete. Sorry MTown, Paraclete is a different animal and its a shame that because they lost to some very tough teams, they will probably get the No. 4 seed when the playoffs start, which means they will knock off No. 1 Monrovia in the semis. I’m guessing No. 2 San Dimas will beat Baldwin Park for the VVL title, knocking Baldwin Park behind Paraclete, and moving Paraclete to No. 4. There is no way Azusa is losing to anyone in the Montview, so they’re locked in at No. 3. Just as San Dimas and Northview found out last year, the rankings can work against you. Monrovia should play someone like Azusa in the semis, but with Paraclete looming at No. 4, I’m afraid they won’t get to stop San Dimas again, Paraclete will.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Robledo’s top ten sports movies of all-time

About a year back Stevie R., listed his best high school football movies of all-time, but how about the best darn sports movies, period. I left out Steve’s favorite, All the Right Moves, and also Eight Men Out, Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, but hey, this is my top ten. The comments aren’t all mine, they’re borrowed from film teaser’s and MoviePhone with an added twist from your host. Here ya go, Robledo’s top ten.

1. Rocky: The fist-pumping score, the charismatic turn by Sly Stallone, the glorious training montage, the pitch-perfect ending in which Rocky shows the champ what “showtime at the Apollo” really means … I remember leaving the movie theatre and shadow boxing all the way to our car. I went back the next day to see it again. For the rest of the top ten, click thread

Continue reading “Robledo’s top ten sports movies of all-time” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Bishop Amat: So far, so good, but Hagerty says the Lancers still have a long way to go

“You’re asking for measuring sticks and what this and that means to this point. I don’t see how you can measure something that isn’t finished.” — Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty on the Lancers’ 7-0 start, and what it means.

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
There’s more than just good old- fashioned tailgating and the fresh taste of kettle corn on Friday nights at Kiefer Stadium. The Valley’s proudest football tradition continues on its comeback trail, albeit with cautious optimism. With Bishop Amat 7-0 and off to its best start since beginning 9-0 in 1998, it’s a reminder of how far the Lancers have come under second-year coach Steve Hagerty, but also a reminder of how prestigious the Lancers’ program once was. To continue, click thread

Continue reading “Bishop Amat: So far, so good, but Hagerty says the Lancers still have a long way to go” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Super 32: No. 1 Bishop Amat Ready for the Serra Stretch run; Rowland defends No. 3 against W.C.


Above: Charter Oak’s A.J. Powell running in for a touchdown

Tribune Top Ten
1. Bishop Amat (7-0) – The best start since beginning 9-0 in 1998, a streak that was ended with a 7-7 tie against Loyola. Guess what, they get Loyola on Friday in the Serra opener. Keep it up boys, the Valley is watching.
2. Charter Oak (7-1) – With Bishop Amat playing so well, we almost forget the Chargers are on track to repeat as champions, a feat they have never accomplished in the long history of Big Lou.
3. Rowland (7-0) – If the Raiders can somehow defeat West Covina without Michael Ball, they should beat Nogales and go into the South Hills finale 9-0. I don’t think they can do it, but I didn’t think they would reach the Southeast Semi’s last year either.
4. South Hills (5-2) – The most improved team over the course of the season, which is no surprise considering Steve Bogan is in charge. He generally uses the preseason to play tough teams and tinker with lineups. Now in the stretch run, the Huskies are starting to fire on all cylinders.
5. San Dimas (6-1) – What can you say, the defense is still nails, leading the Valley by allowing an average of just under ten points a game. If they keep this up, a rematch with Monrovia in the playoffs would be mighty interesting.
6. Baldwin Park (6-1) — Beating Pomona 33-12 was impressive, and they should have no problem going through Northview and Ganesha next before getting San Dimas in the league finale.
7. West Covina (4-4) – The Bulldogs 33-11 win over Walnut should at least guarantee a playoff spot, and they can secure second with another win over Rowland on Friday.
8. Damien (2-5) – What’s a 2-5 team doing in the top ten? Well consider this: The Spartans are the only team in the Valley whose opponents all have a winning record, and four of them have just one loss or less. And yeah, their victories are over Claremont and Glendora.
9. Glendora (4-3) — The danger of losing running back Andre Holmes for an indefinite period could affect theTartans’ playoff hopes. If they don’t beat Chino Hills on the road Friday (and the probably won’t), they will have to beat Ayala in the league finale to get in.
10. Azusa (7-1) — The defending Montview league champions are the the first team in the Valley to qualify for the playoffs. If they get a good draw, they could reach the Mid-Valley Division semis.

The Middle 10
11. Walnut (5-2), 12. Arroyo (5-2), 13. Pomona (5-2), 14. La Puente (6-2), 15. Workman (5-2), 16. Bonita (2-4), 17. Los Altos (3-4), 18. Diamond Ranch (1-6), 19. Gladstone (5-2), 20. Rosemead (2-5).

On the bottom looking up
21. Covina (2-5), 22. Wilson (2-5), 23. Sierra Vista (3-4), 24. Nogales (2-5), 25. Bassett (3-4), 26. South El Monte (2-5), 27. Ganesha (1-6), 28. Northview (1-6), 29. Diamond Bar (0-7), 30. El Monte (0-7), 31. Mountain View (0-7), 32. Duarte (0-7)

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Girls Volleyball Top 10: St. Lucy’s sets the pace

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL TOP 10
1. St. Lucy’s (21-4)
2. South Hills (13-5)
3. Walnut (14-4)
4. Bonita (11-6)
5. Los Altos (13-4)
6. Glendora (7-3)
7. San Dimas (16-4)
8. Ganesha (17-4)
9. La Puente (12-10)
10. Gladstone (20-6)

Comments: St.Lucy’s is still is the barometer, winning two league matches by sweeps last week. South Hills takes advantage of Walnut’s win over Bonita and moves into No. 2, with the Mustangs claiming No. 3. Bonita grabs No. 4 by following up the loss to Walnut with a victory over Division 3-AA power Brentwood. Los Altos rounds out the top five after taking care of business. A few words about the rankings: I base my rankings how a particular team is doing that week. If a particular team is No. 4, they hold at least that position, unless, in my view, they have played their way out, either by losing or not playing up to expectations against a particular opponent. If a team is rated No. 3 one week, they meet expectations by winning, and the second-ranked team loses, the move up. It’s no different than what the Associated Press does with its rankings. AP moved Alabama up to No. 1 after Florida was sluggish the week before, then moved them back after Alabama almost lost the next week. No different here.

UPDATE: St. Lucy’s rallies to beat Glendora, 22-25, 25-16, 26-24, 29-27
Deanna Dalton and Alissa Young had 14 kills each to lead the Regents (23-3, 7-0), who rallied back from a 12-4 deficit to outlast the stubborn Tartans (7-4, 3-2), who received 19 kills from Valerie Brain.
Glendora led 12-4 in the third game and 17-10 in the fourth, but couldn’t hold off St. Lucy’s, which clinched the match on back-to-back kills by Jasmine Warmington and Brenda Moscoso. There was also a funny set of circumstances in the second game. Glendora won the first game, 25-22, and jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second when game officials noticed a line-up discrepancy in Glendora’s rotation. They ruled to restart the game. But this time St. Lucy’s jumped out to the early advantage, taking leads of 7-3 and 17-7 before winning, 25-16.
St. Lucy’s coach Sean Douglas: “This is a group where I can challenge them, and they like to rise to challenges. I don’t like playing matches like this, when they are crazy. But when push comes to shove, we push pretty hard, and I’m proud of them.”
Glendora coach Jennifer Barbone: “I had never seen that before. But I tell my girls all the time that you can’t make execuses, so that’s not an excuse. You have to play no matter what.”
Bontia def. Los Altos, 25-22, 25-15, 21-25, 25-21
Stats:
Allie LaPierre (B) 25 kills, Katie Kirby (B) 21 kills, Victoria Dennis (B) 10 kills.
Other Scores
Del Rey League

Bishop Amat def. St. Paul 12-25, 25-18, 20-25, 26-24, 15-12
Miramonte League
Diamond Ranch def. Charter Oak 24-26, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23.
Montview League
Bassett def. Sierra Vista 25-16, 19-25, 21-25, 25-16, 15-10.
Gladstone def. Workman 25-15, 25-21. 25-11.
San Antonio League
South Hills def. Nogales 25-6, 25-11, 25-9.
Walnut def. West Covina 25-16, 25-12, 25-6.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Now that releaguing is finished, what about playoff divisions? The Sierra to the Southeast?

I’m working on this for tomorrow, but I thought I would give you a sneak peak.

Charter Oak High School football coach Lou Farrar brought up a good point when asked about the results of last week’s releaguing, which puts Charter Oak and South Hills in the Sierra League for the releaguing cycle than runs from 2010-14.
The Chargers are leaving the Miramonte and the Huskies the San Antonio for the more powerful Sierra, which will include Damien, Claremont and Chino Hills.
Farrar was asked how the Chargers would not only compete in the Sierra, but how they would do in the Central Division, which includes the Baseline, San Andreas, Sunbelt and Mt. Baldy Leagues. “Are we still in that division?” Farrar asked. To continue, click thread

Continue reading “Now that releaguing is finished, what about playoff divisions? The Sierra to the Southeast?” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Thanks to releaguing, don’t expect Glendora-Damien in the near future; West Covina-South Hills still a possibility; Wilson-Los Altos a go

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
With releaguing for 2010-14 finalized last week, some of the area’s biggest rivalries are in jeopardy. For instance, with Glendora going to the Baseline League and Damien remaining in the Sierra League, Spartans coach Greg Gano and Tartans coach Mark Pasquarella agreed that it’s probably better not to schedule a nonleague game against each other, since both teams will still compete in the Central Division and could meet in the playoffs. “We’re not fond of meeting teams in our own division,” Pasquarella said. “It’s a game the school will miss, but not one that I will miss because of my ties to Damien (where he once coached). But I know the community would like us to play, so you never close the door on it. It’s still a possibility.”

Continue reading “Thanks to releaguing, don’t expect Glendora-Damien in the near future; West Covina-South Hills still a possibility; Wilson-Los Altos a go” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email