Basketball: For the first time in at least four years, there’s a new No. 1 boys team in the Star-News area.

For the first time in at least four years, Pasadena is not the No. 1 team in the Star-News area. The honor belongs to rival Muir (19-1, 8-0) after the Mustangs dethroned Pasadena (14-6, 7-1) last week in the much-anticipated game that definitely lived up to its hype. The teams will meet again Feb. 9 in the season finale at Muir, but for now, the No. 1 spot will belong to Muir. Ever since I came to work here four years ago, Pasadena from the very beginning and through the entire season — from the preseason rankings to the final top 10 rankings — the Bulldogs were always the No. 1 team. It didn’t matter if Pasadena had a sub .500 record in nonleague or what result ensued in the Pacific League because at the end of the day the Bulldogs without question had the best talent in the area and could play with anyone in the area. That’s why you rarely, if ever, saw Pasadena schedule area teams in the area for nonleague competition. You always saw them play out of the area, and for good reason: No team was on par with the Bulldogs. That’s not the case anymore. Muir has risen from the ashes, drumming some noise last year and finally showing us what they’re really made of this season. I saw Muir on Monday, and to watch the Mustangs on defense was like watching an artist paint a masterpiece with every brush stroke. Check back later today for the Burbank-Muir result. For now, here’s the rest of the top 10 rankings for boys and girls basketball:

STAR-NEWS BOYS TOP 10 RANKINGS
1. Muir (19-1)
Special team in the making
2. Pasadena (14-6)
Loss to Muir left side effects
3. Renaissance Acad. (17-2)
Handedly beat Cantwell SH
4. Maranatha (15-5)
Showed heart vs. Village Chr.
5. La Salle (12-9)
Blown out by Serra, 70-29
6. La Caada (12-7)
Spartans back on track
7. Flintridge Prep (11-7)
Rivalry vs. Poly loses luster
8. San Marino (12-8)
Tough 47-45 loss to Blair
9. South Pasadena (11-10)
Win vs. Spartans no fluke
10. Blair (9-9)
Keeping games too close

STAR-NEWS GIRLS TOP 10 RANKINGS
1. Keppel (17-3)
Beat Bishop Montgomery by 1
2. Muir (19-3)
Forfeit keeps Mustangs 8-0
3. Duarte (13-1)
12-game winning streak
4. Pasadena Poly (15-4)
Miller closes in on No. 2 scorer
5. La Salle (13-6)
Kopcha scored 30 vs. CSH
6. South Pasadena (15-6)
Big game vs. Monrovia Friday
7. Monrovia (7-5)
Four consecutive wins
8. Rosemead (13-7)
Gauthier carrying load
9. Pasadena (11-9)
Showed can play big
10. Arcadia (11-7)
Three consecutive defeats

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