NO TIME FOR A BREATHER: It’s time for the stretch run as the last of the area teams begin league play this week.
Staff photo By Sarah Reingewirtz
Keith Lair and I will go head-to-head in the Star-News Pick’em. Here is this week’s predictions along with how we did last week.

Last Week: Ramirez (8-6); Lair (8-6)
Season: Ramirez (66-31); Lair (66-31)

Last week: It felt a lot like upset Friday last week and our record showed, each going 8-6.
This Week: The last of the area leagues begin league play this week, with some interesting matchups, The top three figure to be St. Francis, still smarting from their loss to Monrovia, at undefeated Cathedral; South Pasadena, which went 4-1 in nonleague play, opening the Rio Hondo league against five-time champ Monrovia, and Pasadena, which lost a close one to Crescenta Valley, hosting Burbank, which begins the week tied with Muir for first in the Pacific League. I like the Knights, Cats and Bulldogs.

This week’s schedule and predictions:
Note: Keith Lair will provide his picks later
THURSDAY
Bishop Montgomery vs. Bosco Tech at Gabrielino, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (Bishop Monty); Lair (Bishop Monty)
FRIDAY
St. Francis at Cathedral, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (SFrancis); Lair (SFrancis)
Monrovia at South Pasadena, 7 pm. — Ramirez (Monrovia); Lair (Monrovia)
Burbank at Pasadena, 7 p.m. — Ramirez (Pasadena); Lair (Burbank)
Muir at Glendale, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (Muir); Lair (Muir)
Hoover at Arcadia, 7 p.m. — Ramirez (Arcadia); Lair (Arcadia)
Verbum Dei at La Salle, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (La Salle); Lair (La Salle)
San Marino at La Canada, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (SMarino); Lair (SMarino)
South El Monte at Rosemead, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (Rsmd); Lair (Rsmd)
Gabrielino at Mountain View, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (Gabrielino); Lair (Gabrielino)
Duarte vs. Workman at La Puente HS, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (Duarte); Lair (Duarte)
San Gabriel at Schurr, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (SGabe); Lair (SGabe)
Alhambra at Bell Gardens, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (BG); Lair (BG)
Montebello at Keppel, 7 p.m. – Ramirez (Montebello) Lair (Montebello)
Heritage Christian at Maranatha, 7 p.m. — Ramirez (HC); Lair (HC)
Webb at Rio Hondo Prep, 7 p.m. — Ramirez (RHP); Lair (RHP)
Blair at Temple City, 7 p.m. — Ramirez (TC); Lair (TC)
SATURDAY
Marshall at Brentwood, 3 p.m. — Ramirez (Brentwood); Lair (Brentwood)
Chadwick vs. Flintridge Prep at La Canada HS, 7 p.m. — Ramirez (Chad); Lair (Chad)