SPORTS NOTEBOOK:
GLENDALE — The following are odds and ends from the local sports scene.
TWO AREA TEAMS EARN PRESEASON RANKINGS
With the spring season scheduled to begin next week, just two local high school squads find themselves receiving top-10 notice going in.
The Crescenta Valley High softball and Flintridge Prep boys’ volleyball teams were ranked in their respective division, as the CIF offices released top-10 rankings on Tuesday for baseball, softball and boys’ volleyball.
After an astounding one-loss season in 2008, Crescenta Valley is ranked second in Division III behind Glendora. The Falcons advanced to the semifinals last season after winning the Pacific League championship and return a slew of gifted starters including reigning All-CIF Division III co-Player of the Year Baillie Kirker, All-CIF center fielder Stephanie Ziemann and the All-Area pitching tandem of Heather Bacon and Kali Cancelosi.
Flintridge Prep is ranked No. 7 in Division V behind Salesian, Chadwick, Brethren Christian, Sage Hill, Laguna Beach and St. Margeret’s. The Rebels advanced to the quarterfinals last season before falling to Salesian.
The Rebels begin their season March 3 at Oakwood, while the Falcons start play on March 7 at the Duarte Tournament.
MONROE FINISHES VAQUERO TENURE IN STYLE
The Glendale Community College men’s basketball team saw its season conclude Saturday with a 107-99 loss to host College of the Canyons in Western State Conference Southern Division contest.
While they didn’t qualify for the Southern California Regionals for a second consecutive season, the Vaqueros did have one large bright spot in sophomore guard Markus Monroe. Monroe closed out his stay at Glendale college (12-17, 5-7 in the division) with a 28-point performance against Canyons.
He averaged 22.2 points per game this season, placing him second in the state among guards. Freshman Sam Yeager of Modesto College ranks first among guards in the state in scoring average at 24 points per game.
Monroe, who was named to the Western State Conference first team for the second straight season, scored 644 points this season. He made 188 of 451 field-goal attempts (42%), including 49 three-pointers.
Monroe made 219 of 288 free-throw attempts (76%) and averaged 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 3.7 assists per game. He finished with 178 rebounds, 108 assists and 16 blocks.
“He’s one of the more spontaneous players that I’ve ever coached,” Glendale college Coach Brian Beauchemin said. “He’s got that feel for the game that’s missing from a lot of today’s players.
“He knows where everybody is supposed to be on the court at any given time.”
REAFFIRMING AND REBUKING LEAGUE STATUS
Perception of the Mission League as it relates to CIF Southern Section Division II girls’ soccer is that the league, in which Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy claimed the title, is the toughest in the division.
In contrast, the Pacific League is looked at as one of the worst leagues.
After wild-card play and the first round, it’s clear that the Mission League, which saw Sacred Heart, Chaminade and Harvard-Westlake ranked among the division’s top three all season, can continue stating that claim. But the Pacific League seems to be forcing people to take notice, as well.
Thus far, including Sacred Heart’s 2-0 win over Beckman on Thursday, the Mission League has gone 5-0, with Sherman Oaks Notre Dame owning a wild-card win and an impressive upset of No. 4 seed St. Lucy’s.
The Pacific League, which finished the season with just one team ranked — Crescenta Valley at No. 8 — went 4-1, with Burroughs winning a wild-card game.
Burroughs’ 8-0 loss to former Foothill League counterpart Canyon Country Canyon was the only first-round blemish, albeit a prominent one. Still, Crescenta Valley defeated Chino, 5-0, while Burbank and Arcadia upset respective league champions, Walnut and Valencia Valencia.