
Large Schools
1. St. Joe's (AA) - Cruised to victory in 3 outings last week, taking a pair from St. Mary’s, and dishing Health their third loss. More on why I’ve already moved them back to this spot, below, after losing at Canisius just over a week ago. The Marauders host Nichols on Tuesday, ahead of a Friday night Centercourt Classic showdown with Jamestown.
2. Niagara Falls (AAA) - Took down another Williamsville on Monday, this time the one from Paradise Road, before losing a pair of out of state games, including one to Kobe Bryant's former team. A couple good ones on tap for the Wolverines this week, beginning Monday night at Amherst, before wrapping up the week with another Centercourt Classic appearance, where they will take on former league rival Lockport.
3. Timon (AA) - The Tigers put on a display of dominance Saturday afternoon on Delaware Avenue. From the opening tip until the final horn sounded, Timon brought the fight to Canisius. They didn’t just arrive more prepared, they were hungrier. The two teams ahead of Timon own double digit victories over them, but they more than earned this placement ahead of Canisius. Thursday night Park pays them a visit and then Timon returns to the Centercourt Classic looking for a third straight victory there in three seasons when they face Starpoint.
4. Canisius (AA) - After a result like the one that occurred on Saturday goes down, my phone starts pinging with the same question… How do you handle the rankings now? Believe me, I sat at the table agonizing about that one as soon as the game ended before I even produced a final score post. After much deliberation and realization that you were going to have to look past results someplace, I went with the following logic...It took a 3-pointer with two seconds left at home against Joe’s and free throws with six seconds remaining against Niagara Falls at home to earn those victories. On the heels of them getting rolled at home by 24 points, this seemed like the most fair way to handle it, rather than move Niagara Falls or St. Joe’s behind a Timon squad they had both defeated by double figures.
All of the top 4 teams have now faced each other. Canisius played all 3 at home. St. Joe's played all 3 on the road. Falls was home twice, Timon on the road twice. Here are the combined point differentials for each team against the other three:
St. Joe's +21, Timon +3, Falls +1, Canisius -21
5. Jamestown (AAA) - A week that saw Jamestown collect 3 more victories, 2 of them scoring over 90 points, and the 3rd taking the season sweep over the team from their league in 2nd place, Orchard Park. The Red & Green have a couple more league games coming up this week before, a great Friday night match up on Kenmore Avenue against St. Joe’s in the Centercourt Classic.
6. Grand Island (A1) - Improved to 12-0 on the season and earned a nice win over North Tonawanda along the way. They’ll face a tough test this week when they visit Kenmore West.
7. Lockport (AA1) - The Lions finally returned to action on Friday night & delivered a solid victory over Amherst, getting a great offer out of Maurice Woods, who was a beast clearing the glass all evening, along with the return of Mike Griffin, who calmly knocked down 4 important 3-pointers in the victory. The Lions have a fun game coming up on Saturday afternoon in the Centercourt Classic against a Niagara Falls team they know all too well.
8. Health Sciences (AA2) - Bounced back with a big victory over South Park on Saturday, after losing handily at the hands of the Marauders on Monday night - before walking out into a snow band that set everyone’s night into a tailspin. The Falcons have more appearances than any team in Centercourt Classic history, so you can count on seeing them again this year when they face Canisius on Saturday night at St. Joe’s.
9. Amherst (A1) - Lost for just the 2nd time this season against a tough Lockport team, heading into a week with a couple tough challenges facing the Tigers. Monday night, Niagara Falls comes in, a rematch of a game won by Amherst last season. Then on Thursday night comes the rematch against rival Williamsville South, the battle of Main Street.
10. Williamsville South (A1) - Speaking of the battle, the Billies get to host this round on Thursday after taking on Sweet Home prior. Also a tough week for South with those two games and then an afternoon clash with the MMA's Nichols in what projects to be one of the best games of the entire Centercourt Classic.
Small Schools
1. Randolph (C) - The Cardinals took on the team from their league that was in second place, Gowanda, and what do you know… another walloping. Time for a big test, one that I’m sure Randolph will be more than ready for, when they face Westfield on Saturday night in the Centercourt Classic, coming off of a game at Silver Creek the night before.
2. Westfield (C) - Did I mention that Saturday night‘s clash is not just a battle of the top two small schools locally, it’s also the top two teams in NYS Class C. Lucky me, and lucky WNY to get a preview of this tilt on Kenmore Avenue. Westfield will first have to pass a big test against Panama in a rematch on Thursday night. The Wolverines took round one in Panama by double figures.
3. Salamanca (B2) - Just one loss this season for the Warriors after earning another victory on Thursday night against Southwestern. Time for a visit from myself, which I am looking very forward to on Tuesday night when the team hosts Olean. They close the week with a return to Fredonia on Friday night and a game against East Aurora at the Reilly Center on Saturday.
4. Panama (D) - The Panthers registered an impressive result in a win over Falconer, but became the latest victim of Randolph the following night. Panama did take to the road for that one and proved to be the toughest opponent Randolph has seen locally this year and they were in the game all the way. This week comes the important rematch with Westfield on Thursday night with a chance to pull even in league play.
5. Olmsted (B1) - The Owls were off last week, but return to action against Bennett on Tuesday, before hosting MST in a rematch of a thrilling victory from earlier this season. Olmsted is 8-1 on the year and sits atop of the standings in both their league and their sectional bracket.
6. Akron (B1) - The Tigers put it all together on Friday night, knocking off a tough Wilson team by 24 points. With just one loss on the season, the Tigers approached a tough stretch of their schedule that will provide some good experience for an upcoming postseason run, beginning with a game at Medina on Tuesday and then a super fun game against St. Francis on Friday in the Centercourt Classic.
7. Eden (B2) - Hail to the Raiders, long overdue in these rankings this season after compiling a 9-1 record. They get a chance to avenge their only loss of the season against Global Concepts this week, and then a rematch with Tapestry, who they defeated earlier this year by 25 points.
8. Allegany-Limestone (B2) - The Gators will look to get back into the win column against Southwestern on Tuesday, and then visit Fredonia & Dunkirk to finish off the week.
9. MST (B2) - I feel like everyone is snoozing on these guys, but I remain convinced that they deserve a place in the rankings and get an opportunity to turn some heads on Thursday night in the rematch with Olmsted. The Wolves are 8-4 on the year.
10. Fredonia (B1) - The Billies are 7-6 on the year, but reclaim this last spot in the rankings on the strength of a big win over Falconer, the 2nd time they’ve done it this year. A tough week coming up with a trip to Lake Shore and then home games against the Gators & Salamanca.
-🏀centercourt🏀
Recent Comments