As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools. The polls are based on the games played through Sunday of each week. Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.
Large Schools
1. Niagara Falls (AA) - After a close encounter with Kenmore West, Falls got back down to business at the expense of Niagara Wheatfield and Notrh Tonawanda.
2. Jamestown (AA) - Like Falls, the Red Raiders had a close call in league action when visiting Lancaster came within four points. The next game, Jamestown wins by 39 at Orchard Park.
3. Williamsville South (A1) - Phil Stasiak broke the school scoring record, Joe Licata broke the Section VI record for 3-pointers, and the Billies broke their losing streak to Williamsville North. I'd say they enjoyed their holiday break.
4. Canisius (MMAA) - Since the last poll, the Crusaders are 2-2 against some stiff competition from out of town, but had no trouble in three lopsided wins against Sweet Home, St. Francis, and Cardinal O'Hara.
5. Williamsville North (AA) - So far, the Spartans are 4-0 in ECIC I and their only loss was at Williamsville South.
6. Riverside (A2) - After surviving overtime at Hutch Tech on Friday, the Frontiers are now 5-1. Deon Artis and company host a big game this Thursday against McKinley.
7. East (A2) - The Panthers face their first test against a WNY large school tomorrow when they travel to McKinley. The only common opponent the two teams have is South Park. East beat them by 51, McKinley by 48.
8. St. Joe's (MMAA) - Marauders are 4-0 against WNY teams since the last poll, including wins against top small schools I-Prep Grover and St. Mary's.
9. McKinley (AA) - Here's a quick piece of trivia for you: The Macks are the only team in WNY that is undefeated in November, December, and January. Not bad for a team that has only played four games. If they're still unbeaten after this week, they'll soar up in the rankings. Tuesday the Macks host East and Thursday they visit Riverside.
10. Bishop Timon-St. Jude (MMAA) - The Tigers closest game of the season so far was...anyone?...an 11-point win at Nichols. In the next ten days, we'll find out a lot more about them. The Tigers visit Williamsville East, host St. Joe's, and make a trip to Batavia next Thursday.
Small Schools
1. I-Prep at Grover (C) - I haven't seen anything yet this season to make me think there's a better small school in WNY.
2. St. Mary's (MMAA) - No other small school has a resume of wins that is more impressive: Clarence, Newfane, Hutch Tech, Depew, Alden, and City Honors.
3. Newfane (B1) - Knocked off Wilson who was ranked third at the time, and took St. Mary's to overtime in Lancaster.
4. Maple Grove (C) - Here's where doing the poll this week got really fun for me. The Red Dragons move up to this spot because they are defending state champs, whose only loss is to Batavia. They beat Olean by seven and Southwestern by ten. Three straight trips to Glens Falls earns them enough poll credibility to box out...
5. Dunkirk (B1) - the surprise Marauders, who are a perfect 6-0. Like the Red Dragons, they too have beaten Olean by 16 and Southwestern by two. They also dropped Westfield by 26 points, who Maple Grove plays tomorrow.
6. Tapestry Charter (C) - Kept the Thunderhawks in the same spot while I wait to see them play this week. A win at Grover would certainly grab the attention of the pollsters.
7. Wilson (B2) - The Lakemen's lone quality win against St. Mary's has been overshadowed by the way they lost their last two...fading down the stretch. Lew-Port scored the final eight points to win a game Wilson led most of and Newfane scored 18 unanswered late in that game.
8. OTC Middle College (C) - With only one good win (by three over Hutch Tech), losing by ten to an Olean team that has been beaten by Dunkirk, Maple Grove, and Fredonia drops them down significantly on my ballot.
9. Panama (D) - The Panthers are 7-1 in WNY and beat Cassadaga Valley...who beat Salamanca...who beat Portville. Panama's only loss was a close defeat at the hands of Clymer, who then lost to Cassadaga Valley by 13. I considered Cassadaga Valley for this spot, but its lone loss was at home to these Panthers, so Panama got the nod.
10. Tonawanda (B1) - This final spot was going to one of the ECIC IV teams. Lackawanna beat Tonawanda, but lost to Alden in OT and to JFK by 23. Tonawanda beat JFK and Alden by 20 points each, and clipped JFK in OT. So despite their most recent loss to the Steelers, the Warriors seemed most deserving of a poll spot from ECIC IV.
-centercourt
Nice to see some Southern Tier love from the pollsters finally. It still bothers me that everyone ranks Newfane ahead of Dunkirk. Correct me if I am wrong but Dunkirk beat Newfane during sectional play and both teams have relatively the same starting lineups back this year.
Posted by: SouTier | Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Having seen them play up close and personal, let me say that Dunkirk is a legit threat to win Class B this year. They have two studs in Vinny Bomasuto and Kevin Holmes and have some great role players. That's a program that's heading in the right direction.
Posted by: Andrew Webster | Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 12:00 AM