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 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.
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
Large Schools
1. Niagara Falls (AA) - The thing I like most about this year's version of Falls is its balance. There seems to be a different player of the game everytime I watch them.
2. Jamestown (AA) - The Red Raiders only loss in WNY was against Falls. There are a few big ones coming up in the next two weeks, beginning Friday at Lancaster.
3. Williamsville South (A1) - The Billies had other players step up when Stasiak and Licata were quieter than usual at Williamsville East.
4. St. Joe's (MMAA) - Unbeaten in the MMAA after round one with road wins at Timon and Canisius. After nine straight wins, the Marauders are starting to look like the team I envisioned them to be when I had them as a preseason number one.
5. Canisius (MMAA) - I'm only sliding the Crusaders down one spot because I think the loss to Joe's was more about how well the Marauders played than Canisius looking bad. I also still think they're better than the teams I have ranked below them.
6. McKinley (AA) - Tied with East for first in the Yale Cup with a win in the head-to-head meeting.
7. East (A2) - Not getting a lot of respect for a team tied for first place in the Yale Cup. I can tell you from watching them, they still display that trademark Panther defense.
8. Bennett (A1) - Beat McKinley and Riverside. Lost to East and Hutch Tech. The second half of the league schedule should answer some questions I have about the Tigers.
9. Riverside (A2) - They're a team with a lot of talent that is heading in the wrong direction. My opinion from watching them is that the players can blame themselves. If they all played for 32 minutes, kept their chins up when things got tough, and bought into what their coaching staff was selling, they'd be a lot better off. The Frontiers need someone on that team to step up and be a leader, not a problem.
10. Lancaster (AA) - The Redskins have showed flashes all season and their most recent victory against Williamsville North gets them my vote at this spot. To keep it, they'll have to show the results of their first meeting with Jamestown were no fluke.
Small Schools
1. I-Prep at Grover (C) - Played its best game of the season when it mattered most against OTC Middle College.
2. St. Mary's (MMAA) - I'm keeping the Lancers here because their resume still warrants it. It's easy to look bad against Canisius (ask I-Prep) or Timon (ask OTC Middle College or Walsh who lost to them by 53) and I'm not going to hold a 12-point win over Nichols against them when Timon & OTC beat them by less than that.
3. Maple Grove (C) - They keep sliding up because they keep crushing teams. My sources in the southern tier tell me that this group is a dangerous one and I can't find any reason to think otherwise.
4. Wilson (B2) - The Lakemen play with as much heart as any team in WNY. I'm still not sure how they lost to Lew-Port and I watched it happen. But the big win against Newfane suggests to me that they've learned from that loss and the one to the Panthers earlier this year.
5. Dunkirk (B1) - They will be the number one seed in the B1 bracket.
6. OTC Middle College (C) - The Kats really impressed me before suffering key injuries against St. Joe's and they brought the best out of Grover last Monday.
7. Newfane (B1) - The sting of the rivalry loss might be bad news for the teams facing these Panthers in the next few games.
8. Tapestry Charter (C) - They were "held" to 72 points once this season.
9. Panama (D) - I wonder if these guys take the court to Van Halen.
10. Tonawanda (B1) - Host JFK for first place in ECIC IV on Friday.
-centercourt
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