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.
Large Schools
1. St. Joe's (MMA) - Their place atop the large school poll again this week, makes the Marauders the first team this season to hold down that spot for three consecutive weeks. They are also the only unanimous number one this year, which they've been in all three weeks.
2. Canisius (MMA) - Picked up its best win of the season at Bishop Kearney this weekend. A huge week lies ahead for the Crusaders with games against both Timon and St. Joe's. Win them both and Canisius is co-champion of the MMA for a second straight season.
3. Niagara Falls (AA) - Since losing to Kenmore West, the Wolverines have won their last four games by an average of 30 points.
4. McKinley (A1) - The Macks can end a long Yale Cup drought tonight, and clinch the league's trophy with a win at Lafayette. They could add unbeaten to the title Yale Cup champs by beating Riverside on Thursday.
5. Jamestown (AA) - After nearly falling to Williamsville North, they suffer their first league loss of the season to Frontier. The Red Raiders will need to get their swagger back in a hurry with one game left before sectionals. After scoring over 70 in 10 of its first 14 games, Jamestown's last three games yielded 52, 66, & 51 points.
6. Kenmore West (AA) - The ability to repeat what has defined this season for the Blue Devils may determine how far they can advance this year. As of now, West appears on track for a third meeting with Niagara Falls on the big stage at Buffalo State.
7. Riverside (A2) - Put a complete game together in it win against Hutch-Tech and have seen Feggans get loose a couple times recently. A win against McKinley on Thursday would set a great tone heading into sectionals.
8. Frontier (AA) - Huge win over Jamestown on Thursday has to get the attention of the others in AA. They also swept Williamsville North, the only other team to threaten the Red Raiders this year. Winners of six straight and haven't lost since its trip to Jamestown.
9. Bishop Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - For two consecutive seasons, the Tigers have built their resume for the poll on good loses. Losing to St. Mary's at home on the heels of this year's three-game skid (eight overall) to Joe's/Canisius has me looking to reward the teams I placed above them, all with wins against another top ten large school this season. The Tigers are just one of two teams that have occupied a place in the poll this season without a win against a ranked team. The other is...
10. Hutch-Tech (A1) - the Engineers, who after looking great in a win against East, regressed big time against Riverside. Then, Tech fell to Bennett in the same week.
Small Schools
1. Olean (B1) - Anxious for the sectionals to begin and so are the fans up north who have yet to see these Huskies.
2. Archbishop Walsh (MMA) - I doubt they'll be bringing a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates to Lancaster tonight for the date with St. Mary's.
3. OTC/MEC (C1) - Was a little surprised to see that Emerson hung around with the Kats, but outside of the East Aurora loss, they've responded well to every challenge before them. Also looking for the title of unbeaten attached to Yale Cup (II) champs, and will need to beat MST Seneca again to earn it.
4. St. Mary's (MMA) - We should see the most motivated Lancers team of the season tonight, looking to avenge a bad loss and restore their place above Walsh in the MMA seedings.
5. Dunkirk (B1) - Scored 104 points in a 59-point win against Lake Shore last week. Lake Shore then went on to beat Iroquois, who just won at Williamsville East.
6. Tonawanda (B1) - The Warriors first loss dropped them a good amount on this ballot. The wins over NT, Clev Hill, and EA, coupled with being undefeated was only outdone by Olean.
7. Silver Creek (C2) - The champs of CCAA II are just one of several teams that could make its bracket the most exciting in sectionals this year.
8. MST Seneca (C2) - Completed a sweep of I-Prep this year in what were two of the most thrilling games I watched this year.
9. East (B1) - Played its best game of the season in a loss to McKinley last week.
10 Cleveland Hill (B2) - Replaced the Lakemen as the only representative from the B2 bracket after a big win over previously unbeaten Tonawanda.
-centercourt
The large school poll may be the most logical I have seen in many years. There is really no legit aregument for those 10 teams to be higher or lower. KW/Falls and Frontier/Jtown split, but KW's and Frontier's wins were far closer than their losses. The top half of the NFL is stronger than the top half of ECIC I, so Falls and KW are higher than Jtown and Frontier. The city teams are accurately spaced and Timon just hasn't won lately.
Seneca really came to play last night and put a hurt on Emerson...Frasier is playing very well in an all around sense...defense, distribution and early in the second half brought the ball up the court and hit two long, straight on threes for an exclamation point. To further CC's point, he is certainly the most consistent and level-headed player in the Yale Cup...never gets too high or low and usually makes the right decisions on the floor. He can shoot, drive, defend, rebound, distribute...doesn't do anything absolutely great but everything well to very well.
Posted by: TML1000 | Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:44 PM
Even if it means nothing to them in the standings, Timon desperately needs a win over Canisius on their home floor on Senior night in their season finale on Thursday.
They are 0-8 vs Joes and Canisius the last 2 years and in almost all of those games, led for a portion or the majority of the contests. Before they can get physically over the hump for 32+ minutes, they need to get there mentally.
DiMilo Gibbs continues to be slowed down with injuries. He was less than 100% last week with a chest injury and now sat out tonight (Tuesday) win over St Francis with a sprained ankle. He's expected to play on Thursday.
if you didn't already know, Timon has a pregame ceremony planned to honor coach Jim Palano, who will coach in his final home game after being with the team for 39 years. If you had plans to attend the game I'd highly encourage you getting there early. I guess a lot of Palano's former players have been invited back and will be there.
It's also their Senior Night
Posted by: Patrick Moran | Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:14 AM