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. Canisius (MMA) - Survived an emotional night in South Buffalo on Thursday and then owned all four quarters against the former number one to win the league. Even as the Marauders have been ranked ahead of Canisius the last three weeks, there has been a strong sentiment from many that the Crusaders were the best team in WNY. They're back here right now, let's see where they finish.
2. St. Joe's (MMA) - Things were rolling along wonderfully for the Marauders until last week, when the wheels fell off. Moving them behind Canisius was easy after Saturday's game. But at first, I wasn't sure how to treat the surprising one-point loss to St. Francis, the team's only suspect loss of the year. I decided to keep Joe's here because of its wins this season, which include: Aquinas, Canisius, McKinley, Timon x 2, St. Mary's, OTC/MEC, Walsh, East, and Williamsville East.
3. Niagara Falls (AA) - They might have a great list of wins too, if they were allowed to schedule a great list of games.
4. McKinley (A1) - For the first time in their history, the Macks went undefeated in the city. McKinley is the Yale Cup champion for the first time since sharing the honor with City Honors in 2002. It's the first time ever they've staked a sole claim to the Cup.
5. Jamestown (AA) - Still giving them just the slightest of edges over Ken West for this spot. They may host an Orchard Park team on Friday that has come on as of late, winning four of its last five, which includes a triumph at Williamsville North to end the season.
6. Kenmore West (AA) - After playing their best season in years, the Blue Devils reward is a possible date with Sterling Taplin and the Spartans. Bailey vs. Taplin - that could be fun.
7. Riverside (A2) - Loss to McKinley dropped them to the second seed in A2, certainly not the side of the bracket they wanted to be on. It means a first round date with Mark Kensy and the Flyers, who no one likes playing this time of year, regardless of their record. Last season, the Frontiers escaped a thriller on Maryvale Drive in the quarterfinals.
8. Frontier (AA) - The Falcons ride a nine-game win streak into the postseason, the longest streak of any ECIC team in all four divisions.
9. Bishop Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - The Tigers losing streak against Canisius & Joe's extends to nine games after they dropped three of their last four to finish the regular season.
10. Hutch-Tech (A1) - The Engineers cling to this last spot after a less than spectacular finish to the regular season. We'll soon find out how they stack up against the competition from ECIC II, which would be their first two sectional games.
Small Schools
1. Olean (B1) - This young group has met all the expectations placed on them to this point. They're the only team left from WNY that hasn't lost to another team from WNY.
2. St. Mary's (MMA) - After doing the same thing to Walsh that was done to them, they traveled to Newfane on Friday and handed the Panthers their worst home loss in years.
3. OTC/MEC (C1) - Unbeaten winners of Yale Cup II are a huge favorite in all of Class C after a second convincing win against MST Seneca.
4. Archbishop Walsh (MMA) - I was more impressed than ever with Ryan Whelpley in the Eagles' loss at St. Mary's. A tough task lies ahead with a long trip for an early tip at Canisius, where they'll face Timon on Saturday.
5. Dunkirk (B1) - The season is about to get a whole lot tougher for these Marauders, who haven't won a game by less than 15 points this season.
6. Tonawanda (B1) - After a second straight ECIC IV title, the Warriors are looking to take the next step this year and win a game at Buffalo State.
7. Silver Creek (C2) - The top seed in Class C2 likes to put points on the board. They've been held under 70 points just twice in their last nine games.
8. MST Seneca (C2) - The Indians likely await a visit from Randolph on Friday, who defeated Maple Grove at the start of the season and are the only team to defeat Silver Creek this year.
9. East (B1) - If they beat the winner of Eden/Springville, they'll return to Newfane where they last played (and won) in the 2006 quarterfinals.
10. Cleveland Hill (B2) - Closed the season with eight consecutive wins and an ECIC IV title.
-centercourt
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