Poll Ballots - Week 5 - 2014

 

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) - They beat Olean, St. Joe's, & McKinley by a combined 67 points.  The Crusaders closest game against an opponent was a 12-point win at Park.

2. St. Joe's (MMA) - Wins over McKinley, Timon, Middle College, and Lockport give the Marauders the second best resume for WNY large schools.

3. McKinley (A1) - The Macks character showed as they gutted out a second half comeback at East to keep their Yale Cup win streak going.  This year's cast has done a great job after stepping into some huge shoes.

4. Timon/St. Jude (MMA) - The Tigers' game against Park on Tuesday should be highly entertaining for the fans and also give us an idea of where they're at after a big loss at Aquinas last week, followed by a big win over Hutch-Tech.

5. Williamsville North (AA) - If the Spartans continue to play the way they did Friday at Clarence, they'll continue to be the highest ranked team in WNY's Class AA.  

6. Jamestown (AA) - The Red Raiders only game against a ranked team from WNY this season was their loss at North.  They'll get a pair of chances this week with a home & home against Clarence.

7. Clarence (AA) - After occupying the second spot on my ballot for two straight weeks, the Red Devils drop five spots after a 17-point home loss to Williamsville North.  

8. Amherst (A2) - A home loss early in the season to Clarence could mean #8 is the Tigers' poll ceiling on my ballot until they face a top 10 caliber team in the postseason.  

9. Kenmore West (AA) - Blue Devils are in the driver's seat in the NFL as they enter their biggest week of the regular season with upcoming games against North Tonawanda and Lockport.

10. Lockport (AA) - The Lions slip into this spot heading towards a huge league game against the Blue Devils on Friday night.

 

Small Schools

1. East (B2) - The Panthers own a much more convincing win over Timon on a neutral court than Olean earned against them at home.  Without Tyree Tyson, East won at Aquinas by 13 --- the same place the Huskies fell a week later.  On Saturday, they took Sweet Home apart at the seams.  For those reasons, East remains here despite a close home loss to McKinley.

2. Olean (B1) - The Huskies return to Lancaster on Tuesday night to face St. Mary's.  The last time they played them was when four of their starters were sophomores, and they beat a Manhattan Cup finalist Lancer team by eight points.

3. St. Mary's (MMA) - The Lancers are winners of six straight games, including Monday's win at Nichols.  Tuesday they host Olean, before visiting Cleveland Hill on Thursday and Iroquois on Friday.

4. Park (MMA) - Wins over St. Joe's, Nichols, Silver Creek, Iroquois, Health Sciences, St. Francis, and University Prep, among others.  Only lost to Canisius by 12.  The top four teams are this ballot seem pretty clear to me.

5. Middle College (C1) - The Kats 24-point win against Cheektowaga on Friday actually dropped their average margin of victory to 32.4 points per game.

6. Nichols (MMA) - After consecutive losses to Timon, Park, and St. Mary's, the Vikings will look to rebound against Tapestry & Walsh, before visiting the Crusaders on Saturday.

7. Fredonia (B1) - After picking up their signature win of the season against Silver Creek, the Hillbillies almost got tripped up in a two-point win at Maple Grove.

8. Silver Creek (C1) - The Black Knights need a win at Maple Grove on Friday to keep pace with the Hillbillies until their CCAA I West rematch.

9. Sherman (D) - The Wildcats made a rare appearance in Buffalo over the weekend and won their second game this season against Olmsted of Yale Cup II.

10. Barker (C1) - Played their closest league game of the season last week - a 13-point victory over Albion.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

Comments

[fullcourt1]

EAST lost in ROCHESTER last night to an athletic but struggling FRANKLIN team. What a year...

[MK]

Actually the last time Olean played at St. AMry's was in the Adpro challenge last year against canisius

[Elias Sports Bureau]

Olean beat St. Mary's 84-78 in 2011-12

[centercourt]

74-66

[Hillbilly Jim]

Fredonia should be ranked higher. I would at least have them ahead of Park.

[From the North]

CC what teams are still undefeated now that we are at the half way point of the season? Section sixes web site is pretty good but I see some schools still are not updating it will it ever become mandatory?

[TML1000]

The only two local schools(Sect VI or MMA) that are undefeated are Barker and Sherman.

[The Wolf]

Canisius is clearly #1 in large schools, but can we make another poll, because they are in another class right now. They destroyed Joes and Mckinley, and handled Olean with ease.

I posed this question to CC and Mr. McShea....

Is this current CHS squad better than last years team?

CC said yes, McShea said no

[swish]

i think east lost they edge.

[Neil Lewis]

East hasn't lost there edge they had a 12 point lead at the half against Mckinley they gave that game away in second half they came out thinking that they had already won it will be much different next go around .. And the last 3 games johnathon Lewis has be battling a bad ankle and lost one of his big toe nail ... But east always play better late in the year anyway so east fans are not worried ... And Tyson hasn't played since aquinas he played 1 min in the McKinley game i mean east only lost 2games what other team in the town didn't ???? But i think this is what the east boys needed they always play better when people start to count them out

[buffbball]

Last years Canisius team is better... The level of play in area is down this year..This trend has been going on for years now. Its what makes it so interesting, all these teams can beat other teams on a given day ...except Canisius is better , but they are not as good as last year...Level of play across WNY is down across the bored IMO.

[Artemus Gordon]

Buffbball...I agree with your observation that the level of play has been trending down for years now. I couldn't believe some of the teams last year that made sectionals. Size and skills seem to be lacking. Going to several of the games for different teams this year I see guys dominating that wouldn't have done so 3-4 years ago. Hopefully it trends up. Maybe startign more programs in the elementary school. Other sports may be sucking up the good players too. Regardless, the game of basketball is GREAT!!!

[Game]

Barker has sure picked a bad year to be GOOD!!!....I mean it in a good way i would like to see them playing some more teams like they are going to see in the post season because they have a good squad pounding the hardwood and rocking the rim. The N-O league has got me watching alot of my nieces Girls JV games as they are both 7th graders and show alot of heart and Hustle and ball movement.After the JV game I was heading over to the Jake Haight show and the weather turned me back. Keep that name fresh in your heads peeps...well dont matter you'll hear it enough just wish they had stronger company but they do alot of good things icluding spreading the ball around...moving it well and taking advantage of mismatches.Im glad to see some great things coming from Quaker Rd.. Lil GAME is only in 2nd grade but is already started skills camps and the YMCA program and @ 4'6" and two all league brothers Were aiming to be back CC with a vengence!!! Looking forward to some games been kind of locked down with this cold weather and bad back dont work...have fun all.