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 News' poll starts next week, but just like last week, I'm much too eager to compare the teams . Here's a look at how I would have voted this week and some of the rationale used to get there.
Large Schools
1. Canisius (MMA) - The early season results make the Crusaders a clear number one right now. Wins over MacNab of Ontario (ranked #17 in Canada), Bishop Kearney (#4 in NYS Class AA), and Jamestown (#10 in NYS Class AA) is an early season resume that speaks volumes.
2. Jamestown (AA) - Stood toe-to-toe with the Crusaders in the AdPro Challenge (within six with under two minutes remaining), with only a game against West Seneca West under their belt. Over the same weekend last season, Jamestown lost at home by 20 to Greece Athena, then knocked them out of the state playoffs two months later. The Red Raiders should only get better.
3. Nichols (MMA) - Sophomore Will Johnson drilled four 3-pointers and Tanner Schmit added a thunderous alley-oop flush during an explosive third quarter for the Vikings in a win over Silver Creek on Friday night at the AdPro Challenge. If Nichols starts playing every quarter like that one, they'll become WNY's team to beat.
4. McKinley (A1) - A pair of 20-point wins for the Macks as they opened league play this week, and a couple more double-doubles for Devin Morris.
5. Amherst (A2) - In the series I promised would be epic, the Tigers triumphed over host Cheektowaga thanks to the late-game heroics of TC Brown who raced to the bank as the final seconds ticked down to cash in on an Amherst victory.
6. Williamsville South (A1) - The Billies are off to a 4-0 start and are playing an exciting brand of basketball. We're going to get a lot of answers about South in the next couple weeks as plenty of tests lie ahead - games against Will East, Sweet Home, St. Francis, the Amherst/Aquinas winner in the Jolly Boys Tournament, and of course tonight, at #7 (see below).
7. Cheektowaga (A2) - The Warriors host Williamsville South tonight. Clearly Warriors' coach Pat Cullinan & Billies' head man Gabe Michael wanted to give me an early Christmas gift when they scheduled this nonleaguer! I can even walk to the Galleria to finish my Chritmas shopping when I'm done.
8. Niagara Falls (AA) - The Wolverines began the process of reclaiming the NFL with a 28-point road win at Kenmore West.
9. Olean (A2) - Back to business as usual (cruising past opponents) since returning to the CCAA after a year away as an independent.
10. Lew-Port (A2) - Going with the Lancers for this final spot, who won a heated best two-out-of-three coin toss battle at my house against Starpoint. The Lancers had a strong showing against Park, and knocked off Grand Island by 21 points - who just beat Lockport (winners of Rotary Tournament over Will East, St. Joe's, & I-Prep).
Small Schools
1. Park (MMA) - They've played two of the best from the N-O and beat them by 48 points. Then on Thursday they took Yale Cup large school Hutch-Tech apart, winning 105-46.
2. St. Mary's (MMA) - Don't we all look silly for thinking St. Mary's would dip after graduating five starters. The Lancers are now 5-0, coming off a hard fought victory over upstart Lancaster in the Depew Tournament and an eye-popping win against Middle College, who they led 53-27 after three quarters.
3. Fredonia (B2) - A 4-0 start for the Hillbilles, with their closest victory being a 22-point win over Hutch-Tech (McKinley beat them by 21). Fredonia is also one of three members of the century club already.
4. Silver Creek (C1) - On the same court, over the same weekend, the Black Knights played Nichols closer than Middle College played St. Mary's, and that was with Billy Brooks playing with four fouls over the final 19 minutes of the game. The loss to the Vikings will only make them better.
5. Middle College (C2) - Similar to Silver Creek, the loss to St. Mary's should only serve the Kats down the road. Too much talent and winning pedigree for this team to not respond favorably to a tough loss, and the addition of Fred Foster at some point, will put them at another level.
6. East (B2) - Remain tucked behind Middle College after losing to the Kats at the buzzer. Pulled away from Bennett with a strong third quarter after finding themselves in a two-point game at halftime.
7. Salamanca (C1) - The Warriors' red hot start has them sitting at 6-0 heading into the Maryvale Tournament, where they'll face the host Flyers on December 27th.
8. Tapestry (C1) - Remain at this spot as the Thunderhawks were idle this week.
9. Walsh (MMA) - Got my first look at the Eagles on Saturday, and there's a lot to like about this team. Took Starpoint to overtime, despite a poor shooting day at the charity stripe.
10. Sherman (D) - The two-time defending Section VI Class D champions won a four-point thriller over Panama on Thursday, who entered the game ranked fourth in NYS's Class D.
-centercourt
Hope no one gets too carried away with Walsh's "victory". Typical Olean refs taking care of their own. My understanding is that fouls were 15 - 1 in favor of the home team the fourth quarter alone. This has happened for years down there...I recall a game where Will Regan and he fellow state champs played to a 3 point victory down there and Walsh had 6 players...I was there and it was ridiculous. Not sure why MMA lets this persist. Not that it matters, a win in December is worth as much as a tip off tourney win...except there are no trophies
Posted by: at the game | Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 03:43 PM
Here it comes the crying and excuses from Nichols has begun. I figuredyou would be happy nobody was talking about losing to WALSH. Instead you get the conversation started by blaming the refs! You people are brilliant. Were there bad refs in the Mckinley game or the SC game? Or what about Lancaster? Or are all those teams that close to Nichols? Let me guess...if not for the bad refs Nichols beats Walsh by 30. Give me a break people.
Posted by: CM | Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 05:23 PM