(Top 10 Lg schools, Jamestown & Olean, played this weekend, in what should be an annual game)
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 Saturday 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) - The Crusaders are on a three-game losing streak (Seattle Prep, Tampa Jesuit, & Troy), which really does nothing to suggest they aren't still the area's top team. However, lose a fourth straight and it's a different story, because next up for Canisius...a date at Nichols on Tuesday. There's also a certain rivalry game going down on Kenmore Ave this Saturday.
2. Jamestown (AA) - Had an impressive showing at the United Way Showcase over the weekend, knocking off Olean and St. Joe's on consecutive nights, both by double figures. Stephen Carlson's play in those two games deserves an award or two...
3. McKinley (A1) - A huge week ahead for McKinley with visits from East & Middle College happening on Wednesday & Friday. The Macks will enter the game against the Panthers having won their last three by an average of 33 points.
4. Williamsvillle South (A1) - The Billies got their first taste of defeat in the title game of the Jolly Boys Tournament with a loss to Aquinas, ranked #16 in the state's Class AA. They had started 6-0, with their most recent victory coming by 20 points over St. Francis.
5. Amherst (A2) - The Tigers also suffered their first loss to Aquinas at the Jolly boys Tournament, but were tied with the Lil Irish at halftime before falling victim to a third quarter run. Amherst rebounded with a win over St. Francis the following day. They'll host East Aurora tonight, before visiting Maryvale on Thursday.
6. Nichols (MMA) - The Vikings participated in the prestigious Mirabito Stop DWI Holiday Classic in Binghamton over the break, falling to St. Michael's College and Landstown, before knocking off Emmaus behind double-doubles from Chris Miner & Tanner Schmit, with Cam Lewis missing out on the trifecta by a rebound. Tomorrow night is the one we've been waiting for - Canisius comes a knocking. The season is about to start getting really good!
7. Niagara Falls (AA) - Visit Grand Island, before a very intriguing NFL game against North Tonawanda on Friday. The Wolverines end their week with a trip to Aquinas. We will know much more about Falls by next week.
8. Williamsville North (AA) - The Spartans jump onto my ballot after winning the Five Guys Tournament, which included a 20-point win over Williamsville East, a team Olean knocked off by seven.
9. Olean (A2) - Got my first look at life after the dream team for the Huskies, and they're going to be just fine. Olean hosts Fredonia Tuesday night in the first of two games that will decide how the West is won (CCAA I West). The last time Olean lost a league game was in 2011, before Wil Bathurst even played on the varsity team.
10. Starpoint (A2) - The Spartans held off Lew-Port for this last spot after holding off Lockport and beating the Lions in overtime to remain undefeated (6-0). How long can they keep it going? Hamburg and Iroquois will come calling this week in an attempt to put a blemish upstart Starpoint's record.
Small Schools
1. Park (MMA) - The Pioneers have not played since December 23rd, so I'll offer this stat: winners of their last three by an average margin of 47 points. I won't attempt to set the line for their game with O'Hara this week.
2. Fredonia (B2) - Lost their first game of the season at the Clarence Tournament to Timon, in a game they played with out key starter Patrick Moore (Timon was also without a starter). Rebounded nicely with a solid win over host Clarence. Can't wait to learn how the trip to Olean goes.
3. Walsh (MMA) - I knocked them down one spot from last week in a delayed reaction to the Portville loss. Can't drop them much farther though - they did beat Portville two weeks earlier and also beat Nichols to get this high in the first place. Will the real Walsh please stand up? This week should give us some answers...the Eagles host St. Mary's tomorrow, then visit Park on Friday. Anyone predicting another colossal upset?
4. St. Mary's (MMA) - Chased wins over Middle College, Lancaster, & Depew, with three staright losses, though none were bad losses. The Lancers better hope they can end the skid real soon with a trip to Walsh on tap for tomorrow, otherwise they'll fall two-games behind the Eagles in the league standings.
5. Silver Creek (C1) - Looked like they were sleep-walking through much of their victory over Maple Grove at the United Way Showcase in Jamestown. They turned it up each time the game got close, but will need to get back to the consistent style that has them so high on this ballot soon, because their league, CCAA I East, is a meat grinder (Portville, Salamanca, Randolph, Allegany-Limestone).
6. Middle College (C2) - The Kats take on South Park at ECC on Wednesday, before tipping off in the Game of the Week on Friday night at McKinley. Middle College has a Yale Cup to defend.
7. Portville (C2) - Don't look now, but the Panthers are quietly out to a 7-1 start, with a pair of wins over Allegany-Limestone (who beat Randolph) and a win over Walsh - the same Walsh that beat Nichols.
8. East (B2) - There was no holiday cheer on the court for the Panthers over the break, with stinging losses to Aquinas and Wellsville in the Aquinas Tournament. They're at McKinley on Wednesday, not exactly who you want to see when looking to get back on track, but East did hang tough with Middle College, losing at the buzzer.
9. Tapestry (C1) - Winners of the CCA Tournament over break to improve to 5-1 on the year. The chase for the Charter Cup resumes this week as the Thunderhawks take on Oracle and Buffalo Science.
10. Sherman (D) - The Wildcats are on quite a roll. Two straight Section VI titles and an 8-0 start to this season, most recently tripping up Olmsted over the weekend.
-centercourt
Great Coverage Centercourt; but it is a sad state of HOOPS in WNY when the Number One Team loses 3 in a Row to outside teams and helps TROY snap a 5 game losing streak. I am presuming they might be banged up but there is too much talent there to be losing this many games. PROPS to the 2010 Nichols Team for Repping WNY the right way and taking care of Business on the Road!
Posted by: FULLCOURT | Tuesday, January 06, 2015 at 02:00 AM
I am familiar with some of the Albany basketball teams and think that calling the Canisius loss to Troy being reflective of a “sad state” of WNY basketball may be a little of an overstatement. Troy is very good program and when you consider that Troy’s losses included Christ the King (#7 in AA), who has several potential division one players including one who has been offered by Kansas, Louisville and Florida. Shenendehowa and Guilderland are both in the top 20 in AA and traditional power Albany Academy which is #2 in the A school poll.
Posted by: Close Out | Tuesday, January 06, 2015 at 03:59 PM
Canisius was without TJ Wheatley in that game as well. I have no idea if that would have mattered to the outcome, but it wouldn't hurt the Crusaders chances. Wheatley is playing tonight at Nichols.
Posted by: centercourt | Tuesday, January 06, 2015 at 06:02 PM
Wheatley actually didn't play at all last night. He wasn't really in street clothes but he also wasn't really in uniform.
CC - Will you be putting up a separate blog about last nights game or no? Just curious if I should wait to put my thoughts down from the game.
Posted by: StateChamps2003 | Wednesday, January 07, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Yes, it's up. Look forward to your commentary!
Posted by: centercourt | Wednesday, January 07, 2015 at 01:17 PM