(Williamsville South has been all over the local competition this year)
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) - Those who were on hand to witness the Crusaders' display at Nichols on Tuesday saw a team that is in its own category in the large school ranks. The Marauders gave them their best shot in the rivalry game on Saturday, but once Canisius reached its peak level in the fourth quarter, there was just no stopping them. Park gets its shot at them tomorrow. Then McKinley gets a crack on Saturday. These guys play everybody.
2. Jamestown (AA) - The Red Raiders annual trip to Williamsville North was postponed, keeping them idle last week. Home games against Clarence and Frontier are on the schedule this week.
3. McKinley (A1) - Even against a team like East that is successful every year and knows what's coming, the Macks pressure was still the difference last week in a Yale Cup I win over the Panthers. They used it to jump on top early and never let East get all the way back up. They'll need everything in their arsenal to hang with Canisius on Saturday, one of the only WNY teams that McKinley's athleticism doesn't overwhelm.
4. Williamsvillle South (A1) - In what looked to be an exciting league race in ECIC II this season, the Billies start suggests they may be a cut above the rest of the pack, winning their three league games by an average of 24 points. South visits Sweet Home tomorrow night to find out how they stack up with the Panthers.
5. Amherst (A2) - Handled East Aurora by 23 points last Monday, before its next two games were postponed. The Tigers are at Springville and home against Depew this week.
6. Nichols (MMA) - Either they got caught up in a landslide or the Crusaders were just that much better when the Vikings were trounced by Canisius on Tuesday. Whichever, I'm not ready to drop Nichols any lower yet. They visit St. Joe's on Friday night in a game that should reveal a ton about where this team is really at.
7. Niagara Falls (AA) - No surprise to me that Aquinas unloaded on the Wolverines and blew open a close game in the second half on Saturday. Falls is still not quite at the level of the Lil Irish, but neither are the other non-Jamestown teams in Section VI's Class AA.
8. Williamsville North (AA) - The Spartans chance to make a big statement with a home game against Jamestown was delayed last week. North still has plenty on its plate this week with a pair of league roadies that won't be easy - Frontier on Tuesday and Lancaster on Friday.
9. Olean (A2) - Passed its first big league test of the year with a low scoring four-point win (46-42) over visiting Fredonia on Tuesday. A very intriguing matchup for the Huskies awaits on Saturday, a nonleague game against Section V power Charlotte.
10. Starpoint (A2) - The Spartans will put their unbeaten mark on the line when St. Joe's visits on Wednesday night, as head coach Ben Scaffidi takes on the coach he used to work under, Mark Simon, while guiding the JV Marauders.
Small Schools
1. Park (MMA) - The Pioneers are happy to be in this top spot of the small school poll, but they'd like it to be known that they'd occupy the same spot in the large school poll as well. Tomorrow night, Park visits Canisius with a chance to lay claim to the top program in all of WNY.
2. Fredonia (B2) - Keeping the Hillbillies in this spot for now because there's no shame in losing a close game at Olean, a place where teams other than the Huskies rarely win.
3. St. Mary's (MMA) - Traveled to Walsh on Tuesday, never an easy place to play, and scored a thrilling three-point win to snap the holoday skid they'd encountered. The Lancers have a chance to pick up three more wins this week if they are back in form, with games coming up against St. Francis, Cleveland Hill, and Cardinal O'Hara.
4. Walsh (MMA) - The perfect spot for the Eagles in this poll is right here, tucked behind the Lancers who squeaked one out against them, but ahead of the Black Knights - a team that lost to the same Nichols team that Walsh beat by 10.
5. Silver Creek (C1) - Improved to 5-1 with a win over Bennett last week and welcome in Portville on Tuesday night for there first real test in league this year.
6. Middle College (C2) - The Kats took care of South Park by 13 last week but didn't get to play the big Yale Cup I game at McKinley yet, due to weather. They play Burgard tomorrow before facing St. Francis in the MLK Classic on Friday night at City Honors.
7. East (B2) - Came away very impressed with East after seeing them lose at McKinley on Wednesday. I won't be surprised to see them run the table in Yale Cup I the rest of the way. In fact, I'm almost expecting it. That would include knocking off both Middle College and McKinley in rematches.
8. Tapestry (C1) - Last week, Tapestry had won the CCA Tournament and Salamanca had lost to Cleveland Hill, yet somehow the Thunderhawks fell out of the Buffalo News poll in favor of the Warriors?!? Pay attention pollsters, that one made no sense. Tapestry visits Randolph on Thursday and should get a nice gauge of where they stand in Class C.
9. Sherman (D) - They put it on Forestville Saturday by 31 points, one of the better Class D teams in Section VI. It will be very interesting to see how they fare against Maple Grove tonight. After watching the Red Dragons play this year, learning that Sherman beat them would impress.
10. Salamanca (C1) - The Warriors jump back onto my ballot for beating Portville last week, without 6-7 Jared Fish, who remains out of the lineup with an ankle injury. Watch out for this team come season's end.
-centercourt
Comments