Poll Ballots - 2015 - Week 5

(Timon made its case for a spot on my ballot with a strong showing at Canisius Saturday)

 

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) -  They keep on winning, but it doesn't look the same as it did to start the season.  The Crusaders looked better than last year's team in their win over Nichols, but since then, they haven't played with that same fire.

2. McKinley (A1) - The Macks won a pair of league games this week against Riverside & Burgard by a combined 97 points.  Their win over Burgard was by 42 points, the same Bulldogs team that beat East.

3. Jamestown (AA) -  Blew past Lancaster in the second half behind a big performance from Zack Panebianco, to remain unbeaten in ECIC I.  The Red Raiders have some big games coming up, beginning this week, as they host Amherst Tuesday night, before a regional rematch with Greece Athena in the RAP showcase at Aquinas on Saturday.

4. Williamsvillle South (A1) -  Now in sole possession of first place in ECIC II after winning at Starpoint last week, the Billies haven't had a league opponent get closer than 12 points.

5. Amherst (A2) - The Tigers improved to 10-1 on the season, but more importantly earned the sweep over Cheektowaga on Friday to put them in line for a fourth straight ECIC III title.  The Tigers could make a big splash in the WNY large school scene if they earn a road win at #3 Jamestown tomorrow night.

6. Williamsville North (AA) - The Spartans are now 9-2, with their only losses coming at the start of the season in back-to-back games against McKinley & Will South.  They've scored 171 points in their last two games, and Dylan Lambert has scored over 30 points in two of his last three games.

7. Nichols (MMA) - Wins over Timon & Niagara Catholic last week moved the Vikings into second place in the MMA Class A, behind Canisius.  Three games scheduled for this week - at St. Francis & O'Hara, then hosting St. Mary's on Friday.

8. Olean (A2) -  Head coach Jeff Anastasia picked up his 500th career coaching win on Thursday night, when the Huskies win at Dunkirk to remain unbeaten in CCAA I West.

 9. St. Joe's (MMA) -  Won by 12 at Walsh on Sunday and followed it up with a 10-point win over St. Francis Friday night.  Unfortunately, Ed Tabone, the starting big man for the Marauders, was lost for the season when he suffered a broken wrist in the win.

10. Timon (MMA) - Niagara Falls losing to Kenmore West opened up a spot on my ballot, and it went to the Tigers.  The pollsters voted North Tonawanda into the poll, and the Lumberjacks made it all the way to #8.  They most have forgotten that Timon beat them, and also owns wins over the #2 & #3 small schools, St. Mary's & Fredonia.  I watched Timon lead at Canisius during the 4th quarter on Saturday.  I'll find out tonight if they deserved this spot over Falls, or if the Wolverines should have dropped to #10, as Timon hosts NFHS in what should be an entertaining nonleague game.

 

Small Schools

1. Park (MMA) -  Knocked off a good team handily when they won at Rochester's East High on Monday and then surged ahead of St. Mary's with a 25-10 fourth quarter, in an 81-54 victory over St. Mary's.  Road trips to Walsh & St. Joe's loom this week, before hosting Niagara Catholic on Friday.

2. Fredonia (B2) - No problem for the Hillbillies keeping themselves a game behind Olean in the CCAA I West race, as they knocked off a pair of league opponents by a combined 75 points last week.

3. St. Mary's (MMA) -  Hammered Niagara Catholic on Tuesday, before suffering the same fate late at Park on Friday.  Rebounded with a win over Clarence on Saturday afternoon.  Friday night the Lancers are at Nichols, a team they've defeated four straight times.

4. East (B2) - A dominant second half for the Panthers erased a 15-point deficit and produced a seven-point win over Middle College, who had beaten them at the buzzer in December.  East also nearly took the Macks to OT, the team the Kats visit on Thursday.

5. Middle College (C2) - The Kats will look to bounce back from the East loss when they visit Lancaster for a nonleague game tomorrow night, before visiting McKinley on Thursday for the 'Game of the Week'.

6. Sherman (D) - Earned a second win this season over Panama on Friday, this time by 12 points.  Panama is the only other Class D team ranked in the state from Section VI besides Sherman.

 7. Salamanca (C1) -  The Warriors host Allegany-Limestone this week and look to remain in first place in CCAA I East.  Salamanca has been getting it done without the services of 6-7 Jared Fish, a 2014 All-Centercourt HM, for weeks now, as he recovers from an ankle injury.

8. Silver Creek (C1) -  Bill Brooks became the 5th player in program history to score 1,000 career points in his team's win over Westfield on Thursday.  The Black Knights gutted out a 38-34 win at Randolph on Tuesday with Brooks fouled out and Trevon Thompson missing the game due to injury, thanks in part to the defensive contributions of freshman Chase Scanlan.

9. Randolph (C2) -  The Cardinals handed Salamanca its only league loss earlier in the year, but slip to second place in CCAA I East after dropping a close one to Silver Creek because of the loss to Allegany-Limestone from earlier in the season.

10. Tapestry (C1) -  The 8-2 Thunderhawks host Grand Island on Wednesday, looking to gain some Class A power points for sectionals.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[MMAfan2017]

Nichols handily beat the Macks in a game you attended so I'm unsure how so many teams that have lost to them are still ahead of Nichols... Will the Walsh and Canisius losses doom the Vikings for the rest of the polls/season in your opinion?

[StateChamps2003]

I believe the polls are more of a current point in time rankings. If Nichols "handily" beat McKinley all the way back on December 3rd then Canisius absolutely spanked the crap out of Nichols by almost 40 points on their home gym not less than 3 weeks ago. McKinley only lost to Canisius by 4 on a neutral court. McKinley also has wins over East, Cheektowaga, and Williamsville North while blowing other teams out.

[John]

Would love to hear about how some of the other schools are doing... Lockport/Niagara Falls maybe?

[centercourt]

There's an article up on Falls today.

Lockport beat Lew-Port in a thriller last night. The Lions started out hot, winning their Rotary tournament in December, then lost four straight (Middle College, Grand Island, NT, & Starpoint. Right now, Lockport is amidst a four-game winning streak (both Kenmore's, Grand Island, & Lew-Port).

[Chuck from Portland]

Where has Wheatley been for Canisius? Did he move with dad to Michigan?

[John]

Just curious, who are some of Lockport's big players this year? I know they lost practically the entire team last year.

[centercourt]

Chuck -

Wheatley has been taking official visits at different colleges. He is expected to be on the court for the Crusaders at some point soon.

John -

James Kahlil, Lavette Warren, Andrew Austin, Kelly Brown, Dakota Wiley, Qaiz Alamaza