(Freshman Joe Jones & the Park Pioneers invade Canisius on Tuesday. Photo by Buffalo News)
Here's a list of what I think are the top games to follow this week:
Monday, January 12th
Walsh @ Cardinal O'Hara - 6:30 pm
Sherman @ Maple Grove - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, January 13th
Park @ Canisius - 6:30 pm
Medina @ Wilson - 6:30 pm
Niagara Falls @ Lockport - 6:30 pm
Williamsville South @ Sweet Home - 6:30 pm
Kenmore West @ North Tonawanda - 7 pm
Williamsville East @ West Seneca East - 7:30 pm
Portville @ Silver Creek - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, January 14th
Timon @ Cardinal O'Hara - 6:30 pm
St. Joe's @ Starpoint - 7 pm
Thursday, January 15th
Tapestry @ Randolph - 7 pm
Clymer @ Sherman - 7:30 pm
Cleveland Hill @ St. Mary's - 7:30 pm
Friday, January 16th
Lew-Port @ Niagara Falls - 6:30 pm
Lockport @ Kenmore West - 6:30 pm
Nichols @ St. Joe's - 7 pm
Cardinal O'Hara @ St. Mary's - 7:30 pm
Starpoint @ Williamsville East - 7:30 pm
Iroquois @ West Seneca East - 7:30 pm
Williamsville North @ Lancaster - 7:30 pm
Silver Creek @ Salamanca - 7:30 pm
MLK Classic **at City Honors
City Honors vs. Health Sciences - 4:30 pm
I-Prep vs. Maritime - 6 pm
Middle College vs. St. Francis - 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 17th
MLK Classic **at City Honors
Olmsted vs. Sherman - 11 am
Riverside vs. East Aurora - 12:30 pm
Hutch-Tech vs. Sweet Home - 2 pm
McKinley vs. Canisius - 5:15 pm
Game of the Week - Park @ Canisius on Tuesday, January 13th
- Two years ago, before I was aware of the influx of talent making its way to The Park School, a respected coach said to me, "I'm going to tell you right now, Park could win the Monsignor Martin". At the time I laughed, literally, and thought of it as one of the more outlandish things I'd heard someone say to me with a straight face. I'm no longer laughing. These days, I'm the one saying that same thing to others.
The Park Pioneers will enter the game as WNY's top ranked small school, while Canisius, who needs no introduction in local high school hoop circles, is the top ranked large school and regarded as the benchmark program of the area. This season, the Crusaders have already defeated the #2 large school and Class AA finalist from last season, Jamestown, along with turning in a resounding victory over the defending Manhattan Cup champs, Nichols.
Meanwhile, Park has been wowing crowds on hand to witness the display they put on during games, and those who have yet to see them in person have done a double take when checking box scores. Of the seven area teams the Pioneers have faced this season, none have gotten closer than 20 points, and only Lew-Port even competed, yet still trailed by 15 points through three quarters. Park's seven wins have come by an average of 37.5 points. The Pioneers hold the season-high for points in a game with 105, scored in a 59-point win over Hutch-Tech.
The two schools have only one prior meeting to look back at, a 12-point win for Canisius at Park last season. While there is a growing sentiment that this year's Crusader squad may be even better than last's years buzz saw, there is little debate when comparing last season to this year's version of the Pioneers - they have significantly upgraded. Most notably, Park added 6-7 Jordan Nwora from Amherst, an inside/outside threat, and Joe Jones, a 6-8 freshman who mans the middle and gives them a legitimate post presence.
With the change in format to the Manhattan Cup playoffs, both teams will have a chance to compete for CHSAA state championships - Canisius in Class A and Park in Class B - if they can emerge as the champions of the MMA. But there is no chance that these two cross paths in the postseason and there will be no rematch this year. The winner of this game will be considered the best in WNY, which made this game an easy choice for the Game of the Week.
-centercourt
Any update yet on tonight's "Game of the Week" Park @ Canisius? I had to work and was not able to get there.
Posted by: Nelson Adams | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 09:02 PM
The game was postponed. No makeup date yet.
Posted by: centercourt | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 11:06 PM