(Jamestown faces Athena in a rematch of last year's Class AA regional. Photo by Scott Kindberg)
Here's a list of what I think are the top games to follow this week:
Monday, January 26th
Niagara Falls @ Timon - 6:30 pm
Park @ Walsh - 6:30 pm
Maple Grove @ Silver Creek - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, January 27th
North Tonawanda @ Niagara Falls - 6:30 pm
Amherst @ Jamestown - 7 pm
Lew-Port @ Niagara Catholic - 7 pm
Wednesday, January 28th
Grand Island @ Tapestry - 6 pm
Timon @ Lockport - 6:30 pm
Park @ St. Joe's - 7 pm
JFL @ West Seneca West - 7:30 pm
Randolph @ Portville - 7:30 pm
Thursday, January 29th
Middle College @ McKinley - 6 pm
Canisius @ Walsh - 6:30 pm
Allegany-Limestone @ Salamanca - 7:30 pm
Friday, January 30th
Lockport @ North Tonawanda - 6:30 pm
Williamsville North @ Bennett - 6:30 pm
Sweet Home @ Starpoint - 7 pm
JFK @ Lackawanna - 7 pm
Depew @ Maryvale - 7:30 pm
Panama @ Maple Grove - 7:30 pm
St. Mary's @ Nichols - 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 31st
St. Joe's vs. Canisius - 1 pm **at Canisius College
Randolph @ Silver Creek - 7:30 pm
RAP Showcase at Aquinas
Cardinal O'Hara vs. Charlotte - 12 pm
Jamestown vs. Greece Athena - 6:45 pm
Game of the Week - Middle College at McKinley on Thursday, January 29th
This game was originally supposed to be played on January 9th, but was postponed.
- After breaking the Yale Cup winning streak by winning 33 straight games against its competition from the Buffalo Public Schools, McKinley saw its run end at the hands of Middle College on January 31, 2014. The Kats proceeded to go into Mack High a week later and defeat McKinley for a second time and went on to win the Yale Cup.
McKinley would go on to win a third straight Section VI title in Class A1, while Middle College also earned a third straight Section VI crown, and made it all the way to the NYSPHAA Class C state championship game.
Once again this season, the two programs are considered elite in both the city and in their respective classifications in the section. The two games played between these annual powers will likely determine this year's Yale Cup champion just like a season ago. The Kats have already faced East twice and split with them. The Macks defeated East in their first meeting with the Panthers and will enter the game unbeaten in the city. A win on Thursday for the Kats is crucial to their chances of repeating as Yale Cup champions, as they will enter a game behind McKinley in Yale Cup I. A win for McKinley would have them well on their way to a returning to the status of Yale Cup Champs, and re-establish them as the city's top program.
As of now, McKinley is the #2 ranked large school in WNY, while Middle College is ranked #3 among WNY small schools.
Since the above game is a repeat from weeks earlier:
Game of the Week II - Jamestown vs. Greece Athena on Sat., January 31st
- Last season, Greece Athena spent the season as the favorite to win Class AA in Section V, and were also viewed as the team that would advance to Glens Falls to represent the Far West Region (Sections V & VI). The Trojans did capture the Class AA crown in Rochester, but Jamestown had other plans for who would be making the trip to Glens.
In a memorable championship game performance, Zack Panebianco took over for the Red Raiders and put the team on his back, enroute to a 34-point performance that helped advance his team all the way to the Class AA state title game.
This year, both teams from that regional game brought back four starters and are once again favorites to win their respective sections. One big change, Greece Athena is now in Class A, meaning there is no chance of the two meeting up in the postseason. Luckily, good teams get invited to showcases like the one held at Aquinas, and we'll get to see these two go at it once more. A rematch of last year's Class AA regional with eight of ten starters back? That's gotta be 'Game of the Week' material.
-centercourt
Not sure if you know about a reschedule...Randolph travels to Silver Creek on Saturday 1/31..Will be another good one.
Posted by: Kevin Rice | Monday, January 26, 2015 at 10:32 PM