Poll Ballots - 2015 - Week 7

(Timon first played its way onto my ballot & now they're climbing / Photo by Buffalo News)

 

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) -  Swept the regular season series against Nichols to remain unbeaten in the MMA.  Fell at Cathedral Prep on Thursday, a team Aquinas just beat.  The Crusaders visit Section V's Class AA favorite, undefeated Aquinas, tomorrow night.

2. Jamestown (AA) -  The Red Raiders have made it through the entire ECIC I, with their closest game being a 15-point victory over Lancaster.  After the loss to Canisius in December, they have faced four ranked large schools & beat all four - St. Joe's by 16, Olean by 15, Amherst by 10, & North by 16.

3. McKinley (A1) -  The Macks are at East High tomorrow night with plenty at stake.  McKinley basically clinches Yale Cup I with a win.  Round one went to the Macks, a 73-70 win over the visiting Panthers.

4. Williamsvillle South (A1) -  The Billies have rolled through ECIC II and have to have their eye on the postseason at this point.  Their only loss was to Aquinas back in late December - a team that reminds me somewhat of McKinley. Hmm.

5. Amherst (A2) -  The Tigers are three wins from finishing the season undefeated in ECIC III, and then it'll be time to begin the mission of reclaiming that Class A2 title.

6. Williamsville North (AA) - The Spartans have rolled in every victory this season - they haven't won a game by less than 16 points.  Their only three losses all came to teams above them on this ballot - Jamestown, McKinley, & South.

7. Timon (MMA) -  After a season-opening loss to Williamsville North, the Tigers have climbed into the poll and are now tucked right behind the Spartans on my ballot and in the News poll.  Glad to see everyone got my "vote for Timon" invitation.

8. Nichols (MMA) - The Vikings are coming off a tough week, with a pair of losses at Canisius & Timon.  This week, Nichols hosts St. Joe's & Park.  Last year, they beat Park at home on February 15th, part of a seven-game winning streak on its way to the Manhattan Cup.  

 9. St. Joe's (MMA) -   Looking at the Marauders schedule, they're amidst a five-game stretch of Park, Canisius, Timon, Bishop Kearney, & Nichols.  They also scheduled games at Jamestown & at Aquinas, and faced Henninger & Jamesville DeWitt in Syracuse.  It's a good thing that team has grit.

10. Olean (A2) - They continue to win their league games, but haven't been lighting the world on fire in the process.  I don't see this as a team that's going to bury the competition like last year's bunch was capable of, but this team is more than capable of winning Class A2 this season.

 

Small Schools

1. Park (MMA) -   The Pioneers are winners of 14 straight games, with four more on tap for this week, including a pair of tests against ranked large schools, Nichols & Timon.

2. Fredonia (B2) -  The Hillbillies outscored Cardinal O'Hara, 56-14, in the second half of their 81-38 win on Saturday.  They'll face another MMA opponent on Wednesday night when they visit the team I have one spot below them - St. Mary's.

3. St. Mary's (MMA) -   Trailed the mighty Park School by just three points heading into the fourth quarter on Wednesday night, before falling by 11.  This week, they face a rematch with Walsh, who they clipped at the buzzer in round one, host Fredonia for a great matchup of top small schools, and then head into Canisius for a Sunday matinee.  

4. East (B2) -  The Panthers will look to hand McKinley its first loss in the city this season on Tuesday, while looking to make Starling Bryant the all-time winningest coach in the city.

5. Middle College (C2) -   The Kats took their loss against McKinley out on Riverside this week, crushing the Frontiers by 37 points.  The next two that will try to stand in Middle College's way are Hutch-Tech & South Park this week.

6. Sherman (D) -  Just two wins away from an undefeated regular season.  The only real obstacle could be Maple Grove, who the Wildcats host tomorrow.  But just a few weeks ago, Sherman went there and won by 17 points.

 7. Salamanca (C1) -   The Warriors got Jared Fish back in their lineup, but fell to Cuba Rushford last week, a team they opened the season with a victory against.  This is a huge week for them, starting tonight with a rematch against Randolph, who beat the Warriors once already, and then a trip to Silver Creek on Thursday.

8. Silver Creek (C1) -  The Black Knights find themselves in the position of controlling their own destiny.  If they win out, they are champions of CCAA I East.  That means they'll need to avenge a loss to Salamanca on Thursday night in the 'Game of the Week'.

 9. Tapestry (C1) -  We're going to learn a lot about the Thunderhawks very soon.  Wednesday night, they face Global Concepts, Friday they play Health Sciences, and next week, they travel to Salamanca.

10. Health Sciences (B2) - The Falcons have won eight straight games, and those have come by an average margin of 36 points.  However, they haven't faced the most grueling schedule by any means.  Friday night, the Charter Cup will be on the line, when Health Sciences looks to avenge its only charter loss this season against Tapestry.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[Ryan]

Nichols beat Park at home at the end of last year

[centercourt]

Thanks.

[StateChamps2003]

I find it interesting that you have Sherman ranked so high. Is it based purely on their undefeated record? I looked at their schedule and their best wins look like 2 neutral court wins over Olmsted by a combined 20 points. Their biggest opponents were Southwestern (B2) and Falconer (B2) who aren't that great anyways.

I-Prep hasn't taken a loss since their first two games of the year, @ Lockport (AA) and St. Joe's by 10 and 7 points, respectively. They also own two wins over Olmsted by "only" a combined 13 points. But they also own multiple wins over 'B' schools including Burgard (who beat East).

I would even rank 2 loss (Nichols and Salamanca) Silver Creek and 2 loss (Nichols and Randolph) Tapestry (wins over Health Science and Grand Island) over Sherman.

[TML1000]

I have to agree on Sherman...have not seen them play but solely based on results and strength of schedule I find it odd that they are ahead of the other top 10 small schools behind them, most of whom are battle tested.

I would have liked to see at least a non-league game against someone the likes of SC or Salamanca on the schedule of a team coming off of a Glens Falls appearance.

[centercourt]

I have Sherman ranked #6 for a few reasons.

First, and most obvious, is the fact that they're undefeated two-time defending Section VI champs who are well on their way to a third. Unlike a team like Dunkirk, who came on a few seasons ago for that one year, or even Barker last year, Sherman's record gets the "solid program" benefit, over the one-year wonder theory.

Second, of the teams I have behind them, Salamanca and Silver Creek both lost key players for a stretch and I didn't think either were at the same level without those key ingredients. Now both teams are at full strength and we're about to find out this week which team, if either, has hit its stride heading into the postseason. Sherman wouldn't have to lose to slip from #6, if I see something from another team against a quality opponent, I'll make the move. As for Tapestry & Health Sciences, they are in the same boat as Sherman - winning a lot of games, but not impressing anyone with who they're beating. Sherman's resume is more extensive/storied of late and gets the nod.

Third, I watched them play this year, and that was when I bumped them from the bottom of my ballot and moved them more towards the middle. When their game ended, I thought they had an identity and played solid team basketball, with no glaring holes. They were better than I thought they'd be after graduating some key starters, and I left saying to myself, "I don't have them ranked high enough, I could see them beating teams I have ranked ahead of them.

With all that said, I'm heading out shortly to get a second look at I-Prep. I saw them earlier against the same opponent I watched Sherman face - Olmsted, and felt at the time that Sherman had the edge in Class D. If I-Prep turns heads tonight, if Silver Creek/Salamanca earns a bump on Thursday, or if the Tapestry/Health Sciences result on Friday warrants it, I'll adjust my ballot accordingly.

I completely understand why you both are wondering about Sherman at #6 and can't blame you for being skeptical. But hopefully now you understand my stance, whether or not you agree with it.

[StateChamps2003]

I appreciate your analysis for Sherman. I have not seen them play at all either so you would know better than I. I'm going to get another look at I-Prep tonight as well. I haven't seen them play since they smacked City Honors. Should be interesting with a quality opponent in Cheektowaga.

[centercourt]

See you there!

[Shadowtoad]

I see that Niagara Falls doesn't even get into the top 10 large schools. I don't know if I ever have seen the Niagara Frontier League be so weak with talent. It has been like that for the past couple years. I hope it picks up next year as I am a long time NFL fan. Centercourt, any idea why so?