Poll Ballots - 2016 - Week 1

(Park starts at the top of my ballot, will have everyone gunning for them this season)

 

 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. Park (MMA) - Two years ago, the Pioneers were #8 on my small school ballot in Week 1.  Last season, they were the #1 small school on my ballot from start to finish.  Now, with a bump up to Class A, they're starting out again in the pole position, only this time with the large schools.  Let's see where they finish.

2. Canisius (MMA) - If it turns out that I was wrong to start the defending NYS Class A Federation Champions ranked a spot behind Park, a plea of insanity may hold up as a credible defense.  I just may be nuts to pick against the Crusaders, it certainly felt weird typing a '2' in front of the name.

3. Amherst (A2) - Started the season out by winning the Bob Hetler Classic, again, then followed it up with a major nonleague win over Bishop Kearney.  If you still need more convincing, the Tigers also won at Cheektowaga already and by double figures, for a big leg up in ECIC III.  They'll get a chance to really make a statement on Friday night when they play Park in the ADPRO Public/Private Challenge at Depew.

4. Niagara Falls (AA) - Easily the best Falls team since Jermaine Crumpton, now providing valuable minutes for Canisius College, graduated.  There's a lot to like about the Wolverines, particularly their backcourt of Breon Harris & Qeyion Williams.  They face another team with strong guard play when they take the court against St. Joe's on Thursday night at the ADPRO Public/Private Challenge.

5. Williamsville South (A1) - Here's another team with an outstanding backcourt (Greg Dolan & Myles Hall) that will be tough to keep from repeating last season's successes.  The Billies have a pair of big games this week, hosting Cheektowaga on Thursday night and drawing Canisius in the headliner of the ADPRO Public/Private Challenge on Saturday night.

6. McKinley (A1) - If the Macks earn a pair of league wins this week over Hutch-Tech & Burgard, they'll be 4-0 when Williamsville North arrives on Friday night for their annual nonleague tilt.

7. Timon (MMA) - The Tigers went on the road Friday night and came home from Bishop Kearney with a come-from-behind victory.  They head back out to Rochester on Thursday night to visit Aquinas, before a Saturday matinee with Starpoint at the ADPRO Public/Private Challenge.

8. Lancaster (AA) - Hail to the...Legends as they're now called.  Ding-dong, the streak is dead, after Lancaster travels to Jamestown and snaps a 36-game skip versus the Red Raiders.  Victories over Dunkirk, Nichols, & South Park as well have the Legends off to a 4-0 start and believing this could be their year.

9. Starpoint (A2) - I was high on the Spartans coming into the season and remain there after they started 1-2, losing their first two games to Vaughan & Park (Niagara Falls began its season the exact same way).  Remember, Starpoint returns five of its top seven from last season, when they split with South and lost to Olean at sectionals.

10. Williamsville North (AA) - Looked great for three quarters in a win over Cheektowaga and for two quarters in a loss at South.  When they're on, they're easilty a top 10 team.  But the Spartans play too many good teams this season to remain in the poll on reputation, and as early as this week, we'll know even more about North.  They travel to Orchard Park on Tuesday and visit McKinley Friday.

 

Small Schools 

1. Olean (B1) - Seriously, how mad is the rest of Class B that these guys had the numbers to move back down?  I don't know the exact answer, but when I go back as far as 2007, I can offer this incredible statistic:  when Olean is in Class B, they advance to regionals. I don't expect this season to be any different, and in fact, I've never been more sure that a team will be representing Section VI in the Class B regionals.

2. Middle College (C2) - With all five starters back for the team that advanced to the regionals in Class C a year ago, the Kats are on a state championship or bust mission and looking to snag another Yale Cup along the way.

3. St. Mary's (MMA) - Opened their season with a victory over Tapestry and never trailed in the game, despite lacking the same energy as their opponent.

4. Walsh (MMA) - Traveled to Lew-Port this weekend and put one on the Lancers.  I'll get my first look at the Eagles on Saturday at the ADPRO Public/Private Challenge, when they face Maryvale.

5. East (C1) - Haven't played since their season-opening loss to Timon at the Pastor-Cooper Showcase.  League play begins this week for the Panthers, hosting Burgard on Tuesday and Middle College on Thursday.

6. Health Sciences (B2) - Falcons will roll down Harlem Road today and arrive at Park with a 4-0 record.  If they leave with a 5-0 record, they'll be flying up on this ballot.

7. Tapestry (C1) - The Thunderhawks, who play at Medina tomorrow, are 3-1, with the loss coming to St. Mary's.  Knocked off Randolph over the weekend.

8. Nichols (MMA) - The Vikings have already registered 20+ point wins over both Cleveland Hill and Medina, and competed with an upstart Lancaster team.  Very interesting game coming up on Thursday when they draw Kenmore West at the ADPRO Public/Private Challenge.

9. East Aurora (B1) - Three blowouts to start the year for East Aurora, except the Blue Devils were on the wrong end of one of them in a loss at Olean.  We'll see how the season shakes out, but I'm thinking that may have been a Class B1 final preview between the Blue Devils & Huskies.

10. Silver Creek (C2) - The Black Knights get this final spot after four straight Section VI Finals appearances and a pair of lopsided wins to start the season.  We'll know a lot more about Silver Creek by week's end, after they travel to Cardinal O'Hara on Thursday night.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[Dan Jones]

Any idea how Lockport is looking this season? I know they had a young team last year. I just watched Collin Dougherty (sp?) play at Hobart.

[centercourt]

They got off to a great start. 4-0, including wins over St. Joe's and North Tonawanda, who they beat soundly. The Lions look like they could be back in the Class AA mix, seeking a trip to Buff State.