(Park and Canisius will battle again this Wednesday / Photo by James McCoy)
Here's a list of what I think are the top games to follow this week:
Monday, February 1st
Olmsted @ I-Prep - 6 pm
Niagara Catholic @ St. Mary's - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, February 2nd
McKinley @ East - 6 pm
Medina @ Wilson - 6 pm
Lew-Port @ Niagara Wheatfield - 6:30 pm
Niagara Falls @ Lockport - 6:30 pm
Kenmore West @ North Tonawanda - 7 pm
Jamestown @ Williamsville North - 7:30 pm
Lancaster @ Orchard Park - 7:30 pm
Cheektowaga @ East Aurora - 7:30 pm
Randolph @ Silver Creek - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, February 3rd
MST Seneca @ Olmsted - 6 pm
Park @ Canisius - 6 pm
St. Joe's @ Timon - 6:30 pm
St. Mary's @ Nichols - 6:30 pm
St. Francis @ Walsh - 6:30 pm
Cardinal O'Hara @ Niagara Catholic - 7:30 pm
Thursday, February 4th
South Park @ McKinley - 6 pm
Newfane @ Roy-Hart - 6:30 pm
Chautauqua Lake @ Panama - 7:30 pm
Friday, February 5th
Olmsted @ Emerson - 6 pm
Park @ Timon - 6:30 pm
Niagara Wheatfield @ Grand Island - 6:30 pm
Lockport @ Kenmore West - 6:30 pm
Lew-Port @ Niagara Falls - 6:30 pm
Olean @ Fredonia - 7 pm
East Aurora @ Maryvale - 7:30 pm
Pine Valley @ Franklinville - 7:30 pm
Randolph @ Portville - 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 6th
St. Joe's @ Bishop Kearney - 1:30 pm
Cathedral Prep @ Canisius - 3 pm
Jamestown @ Leadership Academy - 4 pm
Battle at the Border at Niagara Falls HS
Timon vs. Sir Allan MacNab - 3 pm
Aquinas vs. Vaughn - 4:45 pm
Niagara Falls vs. Henry Carr - 6:30 pm
Game of the Week - Park @ Canisius on Wednesday, February 3rd
- Yes, this was the 'Game of the Week' just two weeks ago. But let's be honest, the Bernard J. Kennedy Field House is where everyone with a pulse for the local HS hoops scene will want to be on Wednesday night for the highly anticipated regular season rematch. For most, it will be their first look at the two giants together on the same court this season.
Round One went to the Crusaders. After Park got cooking early and flew out to a 13-point lead, the Crusaders dug in and nearly came all the way back before halftime. As the second half wore on and Stafford Trueheart's big game performance kept getting bigger, Canisius took control and looked like the better team. Park, who can generate instant offense better than anyone, didn't turn up soon enough and a desperation heave from behind half court to tie as the buzzer sounded was as close as they got at the end.
Since the first big game, the Crusaders have played three straight state ranked teams, defeating Walsh and Aquinas, before finally seeing its 22-game win streak against teams from NYS snapped by Greece Athena at the RAP Showcase on Saturday night. They will have a chance to get right against Cardinal O'Hara on Monday, prior to the rematch with Park.
The Pioneers have only faced St. Francis since the first showdown, who they knocked off by nearly 50 points. They'll attempt to tune up for the Crusaders with another contest against St. Francis on Monday, this time in their gym.
While the first battle of #1 vs. #2 was awesome because we finally got to watch the defending Federation Champions square off, the rematch will offer significantly more fanfare as the amount of spectators for this one will dramatically increase due to the venue. I expect the basketball on the court to be equally entertaining to the show we were treated to on January 23rd, but for me, the view won't change. I'll be right back in my usual spot at...
-centercourt
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