(Tyron Lott and Health Sciences are ready for a run in Class B2)
Large Schools
1. Williamsville South (A1) - What would Buff State Week be without a little South vs. McKinley action? The Billies will look to end the Macks' season for a third straight time on Tuesday in pursuit of a third crown in Class A1 in three years.
2. St. Francis (MMA) - After a third win over Park this season, the Red Raiders have finally earned the respect of the entire WNY hoops community. On Wednesday night, they will look to earn their first Manhattan Cup Championship since 1978.
3. Olean (A2) - The Huskies make their way to their second home on Wednesday night for a semifinal battle with the #1 seeded Amherst Tigers, after hammering Maryvale in the quarterfinals on Friday.
4. Park (MMA) - Biggest loss all season was by seven points on the road in Rochester. The Pioneers will have to start winning the close games in order to put it all together, but they were eliminated by a very hungry team that knows exactly who they are.
5. Canisius (MMA) - After fading to the number four seed this year, the defending champs come through with a huge semifinal win over Timon, just when the chirping was starting. Seeing that Canisius uniform as you take the court for a single elimination game has to be intimidating. But Park was quite intimidating in its own right. Wednesday's final vs. St. Francis should be special.
6. Timon (MMA) - An fine season for the Tigers came to an end earlier than they had hoped at the hands of Canisius. Plenty of big wins on their resume and all sorts of young tal
7. Amherst (A2) - The path to a repeat title in Class A2 has reached Buff State for the Tigers, who will have to defeat the team that ended their season in 2015 and then won it all in Class B in 2016. If Amherst could beat South, they can beat the Huskies too. Should be basketball at its finest on Wednesday night.
8. Kenmore West (AA) - The Blue Devils are the hottest team in Class AA and they are led by a pair that sizzles in Tyler Aquilina & Tal James. First trip to Buff State since 2013 comes on Wednesday night against Lancaster.
9. Lancaster (AA) - The Legends arrive at Buff State for their game against Kenmore West with a few reasons to be confident. They are deep and play together, they lambasted Jamestown two weeks ago, and they are the team that ended Kenmore West's season last year.
10. South Park (A2) - The Sparks will be a part of history on Tuesday night, one way or another. They could be the team that Dom Welch gets the scoring record against or they could be the team that keeps him from it. More than anything, the Sparks want to be the team that ends his career.
Small Schools
1. East Aurora (B1) - The Blue Devils have a chance to back up their number one ranking on Monday night, when they face a Dunkirk team that should give them all they can handle.
2. Health Sciences (B2) - Avenged their only small school loss to Middle College by cruising past the Kats in the quarterfinals. Now the favorites all season in Class B2 face a Medina team on Thursday night that has been straight rolling.
3. St. Mary's (MMA) - The Lancers handled Walsh to earn a trip to the Manhattan Cup Final in Class B, where they'll need to hit some shots to overcome the zone defense of their opponent from Nichols.
4. East (C2) - After nearly winning the Yale Cup, the Panthers should be plenty battle-tested. Their path to a sectional crown starts against Barker at JCC, and a win could set up a rematch with Randolph on Friday.
5. Medina (B2) - The Mustangs haven't lost a game in a long time, but they haven't faced an opponent of Health Sciences' caliber either. Thursday night's Class B2 semifinal should be highly entertaining.
6. Nichols (MMA) - It's not where you start and for the Vikings, they are one game from finishing again. The defending champs were awesome in the defensive end against O'Hara to earn another shot at a title.
7. Franklinville (D) - The Panthers are hoping they are better at winning semifinals than coin tosses. After losing a toss, they took the #3 seed into the Class D sectionals, where they will face Ellicottville for a ticket to the final.
8. Chautauqua Lake (C1) - The Thunderbirds have been on a path to a sectional title all season. Now they need to beat Allegany-Limestone in the semifinals, after the Gators just put it all together in a big win over Salamanca.
9. Randolph (C2) - The Cardinals took care of business in CCAA I East all season, but make no mistake about it, they've had an eye on East all year, who they hope to see on Friday night in the Class C2 Final if they can get past a Frewsburg team with other ideas.
10. Ellicottville (D) - The Eagles have had some time to think about Franklinville, drawing a bye until the semifinals. Now the all important rubber match awaits.
- centercourt
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