Poll Ballots 2017 - Week 7

(Williamsville South & St. Francis battled on January 24th. The Billies won 67-53)

 

Large Schools

1. Williamsville South (A1) - Four wins over current top 10 large schools.  To me, the easiest way to begin is St. Francis is in first place in the MMA, so rank them highest among the private schools, with South above them.  The Billies also have a 2-1 record against Monsignor Martin large schools, with all three games played on the road.  St. Francis & Timon have both beat Park.  South won at St. Francis by 14 points & at Timon by six.

2. St. Francis (MMA) - Four wins over current top 10 large schools.  I had the Red Raiders #1 after defeating Park, and rightfully so.  The following week, they dropped the 14-point decision at home to the Billies.  I feel like the rest of the pollsters were late to the party and decided that Timon beating Park made Frannies #1.  I thought Frannies beating Park made them #1, and South moved ahead of Frannies for subsequently beating them.  

3. Timon (MMA) - Three wins over current top 10 large schools.  The Tigers lost to each team above them, but have defeated the next three below them.  They earned a reward for defeating Park, in the form of a spot above them on my ballot.  Davion Warren & Joe Harrison didn't even start the game against the Pioneers, but the Tigers hung in and finished the best game I've been at this season.

4. Park (MMA) - Three wins over current top 10 large schools.  The Pioneers still managed to get a first place vote this week, despite being in second place in their league.  Park has lost its last two games played against ranked large schools from WNY and it's been nearly a month since its last win over a top 10.  Last four wins came against CCA, Niagara Catholic, Walsh, & St. Mary's.

5. Amherst (A2) - Two wins over current top 10 large schools.  Rolled past Williamsville East last week, before winning a close contest with Sweet Home.  The Tigers visit West Seneca East on Tuesday, who they beat by 11 earlier in the season.

6. Canisius (MMA) - Two wins over current top 10 large schools.  Moved the Crusaders down a spot following a 14-point road loss at St. Francis, their first loss to the Red Raiders in over a decade.  Currently in fourth place in the MMA standings, Canisius needs a win at Park on Tuesday, or the play-in game becomes a likely scenario for the two-time defending CHSAA state champions.

7. Kenmore West (AA) - Two wins over current top 10 large schools.  Pulled into a tie for first place in the NFL with a 21-point win over visiting Grand Island, who had been on top in the league. Also the only team to sweep Lockport. A pair of interesting nonleague games for the Blue Devils this week against Cheektowaga & Sweet Home give them the opportunity to confirm they belong in this spot.

8. Lockport (AA) - The Lions are currently part of the four-way tie at the top of the NFL standings with Ken West, North Tonawanda, and Grand Island.  They replaced NT on my ballot after sweeping the season series against the Jacks.  Will look to knock Grand Island from the tie in the NFL on Friday night.

9. South Park (A2) - Winners of six straight games, the Sparks are finally starting to play like the team I pegged them to be in the preseason (predicted Yale Cup I & Class A2 winner).  They had no trouble last week disposing of Middle College, and followed it up with a 21-point win over McKinley for a sweep of the Macks.

10. Jamestown (AA) - Gave the final spot to the Red Raiders, who lost at Williamsville South on Tuesday night, but rebounded with a win over Orchard Park.  They host Lancaster on Tuesday night with first place on the line in ECIC I and need a win to stay here.

 

Small Schools 

1. East Aurora (B1) - Spent last week earning sizable wins over Depew in a pair of victories.  Pioneer and Lake Shore are on the schedule this week for the Blue Devils.

2. Middle College (B2) - In their only game since defeating Health Sciences, the Kats got rolled at South Park.  I kept them here, because I never counted double figure losses to top 10 large schools against the Falcons when they happened this year.  Big game for them at East tonight, before hosting McKinley on Thursday.

3. Health Sciences (B2) - The Falcons play Oracle tonight and then take a long vacation.  With two weeks left in the regular season, Health Sciences likely won't be back in action for 18 days, when the Class B2 quarterfinals tip on Friday, February 24th.

4. Chautauqua Lake (C1) - On Thursday night, the Thunderbirds have a huge game at Dunkirk, where they need a win to stay in first place with Olean in CCAA I West, who they split with this season.

5. Cardinal O'Hara (MMA) - Hung around most of the evening against Timon, trailing by just four points midway through the fourth quarter on Wednesday night.  Followed a 12-point loss to the Tigers with a 100-55 win over CCA.

6. East (C2) - The Panthers are tied for first place with South Park, who they defeated 90-77 in their first meeting, in the chase for the Yale Cup.  Disposed of McKinley & Hutch-Tech last week and will need to avenge a loss to Middle College tonight to stay in first.

7. Ellicottville (D) - The Eagles have been rolling along waiting for tonight.  Franklinville comes to town for the rematch of what was an intense first meeting.  A win will all but guarantee the top seed in Class D and an outright league championship in CCAA II East.

8. St. Mary's (MMA) - Coming off tough games with Timon & Park, the Lancers look to rebound this week with games conming up against CCA, Starpoint, and Niagara Catholic.

9. Burgard (B1) - The Bulldogs are hanging onto this spot, barely, on the strength of wins over Franklinville.  They edged Riverside last week and had a much closer-than-expected result with winless Emerson.

10. Franklinville (D) - The Eagles need a win at Ellicottville tonight for a share of the CCAA II East title.

 

- centercourt

Comments

[StateChamps2003]

So Health Sciences nearly beat Oracle by 100 points yesterday. Very big of them. Gaines dropped 50 points. Great job. I hope he did all of that in the first half when they were up 62-14. If not, then Coach Parker should be embarrassed. Oracle has 2 wins this year. They previously beat Oracle by 31 points.

No Health Sciences starter or regular contributor should have been playing in the second half. According to the Buffalo News online, only 7 Health Sciences players scored. 7?!?! The team scored over a 100 points. Did the team only have 8 guys dressed? When they lost to St. Francis they had a lot more than 8 guys dressed. That would at least explain a little bit. Otherwise, run the shot clock down to below 10 seconds before you take a shot, play zone defense, something.

In today's pampered society surrounding high school athletics, I have hard time believing that this is OK. If Coach Starling Bryant got a talking to when his Traditional team of the early '00s beat Performing Arts by 100 then I would imagine Coach Parker would. Then again, who is there to govern the Charter Schools? Do they even have an Athletic Director.

Can't wait for Health Sciences road quarterfinal game against MEC.

[Hoops 101]

Well said StateChamp. Not only is that an issue with coaches without class but the issue of coaches on both boys and girls side being so cut throat about winning that they think there are know rules they need to follow. Like recruiting and bringing kids to public schools who live outside the district and running illegal practices with illegal players at practice. Good to hear some coaches have been suspended due to not following the rules of the sport.

[Buffalo]

you cant get mad at health sciences for having their team dominate the whole game a kid score 50 when just recently a girl played the whole game and scored over 50 and set the 3pt record with 16 and they killed the other team and she was praised

[Roger That]

It's too bad there isn't something the parents can do to stop the recruitment, especially when it's to another public school that can't offer a free car and dancing girls like the privates do. But we all know that similar to the war draft back in the day, you can basically either move to Canada or go where you've been recruited. Why is it that parents can't just simply say no thanks, my kid will continue to go here? I guess they are powerless when the unmarked van rolls up to abduct the athlete.

And those illegal practices you speak of, hopefully they slow down with the building of the wall. Because I know that dirty trick of letting an alumni scrimmage at a practice was an isolated incident and has never happened anywhere other than the one reported time. Who would even think to let such a thing happen. I feel dirty even typing about the subject.

[StateChamps2003]

I could care less about girls high school basketball. This is a blog about Western New York high school BOYS basketball.

Believe me, I'm not mad, but if I was the coach at Oracle I would be. There are far superior teams in Western New York than Health Sciences playing just as terrible teams as Oracle and I don't see them playing their starters when up by more than 50 points.

Gaines' 50 points against a hapless Oracle isn't nearly as impressive as say Greg Dolan's 24 points against Rochester's UPrep or Julian Cunningham's 18 points against Park.

[Michael Jonathan Sr]

I Think St Francis should be #1 but I can understand it but after tonight win vs The Park School St Francis will earn it with hard work and great coaching from Brian and his Staff and didn't have to pay for his players. That's what separate There program from all the others..