Poll Ballots 2018 - Week 1

(Tariq Eubanks and the Tapestry Thunderhawks deserved a spot in the first poll)

 

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 Sunday 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) - The Crusaders opened their season by rolling Williamsville South and followed it up with a victory over Nazareth, who is likely a top 10 Class A school in NYS.  After a trip to Rochester to face McQuaid on Wednesday, they will play in the feature game of the ADPRO Challenge on Saturday night against WNY's most highly regarded small school, Health Sciences.

2. Park (MMA) - Following wins over Middle College and South Park to open the season, the Pioneers took Niagara Falls apart in the Cataract Classic on Saturday night - the first time I've ever seen a local team win going away against Falls at that event.  Everyone knows about Noah Hutchins and Dan Scott, but in addition, Park's big guys look like they worked hard on their game, while Brandon Smith is off to a great start this season.

3. Niagara Falls (AA) - I called them Section VI's top public school in the preseason and that opinion didn't change with the loss to Park.  The Wolverines are deep, talented, fast, and fun to watch.  I don't see them losing another game in December, January, or February.  Rope off a spot for the pep band at Buff State early on Saturday, March 3rd, so they can be all set up when the Wolverines take the court to repeat as Class AA champs.

4. Timon (MMA) -  Heard they would be good and that they beat a team from Canada over the weekend   Apparently they have Julian Cunningham running the point, Master Radford controlling the paint, and Tahron Goudelock & Alero World on the team. 

5. West Seneca West (A1) - The Indians are off to a 4-0 start, winning their first three games by an average margin of 36.6 points and taking down Clarence in the fourth game by 17 points.  I have them as the favorites to win ECIC I, despite being the only Class A1 team in a league with all Class AA schools.  They host Lancaster on Tuesday night.

6. Williamsville South (A1) - Rebounded nicely following a loss at Canisius with a double figure win over Aquinas.  The Billies have a pair of tilts coming up against MMA large schools this week, hosting St. Francis on Wednesday and facing Timon in the ADPRO Challenge on Saturday.

7. McKinley (A1) - There must have been a lot of pent up aggression over at Mack High, because they came out and straight put one on Dunkirk Saturday evening.  The Macks are no longer defending champs of the Yale Cup or Class A1, but they're obviously looking to reclaim both titles.  We'll know a lot more after we see how this week goes with games against Middle College and East.

8. South Park (A2) - The defending Yale Cup champs began the year with a pair of losses, but those came at the hands of UPrep and Park.  A win over Hutch-Tech has them on the board heading into a week with games coming up against Burgard and Middle College.  

9. Amherst (A2) - Began the season with a lopsided win over Starpoint and chased it with a 10-point win at Maryvale, before the two-time defending Class A2 champs let the game get away against East in the Cataract Classic.  The Tigers will look to rebound at home against Jamestown this Friday.

10. Sweet Home (A1) - I considered several teams for this final spot, but only one was already 4-0 with a pair of quality wins.  The Panthers early season accomplishments include a road win in Jamestown, followed by a 14-point win over Lew-Port at the Cataract Classic on Friday.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) - Out of sight out of mind?  Must be, I'm the only one of the eight pollsters (10 are supposed to be voting!!) that have the Huskies #1.  Look, I understand this will draw some reaction and it should not be seen as any indictment on Health Sciences, but rather mad respect for the program that has earned it.  Honestly, I'm surprised I'm alone on this one - here's why.   Can anyone tell me the last time Olean was in Class B and didn't advance to regionals?   I didn't think so.  You would have to go all the way back to 2002.  That's right!  There have been nine seasons since 2002 that the Huskies were in Class B and advanced to regionals every single time (03, 07, 08, 09, 10, 12, 13, 14, & 16).  The last time Olean lost to a team in Class B at Buff State was in 2000 - current players weren't even alive then!  

2. Health Sciences (B2) - The Falcons are 3-0 with a pair of routs and an eight-point win over Dunkirk after building an 18-point halftime lead.  They draw Oracle on Wednesday as a warm-up for their toughest opponent of the season on Saturday at the ADPRO Challenge, Canisius.  

3. Franklinville (D) - After a march to states in Class D last season, the Panthers brought the entire farm back for another run this year and opened their season in style with a thrilling overtime victory over Niagara Catholic (who was already four games into its season) on Saturday at the Cataract Classic.  Two more tough nonleague games await this week with a Monday night tilt against the defending Class C champs from Chautauqua Lake, followed by Wednesday nights game with Burgard.

4. East (D) - Off to a 3-0 start with a 32-point win over I-Prep (who lost at the buzzer to Lockport), a 21-point win over Amherst (defending Class A2 champs), and a 30-point crushing of Class AA Rochester East at their place.  The Panthers are just looking for a competitive game right now, and McKinley just happens to be on the docket for Friday night.

5. St. Mary's (MMA) - I feel like no one is talking about the Lancers yet, most likely because they haven't played yet.  That changes on Friday when they host Lancaster at the ADPRO Challenge.  Remember these guys are the defending Manhattan Cup champs in Class B and there's plenty back for me to regard them as the team to beat in their league.

6. Niagara Catholic (MMA) - If you haven't seen this team play yet, you're going to want to.  It's the best Patriots team I've ever watched and I was around when AJ Roberts & Dyrell Dolson were there.  Their game against Franklinville was epic and will only have these guys even more fired up than they already are when they take the court next, which is Thursday night against Class AA Clarence in at the ADPRO Challenge.

7. Middle College (B2) - First year varsity head coach James Kane picked up his first win of the season against a stacked O'Hara team with a relentless effort for 32 minutes last week and followed it up with a win over a tough Burgard team the following day.  They were also tied with Park in the third quarter of the Pioneers' Tip-Off Tournament.  They face a pair top large schools in the city this week in the last two Yale Cup champions, McKinley and South Park.

8. Dunkirk (B1) - I get that they were blown out by McKinley, but this is a top 10 small school all day.  And yet the pollsters combined to keep them out, as if they didn't win at Lancaster, followed by outscoring Health Sciences in the third and fourth quarters of the game that followed.  The Marauders host Lake Shore on Monday night in a highly intriguing matchup.

9. Cardinal O'Hara (MMA) - Bounced back from a season-opening loss to Middle College with a solid win over an upstart Tapestry team that came in with some solid wins on their resume.  The Hawks face Niagara Wheatfield in the ADPRO Challenge this week, followed by a game at Fredonia.

10. Tapestry (C) - The Thunderhawks got off to a 4-0 start with a win against a private school, a pair of wins over Class B schools, and an impressive showing in a victory versus Class A1 Kenmore West.  These guys have to be the Class C favorites right now.  A game in Medina awaits Tapestry on Monday night.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[StateChamps2003]

What are the odds that Dorsey STILL votes for McKinley as the top large school in next weeks rankings? Even after losing to a small school that's not even ranked in the top 5 and losses to Park, U Prep and Kearney. I'd say the odds are still good. #takehisvotingcardaway

[ZMS]

What a joke the Buff news poll has become. Can't even get the all the pollsters to vote??? Both large and small polls only had 8 people vote. How hard is it to text the idiots that dont vote and say YO send your vote in??? And then they let Dorsey vote on the poll who won't even play catholics anymore and you think that was a good idea??? When was the last time Mckinley won anything and he votes his team #1. The whole first poll is a JOKE!!!