The eighth state rankings for the 2018 the season have been released by the NYSSWA. Below are the WNY teams that made the cut:
Class AA
(Niagara Falls 30)
Class A
Park #3
Canisius #5
West Seneca West #12
Timon #14
(Williamsville South #26)
Class B
Health Sciences #4
Olean #5
Middle College #18
Niagara Catholic #23
Class C
Tapestry #6
Chautauqua Lake #19
Class D
Franklinville #2
East #3
Ellicottville #8
******** According to the rankings above........
- Niagara Falls finally got its participation trophy. They are now #30 in the NYS top 25 of Class AA. That's right, not really ranked, just listed in the late edition expansion rankings that the state adds when too many teams (more than 25) deserve that coveted "shout out". Although in my experience, that's not who Falls is anyway. They don't need a bunch of love, just another title in Class AA with a shot at Rochester in the end. Besides they have bigger things to worry about than state participation trophies anyway...like starting stronger so they aren't trailing Lew-Port at halftime.
- Ok, let's get right to Timon. Either the state rankings crew were straight blown away by Timon's win over Frannies, or I finally got through. They jumped eight spors in NYS Class A from #22 to #14 with their only activity last week being the St. Francis win. It's fine, we'll call it progress. Or perhaps a very indirect way of saying, "yeah, we screwed up on Timon and saw how you kept raking us over the coals for it." Like I said, progress. Good enough for now, I guess. They deserve to ahead of Irondequoit, both on the strength of being crowned in the Rush-Henrietta Tournament both teams were in and the win over Park, which trumps any wins the Eagles can boast.
- Timon's opponent on Friday night is Park, now #3 in NYS Class A. Pay close attention to how that one is handled next week. When the Tigers beat Park in round one, they basically "so what" from the state rankings crew. Would a second win get the same treatment? I don't know, but I bet a loss gets the Tigers dragged straight to the guillotine.
- West Seneca West remained at #12 in NYS Class A, while Williamsville South received another participation trophy. The inscription on the gold plate reads "you're special.'
- Health Sciences and Olean remain #4 & #5 in NYS Class B. The Class B1/B2 crossover game is at 6 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Buff State, just in case you were wondering.
- St. Mary's loss at Cardinal O'Hara was reason enough for the rankings to drop the Lancers altogether, despite the win at St. Francis two days earlier. Niagara Catholic, who St. Mary's and St. Francis have beat, is back in at #23 in NYS Class B after placing their shiny participation trophy (#27 last week) in the trophy case in the halls of NC.
- Tapestry remains at #6 in NYS Class C, looking up at a pair of teams from Section V ranked ahead of them - Northstar Christian & Pembroke. Those are two teams that play very different styles, but either will be tough get past in the Far West Regional.
- As the rankings currently stand in Class D, a Franklinville vs. East Class D Final would determine which team draws defending state champion Moriah in the NYSPHAA state tournament. Section V thinks I'm off my rocker to look past Prattsburgh or Clyde-Savanah and assume we send our Class D champ to the state final four, but I turn to a quote or lyrics from Rage Against the Machine - no matter how hard you try, you can't stop us now! By the way, Franklinville, East and Ellicottville - three teams in the top eight in NYS Class D - are all in the Centercourt Classic. Don't forget to check that out on Saturday!
Click HERE to see the complete NYSSWA State Rankings
-centercourt
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