(Julian Eziukwu and the Park Pioneers host Canisius on Saturday)
Monday, January 15th
Park vs. Pine Ridge Secondary *at Park* - 3 pm
Tuesday, January 16th
Williamsville South @ Sweet Home - 6:30 pm
Cardinal O'Hara @ Nichols - 6:30 pm
Grand Island @ North Tonawanda - 6:30 pm
South Park @ McKinley - 6:30 pm
City Honors @ MST Seneca - 6:30 pm
St. Mary's @ St. Joe's - 7 pm
Amherst @ Lancaster - 7:30 pm
Kenmore West @ Williamsville North - 7:30 pm
Randolph @ Gowanda - 7:30 pm
Wednesday, January 17th
Park @ St. Francis - 7 pm
Southwestern @ Chautauqua Lake - 7:30 pm
Thursday, January 18th
St. Mary's @ Nichols - 6:30 pm
Iroquois @ Lake Shore - 6:30 pm
West Seneca West @ Clarence - 7:30 pm
Orchard Park @ Lancaster - 7:30 pm
Williamsville East @ Williamsville South - 7:30 pm
Allegany-Limestone @ Randolph - 7:30 pm
Gowanda @ Silver Creek - 7:30 pm
Jamestown @ McDowell (PA) - 7:30 pm
Friday, January 19th
Wilson @ Newfane - 6:30 pm
Middle College @ Burgard - 6:30 pm
Olmsted @ Riverside - 6:30 pm
St. Francis @ St. Joe's - 7 pm
Dunkirk @ Chautauqua Lake - 7:30 pm
Timon @ Niagara Catholic - 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 20th
Niagara Falls @ Lockport - 2:30 pm
Canisius @ Park - 3:30 pm
* Game of the Week * - Canisius @ Park on Saturday, January 20th
Was there even a question of which of the games out of this week's lineup would get the nod?
In 2015, both teams won Federation championships in Class A & Class B respectively. Those followed CHSAA state championships, which followed each team winning the Manhattan Cup. The two teams remain the only ones from WNY to win NYS high school basketball's highest honor in the last six years.
Following the two Monsignor Martin Association powers winning the Federation over the same weekend in Albany in 2015, Park was moved up in classification to compete in Class A. The implications of the move were that now they would have to go head-to-head twice during the regular season and compete in the same playoffs for the Manhattan Cup.
During the 2016 regular season, Canisius swept the two games against Park. The first was a victory on the Pioneers' home floor, accomplished with a strong second half, after falling behind by double figures in the second quarter. The second meeting of the regular season was a low-scoring defensive affair that favored the Crusaders style of play. After both teams advanced to the Manhattan Cup Final, the Pioneers had a chance at redemption, but it was Canisius who won for a third time in an epic overtime title game. The Crusaders would go on to win two more games and secure a second straight CHSAA Class A state championship. Canisius and Park finished the 2016 season ranked and regarded by everybody as the top two teams in WNY. The leaders and First Team All-Centercourt selections from each team landed in the Division I ranks - the Crusaders' Stafford Trueheart to Hofstra and Park's Jordan Nwora to Louisville.
Last season, Park finally had the Crusaders' number, and it wasn't even close. A 26-point pounding on Delaware Avenue was followed by a 28-point rout a month later at Park and it looked as if it was finally the year when the Pioneers would hoist its first Manhattan Cup in Class A. But St. Francis dashed the hopes of Park with a victory in the Manhattan Cup semifinals, its third of the season over the Pioneers, before falling to Canisius in the final. So even in a season when Park swept Canisius by an average margin of 27 points, the Crusaders still finished with all the glory.
So now the rivalry resumes, and when you stop to consider it, very little has actually changed since they met last year. Park has everything back from last season except Joe Jones, along with a new head coach. Canisius graduated Colby Moultrie from last season's rotation. Aside from that, we basically have all the key pieces back. However, don't expect a rout to be the result this season. Expect to see a pair of heavyweights beat on each other for 32 minutes. It's Park versus Canisius and it's the 'Game of the Week'!
-centercourt
Looking to see your complete write up on the Park and Canisius game this afternoon. I heard it was a very good one. Unfortunately I was not in town for it. Thank you.
Posted by: Bob Manley | Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 10:14 PM