Large Schools
1. Niagara Falls (AA) - The Wolverines opened their season with a pair of lopsided wins that included one over defending NYSPHAA Class AA State Champion Liverpool. In what could be WNY's game of the season, Falls hosts the defending Federation Champion from Class A this Friday when Park comes to town. They'll take a swing at Timon the following night.
2. Park (MMA) - Winners of 11 straight games dating back to last year's title run, which includes their season-opening pounding of UPrep out of Rochester. Get your popcorn ready for Friday when Noah Hutchins leads his team into action against Willie Lightfoot, Jalen Bradberry, & NFHS.
3. St. Francis (MMA) - The Red Raiders tip off their season this Friday night at the Pastor Cooper Showcase against McKinley.
4. Lew-Port (A2) - I tempered my expectations coming in, with two starters being a freshman & an eighth grader on a non-Buff State team from last year, and not knowing what the team chemistry would look like. After seeing them in action twice, expectations are rapidly rising.
5. Williamsville North (AA) - The Spartans begin their quest to return to the Class AA final by clobbering McKinley at the showcase in Amherst over the weekend.
6. Canisius (MMA) - We will get some answers about this Canisius team on Friday and Saturday at their annual Tom Keenan Memorial Tournament, where they open against West Seneca West, and then play either Aquinas or South Park.
7. West Seneca West (A1) - We will get even more answers about West Seneca West this weekend when they head to Delaware Ave. The Indians haven't lost to a team from Western New York since the 2017 season.
8. Health Sciences (A2) - Looked tough in their opening win over Will South without two starters, but forgot to get off the bus for the start of their game against Nichols, and then rebounded nicely against an overmatched Governor Simcoe the following day. The team is idle this week.
9. South Park (A2) - The Sparks jump right into things, playing nearly a quarter of the regular season schedule this week with four games ahead, beginning against I-Prep.
10. Clarence (AA) - Taking a flyer on the Red Devils for the final spot this week, with a nice team coming back and an interesting opening matchup against North Tonawanda at the Pastor Cooper Showcase on Wednesday.
Small Schools
1. Olean (B1) - Off to a 2-0 start with wins over Tapestry & Jamestown and a home winning streak that now sits at 70 games.
2. Cardinal O'Hara (MMA) - The Hawks returned from Binghamton with a pair of wins, including one over Seton Catholic, who reached the NYSPHAA state final last season.
3. Middle College (C1) - The defending Yale Cup champions went into Amherst on Friday night and handed the Tigers a 14-point loss. Tuesday night they host McKinley, who they swept last season.
4. Nichols (MMA) - Took an impressive victory home from the Lew-Port Tip-Off Tournament over Health Sciences, before falling to the hosts the following day.
5. Randolph (C2) - The Cardinals' season begins Friday night against Panama.
6. Allegany-Limestone (B2) - The Gators host Smethport as part of their 'Shootout in the Swamp' to begin the year.
7. Southwestern (B2) - After going back-and-forth with Class AA Jamestown for four quarters in the Olean Tip-Off Tournament, the Trojans handed defending Class C champ Tapestry a 12-point loss the following day, despite not having Alex Card who was at the Connolly Cup banquet... a very impressive start.
8. East (C1) - The defending New York State Class D champions take on the defending Class C Section VI champs from Tapestry at the Pastor Cooper Showcase on Thursday.
9. City Honors (B1) - The Centaurs, who nearly pull the upset in the quarterfinals last season at Olean, host Bennett on Tuesday.
10. Tapestry (C1) - Certainly not the start the Thunderhawks had hoped for. The Olean loss was expected, but the Southwestern loss & especially the margin (12 points) was not. Next up is East, who won't be an easy team to bounce back against.
-centercourt
MST is actually defending back to back champs of The Yale Cup 2. City Honors is well coached. But if u pick a Yale 2 team in the top 10, shouldnt it be back to back champs with the returning Yale2 POY Earl Howard and Coach Kirsh . Hes one of the most successful , longest tenured guys in WNY. Nobody seems to mention that tho.....
Posted by: Coach G | Wednesday, December 05, 2018 at 12:43 AM
Thoughts
Falls over park seems a little premature , especially with Parks opening game thumping of Uprep.
Ohara is the top small school and possibly large school in area.
Lew Port being 4th is puzzling , there best win is against a Nichols team that is not particularly strong.
Canisius/Francis are both question marks early they should be behind Park, Fall, Will North for sure.
Will north should be the third team in large school after two dominating performances , over over Mckinley who almost beat Middle Early.
WSW is a top 4 school with Johnson, when is decision being made?
Tapestry has started as a disappointment.
After the top three small schools there is a huge drop off.
Top teams overall
1.Ohara
2.Park
3.Falls
4.Will North
5 Olean
6.Frannies
7. MEC
8. Lew Port
9. WSW
10.Cansius
(WSW is top 3/4 with Johnson)
Posted by: pollthoughts | Thursday, December 06, 2018 at 11:13 AM
After watching last nights Park vs Niagara Falls game, is there any doubt that Noah Hutchins is the best PG on the planet, I mean in WNY(lol). He doesn’t have a weakness in his game and is an unbelievable leader who makes all his teammates better. Did I mention that he can drive to the basket at will. He’s the best and some might call it my opinion but I’m saying it as a fact. Also, the Park Pioneers look like they might have another state run in them. Keep it up boys. Pioneers #1.
Posted by: The Original Park Proud | Saturday, December 08, 2018 at 07:00 PM