Top Games of the Week: 12/31/18 - 1/6/19

(Mike DiGiulio and the South Billies host the Game of the Week / Photo: Harry Scull,Buff News)

 

Wednesday, January 2nd 

Hutch Tech @ Grand Island - 6:30 pm

Sweet Home @ Williamsville South - 7:30 pm

 

Thursday, January 3rd

Nichols @ Cardinal O'Hara - 6:30 pm

Williamsville East @ West Seneca East - 6:30 pm

Medina @ Newfane - 6:30 pm

Orchard Park @ Frontier - 7 pm

West Seneca West @ Clarence - 7:30 pm

Jamestown @ Williamsville North - 7:30 pm

 

Friday, January 4th

McKinley @ South Park - 6 pm

Middle College @ East - 6 pm

Amherst @ Williamsville South - 7:30 pm

Fredonia @ Olean - 7:30 pm

Franklinville @ Ellicottville - 7:30 pm

Silver Creek @ Randolph - 7:30 pm

Westfield @ Panama - 7:30 pm

Maple Grove @ Chautauqua Lake - 7:30 pm

 

Saturday, January 5th

Health Sciences @ Tapestry - 3 pm

Canisius @ Aquinas - 3:30 pm

 

Sunday, January 6th

At Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)

St. Francis vs. Bishop Ludden - 1:45 pm

Timon vs. Bishop Grimes - 3:30 pm

St. Joe's @ Christian Brothers Academy - 5:15 pm

 

* Game of the Week -  Amherst at Williamsville South on Friday, January 4th

In 2016, Williamsville South and Amherst were top five large schools in WNY and spent the season on a collision course to meet in the overall Class A Final at Buff State.  When the big game finally came to fruition, large student sections from both schools filled the baseline bleachers at the Buff State Sports Arena and infused the place with a little something extra. Not only was the winning team to advance to regionals, but there was also a matter of geographic pride on the line.  Separated by just 2.3 miles on Route 5 in Buffalo, this was dubbed the Battle of Main Street. 

 

Led by the Dolan brothers, the Billies won the big game on the big stage by 10 points over a Tigers squad that boasted TC Brown and Amadi Ikpeze, en route to the team's only trip to Glens Falls in program history.  The following season, divisional realignments in ECIC landed Amherst in the same league as South and the Battle of Main Street became an annual two-game series & an instant rivalry.  

 

In 2017, South gave up its home court advantage to play the first round across the street from the home of the Tigers at Daemen College.  The Billies would score a thrilling win before an overflow crowd that evening.  However in round two, it was Amherst's turn to grant fans the privilege of chanting "We own Main Street", as the Tigers controlled the game and won by 10 points at home.

 

During Greg Dolan's CC MVP campaign in 2018, Williamsville South was a clear cut above a young Amherst team and took a pair of lopsided decisions, to give the Billies a 4-1 advantage in 'The Battle' since 2016. 

 

Early indications from the games played so far in the 2019 season have ECIC II being a battle royale, with several teams having the horses and belief that they can win the league. Amherst and Williamsville South are both once again right in the mix.  The Tigers will enter the game with a 3-1 league record, while the Billies come in 2-1.  Amherst's loss came at the hands of West Seneca East, who Williamsville South defeated.  The Billies league loss was by 10 points to Hamburg, who the Tigers trounced by 30 points. 

 

While it's hard to make sense of those results, it might be harder to find a parking spot and a seat if you get there late on Friday.  It's the first 2019 'Game of the Week', Main Street style!

 

 

-centercourt

Comments

[MMAFan]

Upset special of the week. St. Joe's beats Park , Joe's has the one player in WNY that matches up with Parks big , Keep Park out of transition and zone them make them make jumpshots. Heard it here firs. Joes will win .
Why teams pressure and play park man baffles me ,they are very beatable.Two kids are on the court that don't even look at the basket . Soft press to slow them down, then back into a packed in a zone. Drop 2 guards back to keep the young guard out of transition. Put there big in constant pick and roles on other end in space.He will foul and you will pull him away from the basket . Joe's by 5

[Mad Mike]

I agree Park will lose more games than thought. Saw them play falls and OP. They are not a deep team at all. All bench players do not belong on a varsity roster it's that bad. Park still may be best but closer than we all think. MMAFan has a whole game plan sounds like a Homer though. If Joe's loses do not comment anymore. Watch out for Canisius heard it here first.

[Flavor Flav]

How homeboy gonna come on here talking about being a homer then being a homer about canisius? Barely beat the Seneca west trainwrecks and not even better than Ohara. Park smokes them like a session YEAH BOY

[Everyone hates the best]

Mad Mike is a good name . He's mad for sure , contradicting himself one broken sentence to the next . You forgot one major aspect of the team , JACOBS!!!
Even if we lose no MMA team can do what we did last year .

[Mad Mike]

Mad Mike is not my birth name. And im not a canisius fan. Actually Frannies til the end! Their coach is good as parked look way better than years past. Canisius although had best coach in area and under rated roster. If they let Johnson play we would be talking about WSW. We all know they would have beaten Park.

[WNY Fan]

Nice one Mad Mike. Thanks for the laugh. So that means if Daniel Scott would have stayed and played at Park they’d win the state and feds again? I didn’t know that ifs win and lose games.

[thingsweknowbutwontsay]

Everybody hates the best .The one major aspect in Park winning is bringing over seas kids over here strictly for the purpose of helping the basketball team win games. So tired of the whole Park madness without the bigs they somehow brought over and got there school payed for they wouldbt win a thing.Best team that money can guy. But privates do anything to win. Always has been the case.

[Mad Mike]

Yea buddy that is conspiracy talk. We don't know anything about those boys. And trust every team recruits players in a fashion. It's natural. I still think Johnson is best guard in area. Even if Scott returned.

[WNYfan]

The best PG in WNY is Noah Hutchins.(don’t you think the college coaches know anything, Hutchins has 15 d1 offers and Scott also has a # of them) The best guard combo last year was Hutchins/Scott. Justin Johnson was a very good player in Section 6 but a step behind these two.

[Mad mikes #1 fan]

......stayclutch 🤷🏽‍♂️😬

[Dave Davis]

MMAFan, what is your next prediction? I need to laugh a little and gain some of that armchair basketball knowledge you possess.😂😀😂😛

[MMAFan]

@Dave Davis
Was not far off Joes had lead down to 6 in fourth and without some horrible officiating it could have been closer , A charge on Hutchins was not called and numerous over the backs on the big, officials swallowed there whistles and that was on the road. I take Joes when Park visits. More surprised that a weak Timon team almost canisius

[Mad Mike]

MMAfan I told you to stop posting after your terrible assessment and excuses make it worse. Don't worry Park will lose some games. I was not at Joe's but heard it was good. Canisius looked shaky from box score. Frannies may be best out here and only team that could challenge WSW if Johnson returns. Heard he might.

[WNYfan]

Mad Mike, How and when is he returning? As for MMA fan, I attended the Park-St Joes game. Bad refereeing favoring Park? What game were you watching? Not the same one everyone else was.

[Flavor Flav]

Mad Mike you a troll straight up. Johnson long gone and them West Trainwrecks already lost more games this year than offers Johnson got. Thats 6 losses and no offers if you was wondering and West aint even the best team from West seneca..........just like football YEAH BOY

[Mad Mike]

Correction. Johnson is done for the year I misspoke. Johnson did not get offers and I do not know why but I am sure others agree with that assessment. Everyone challenges me with WSW picks but say nothing when I say Frannies so we are all tooting. Out next game may be at Park or it is coming soon. You will all see and then be quiet. Flavor flav is literally a troll.

[MMAFan]

@Davis My next prediction is Park will lose two MMA games , Ohara and one of Frannies games. They will still be the top large school in WNY at years end . MMA is tough again in A division Canisius has taken some losses but have had a brutal schedule they will be battle tested , and they are good. Joe's will be a tough out as they are looking though despite record. Have not seen Timon yet but losing there big hurts them he is top 3 big man in area.

Then there is the 2 unbeaten teams Olean/Lewiston. How many teams would be unbeaten playing those teams weak schedules?alot. No way Olean Should be higher than Ohara and Lewiston should be no where higher than a 5 based on competition. And watch out for Amherst who was impressive as any team in win the other day vs a good Will South team .So my prediction is this Davis !
MMA large (park)
MMA Small (ohara)
AA Falls High
Overall A - Amherst
B- Olean
C-Tapestry
D- Really don't pay much attention to it .

[Adam the Driver]

MMAFan and Mad Mike you write a lot and say nothing useful. Your assessments have been nothing short of lunacy. You should all listen to the CC radio interview other day. Honest assessment and shows love to us small schools!

[MMAFan]

@ Adam yes show love to the small schools who can't play with the big boys . I listened to the show to hear about the same suburban kids talked about over and over again while playing weak competition. Or about the best team money has bought in area .One prediction I missed was park/Joe's and it was closer than any of you thought it would be. Keep driving buddy .