The second state rankings for the 2020 the season have been released by the NYSSWA. Below are the WNY teams that made the cut:
Class AA
No teams ranked
Class A
Park #1
Canisius #2
Health Sciences #4
St. Joe's #18
McKinley #23
Class B
Cardinal O'Hara #9
Olean #22
Allegany-Limestone #25
Class C
Tapestry #2
Middle College #5
Randolph #8
Class D
Panama #2
Clymer #11
According to the rankings...
- We have a winner! Last week, it was unclear if the Far West Region would even send a team to Glens Falls in Class AA because there were no teams from that region even represented in the Top 25. Well thanks to the ever expanding rankings, it is now clear that UPrep is the big winner after the rankings went to a Top 30 after week one, and UPrep was quick to snatch up the coveted #29 slot.
- Park and Canisius will play. Thanks to a talent-rich Florida Tournament that Albany Academy picked up its first three losses of the season in, the Cadets plummeted to #10 in the Class A state rankings. Losses are not looked upon kindly, especially three of them. You can get away with one...or even two, as Park found out when it lost its second game of the season on Saturday and then moved up to #1 in NYS Class A. Right behind them though, Canisius. The Crusaders improved to 5-0 with a double figure win over McQuaid, one of Park's two losses, and they are now the #2 team in NYS Class A. So basically, Park & Canisius have a date in Fordham on March 29th...but it gets better...
- Either Park or Canisius will have to first defeat NYSPHAA state champion Health Sciences, now the #4 team in NYS Class A and the highest ranked team in the public school tournament. That's THREE teams from WNY in the Federation Tournament from Class A. They should all do lunch while in the area together.
- The best way to lose is in North Carolina. It worked well for St. Joe's, who jumped up to #18 in NYS Class A after losing its only game of the week. Reports have the team currently looking into possible games in Raleigh late in January.
- McKinley knocks off Williamsville East in the Class A1 Final, before losing to Health Sciences in the Class A crossover -- the first ever meeting between the two programs.
- Cardinal O'Hara's loss to McKinley didn't happen according to the rankings. But according to the records, it did. The Hawks are now 2-2, but remain locked in at the #9 spot in NYS Class B.
- Allegany-Limestone's loss to Bradford did happen according to the rankings. Bradford is a large school program from PA and knocked off Olean in double OT on Sunday night, but beating Allegany-Limestone the night prior caused the Gators to fall two spots to #25.
- Tapestry isn't just going to Glens Falls - they are now playing for a state championship thanks to its #2 Class C ranking in NYS.
- Last week, I suggested the Class C rankings could magically expand to 20 teams from 15 teams. Well, I hope you all believe in magic. Poof...20 teams! However, despite the expansion, no love for Holland and its 4-0 record. Last week, Ellicottville was ranked at 3-0 (a loss to Salamanca on Sunday night knocked them out of the rankings). A 3-0 record is impressive if you're Ellicottville. But 4-0 you ask -- not so much if you're Holland I guess.
- Losing by 15 points to unranked opponents in the same classification is no biggie. Somehow, someway, Clymer is still ranked #11 in NYS Class D. This despite falling to 3-2 after a 15-point loss to unranked Sherman. They are the only two-loss team in the now expanded-to-20-teams Class D rankings.
- Pirates & Pioneers > Dutchmen
Click HERE for complete NYSSWA State Rankings
-centercourt
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