(Gabe McCoy defends the paint for #2 small school Randolph)
Large Schools
1. Canisius (A) - Downed O'Hara & St. Francis last week to stay unbeaten in WNY. Tuesday night the Crusaders head to Timon - a team that pusjed them to overtime on their floor in round one. Then on Saturday night, it's #2 vs. #3 in NYS Class A and #1 vs. #2 in the Buffalo News large school poll, as Canisius battles undefeated Health Sciences at Williamsville North in the Centercourt Classic.
2. Park (A) - After an entire month without a game in WNY, the Pioneers are back in action locally, as they face the undefeated Falcons from Health Sciences, who are ranked ahead of them in NYS Class A. Then on Thursday night, Bishop Kearney visits.
3. Health Sciences (A2) - Stayed undefeated with a win over East last week, heading into the biggest week of the regular season for the Falcons. Monday night they play at Park and then meet Canisius on Saturday night in the headliner of the Centercourt Classic at Williamsville North, 6:15 pm. Big, big week for Health!
4. St. Joe's (A) - Coming off a big week that included victories over NYS Class AA Top 25 teams in UPrep and Niagara Falls. They have home games against Nichols & St. Francis this week, ahead of a Centercourt Classic rematch with Lew-Port on Saturday at Williamsville North, 4:30 pm.
5. Niagara Falls (AA) - Defeated Lew-Port on Tuesday night to stay unbeaten in NFL play, before falling at St. Joe's on Friday night. The Wolverines are at Ken West on Friday night and host Lockport on Saturday afternoon.
6. Amherst (A2) - Took Williamsville South down in a rout on Wednesday night and then needed overtime on Friday against West Seneca East to win their sixth in a row and stay unbeaten in ECIC II.
7. Lew-Port (A2) - The Lancers are hopeful for Roddy Gayle's return to the lineup and will look to end a three-game skid this week with league games against Grand Island and Ken East, before taking on St. Joe's on Saturday in the Centercourt Classic at Williamsville North.
8. Jamestown (AA) - The Red Raiders are now winners of five straight after defeating Lancaster & West Seneca West. They travel to Frontier on Monday and then have a date with Williamsville North on Friday night in the Centercourt Classic.
9. Orchard Park (AA) - Bounced back from a loss to Lancaster the week prior to avenge a loss to West Seneca West and then sweep Williamsville North in a hard fought battle on Friday night. Games with Frontier & Clarence await the Quakers this week.
10. Williamsville North (AA) - A big week ahead for the Spartans with three home games. On Monday night they host Cheektowaga. Wednesday night is the championship game of the Five Guys Tournament that was postponed from late December, against district rival Williamsville East. Then on Friday night, they host the Centercourt Classic and Jamestown.
Small Schools
1. Middle College (C1) - Stayed undefeated in Yale Cup I with wins over South Park & City Honors last week. On Saturday afternoon, The Kats take on the defending CHSAA state champions from Cardinal O'Hara in the Centercourt Classic at Williamsville North, 2:45 pm.
2. Randolph (C2) - After gaining wins over Ellicottville & Salamanca last week, the Cardinals staked their claim as the top small school in the Southern Tier with a dominant defensive performance in a double figure win over Allegany-Limestone. On Friday night, Randolph plays Iroquois in the Centercourt Classic at Williamsville North, in what should be a great game at 6 pm.
3. Allegany-Limestone (B2) - The Gators lost their first game against WNY competition at Randolph on Saturday. They are unbeaten and in first place in CCAA I West, with a big rematch at Olean looming on Monday night.
4. Timon (B) - Fell by one point in the rematch with Cardinal O'Hara on Friday night. This week the Tigers will try to make some noise when they host Canisius on Tuesday and then welcome in Nichols on Friday.
5. Tapestry (C1) - Bounced back against Global Concepts after a loss at Clarence earlier in the week. Monday night, the Thunderhawks seek to even the score with Maritime.
6. Fredonia (B2) - Moved into sole possession of 2nd place in CCAA I West after a strong finish against Olean in a win that saw Tyler Putney can eight 3-pointers and score 30 points. Fredonia is at Dunkirk on Monday and hosts Chautauqua Lake Thursday night.
7. Cardinal O'Hara (B) - Recent wins over Timon and Nichols, along with significant strides in rematches with Canisius & St. Joe's, have the Hawks back in the rankings. A win on Monday night over St. Francis would be big, ahead of Thursday's rematch with St. Mary's. On Saturday, O'Hara takes a swing at the top ranked small school in WNY when they face Middle College in the Centercourt Classic at Williamsville North.
8. Maritime (B2) - The Commodores are 8-1 in their last nine outings, heading into a big rematch on Monday night with Tapestry, who they defeated by two points on January 22nd.
9. Bennett (B1) - Won games over Buffalo Arts & I-Prep last week by 42 & 47 points! The Tigers have three more Yale Cup II games this week, looking to stay in first place.
10. Olean (B1) - The Huskies couldn't hang on to their lead at Fredonia late in the fourth quarter on Thursday night and slipped into 3rd place in CCAA I West. On Monday night, they host the team at the top of the division when neighboring rival Allegany-Limestone visits.
-centercourt
Great job as usual with rankings and insight.
Expect Niagara Falls to fall hard and soon.
Constantino was the rock that held that program together through good and bad times. Teams were always tough and more than that he handled the hard issues and his teams had some years with the highest academic achievement NFHS has ever seen.While serving as a stern but fair coach.
The Falls is currently suiting up 7 of the 12 or 13 players on the original roster . One starter and two other players have quit the program in last few weeks .Add in two academic casualties, the coach is not new as the falls boosted he had 20 plus years experience when he was hired . So he should've been ready for the challenges at NFHS.
Instead players were allowed to not miss a game this year while having grade point averages in the teens in core classes , until they had to be taken off the court due to eligibility rules . Coaching is more than collecting Ws and Ls. The Falls youth deserves someone that cares beyond that.Rob Harris is the JV coach and I bet would do wonder for the kids in this community.
The talent runs dry after this year if you have seen the JV team play . Alot of these seniors were in great youth feeder programs that are no longer in place in the Falls to develop talent.Sad state of affairs for what is on the horizons for a once proud program!
I assume the coach will make a run at Lightfoot to come home and save him next year, because that will at least insure him some more Ws on his record .
Posted by: Fallsdeservebetter | Monday, February 03, 2020 at 02:26 PM
How is falls ahead of Amherst? Falls lost and barely beat a Roddy Gayle less lewport team?? Amherst beat the falls as well this season??
Posted by: Go tigers | Monday, February 03, 2020 at 04:05 PM