Sectional Preview - 2020

 (Allegany-Limestone looks to repeat as Section VI champions)

 

The Section VI postseason begins tonight with six First Round matchups.  The winner moves on to participate in the pre-quarterfinal round on Wednesday night, before 32 quarterfinal games between Friday night and Saturday afternoon decide which teams move on to Buffalo State and JCC for the semifinals.

Below I take a look at some of the best matchups we could potentially see in the pre-quarterfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and even the championship games, along with sleepers, some winning streaks, and predictions.

 

Most exciting brackets, top to bottom:

8. D

7. C1

6. B2

5. B1

4. AA

3. A1

2. C2

1. A2

 

Class A2 & Class C2 are the most similar brackets of the postseason in 2020.  Each has a clear favorite, Health Sciences in A2 and Randolph in C2.  But after that, it looks like a battle royal between the remaining teams, with upsets that are sure to come.  In Classes A1, AA, and B1, there are numerous teams that could wind up winning it all and no clear-cut favorites.  Class B2 offers a favorite in Allegany-Limestone, but any of the top five seeds are built to clip the Gators on the big stage.  I'd be very surprised if Class C1 didn't feature a Section VI title game between the top two seeds in the bracket, while I think Class D features #1 vs. #3.

 

Sleepers from each bracket

AA -  Lancaster:  The Legends have only lost five times all season and 15-5 is a very impressive record for a #5 seed.  Among those 15 victories are wins over the #3 and #4 seeds, Orchard Park and Will North.  They lost twice to Jamestown by a combined eight points and they've won big against some quality opponents this season, including a 68-49 triumph over Will North...the #4 seed they visit in the quarterfinals with Buff State on the line.

A1 - Ken West:  Also a #5 seed, the Blue Devils enter the postseason with 10-10 mark after losing four of their last six games.  So why are they the sleeper?  Well I watched them play three times this season, and every game was a dramatic come-from-behind victory after being left for dead.  These guys have serious grit, which has a little something to do with head coach Mike Meetze, who has announced this will be has last season.  The Ken West theme song might as well be a Cypress Hill track -- 'We ain't goin out like that'!

A2 - East High:  I had the Panthers in my preseason Top 10 after joining the large school ranks, up from Class C in 2019.  While their record is just one game above .500 and likely the reason they haven't been receiving votes in the poll recently, you won't find any bad losses on their resume.  What you will find - a pair of double figure wins over South Park and a five-point loss to Health Sciences.  East High has length and talent and can play with anyone in Class A.

B1 - Olean:  The easiest sleeper pick ever.  For starters, it's Olean and the name alone has been known to strike fear into people.  There's only been one time in the last two decades that Olean was in Class B and didn't win a Section VI title.  They have wins this season over the likes of Jamestown, Allegany-Limestome, Depew, and East Aurora and are winners in eight of their last nine games.  The biggest obstacle they will face might be the Saturday afternoon quarterfinal at #2 Iroquois.  Find a way to knock off the Chiefs and suddenly you're at Buff State, where mail is still being sent for Jeff Anastasia, who doesn't even coach Olean anymore.

B2 - Maritime:  The Commodores finished 13-7 on the season and enter as the #5 seed with a date at Newfane on the horizon.  Some of Maritime's signature wins this year include West Seneca West, Williamsville South, Tapestry, and Bennett.  Two of their seven losses came at the hands of Health Sciences, and a third just occured at Orchard Park by two points.  I'll promise you no one is sleeping on these guys, but as the #5 seed, they qualify as a solid sleeper pick.  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

C - Maple Grove:  The Red Dragons come into the Class C2 bracket as the #7 seed with as good a chance as any other team in that classification to reach the final opposite Randolph.  Despite a 2-4 start to the season, Maple Grove finished 14-6 on the year.  They hit the postseason on an eight-game win streak that includes victories over a pair of teams seeded higher than them in Class C2.  Their last three wins have come by an average margin of 23.3 points.

D - Riverside:  They are the only Buffalo Public School in a seven-team bracket, where the other six teams are all Southern Tier schools.  Facing different competition could benefit the Frointiers and a review of their results from this season shows improvement against every team they faced twice.  

 

Top 10 Pre-Quarterfinal Games (Wednesday, February 26th)

10.  (9) Tonawanda @ (8) Medina

9.  (10) Akron @ (7) JFK

8.  (12) City Honors @ (5) Lackawanna

7. (11) Roy-Hart @ (6) Cleveland Hill

6.  (10) West Seneca East @ (7) Lake Shore 

5.  (12) Starpoint vs. (5) East

4.  (11) Maryvale @ (6) Albion

3.  (9) Hamburg @ (8) Niagara Wheatfield 

2.  (10) Ken East @ (7) Sweet Home 

1.  (9) Cheektowaga @ (8) Williamsville South

 

Top 5 Friday Quarterfinal Games (February 28th)

5.  (6) Frewsburg @ (3) Ellicottville

4.  (7) Maple Grove @ (2) Holland

3.  (5) Ken West @ (4) West Seneca West

2.  (5) Salamanca @ (4) Westfield

1.  (7) Sweet Home @ (2) North Tonawanda 

 

Top 6 Saturday Quarterfinal Games (February 29th)

6.  (6) Albion @ (3) Depew

5.  (5) East @ (4) CSAT

4.  (6) South Park @ (3) Lew-Port

3.  (5) Maritime @ (4) Newfane

2.  (7) Olean @ (2) Iroquois

1.  (5) Lancaster @ (4) Williamsville North 

 

Top 5 Most Exciting Potential Semifinals

5. North Tonawanda vs. McKinley (A1)

4. Health Sciences vs. Lew-Port (A2)

3. East vs. Amherst (A2)

2. Williamssville East vs. West Seneca West (A1)

1. Jamestown vs. Orchard Park (AA)

 

Most Exciting Championship Games

5. Class B2

4. Class C1

3. Class A1

2. Class D

1. Class AA

 

Winning streaks heading into sectionals

Randolph - 17  (and 19 of the last 20)

Maple Grove - 8  (and 9 of the last 10)

Medina - 7  (and 9 of the last 10)

Bennett - 7  (and 11 of the last 12)

Fredonia - 6  (and 10 of the last 11)

Niagara Falls - 5  (and 6 of the last 7)

Salamanca - 5  (and 6 of the last 7)

Cleveland Hill - 5

Olmsted - 5 

Health Sciences - 4  (and 19 of the last 20)

Olean - 4  (and 8 of the last 9)

Allegany-Limestone has won 12 of the last 14

Depew has won 10 of the last 11

Williamsville East has won 9 of the last 10 & 15 of the last 17

Jamestown has won 9 of the last 10

Amherst has won 8 of the last 9

Iroquois has won 7 of the last 8

Frewsburg has won 6 of the last 7

Albion has won 5 of the last 6

Ellicottville has won 5 of the last 6

 

Predictions

AA - Niagara Falls

I picked Jamestown in my Season Preview and feel crazy for going against that now.  But betting against Falls seems equally loco, considering they are the four-time defending champs with a double figure win over Jamestown in hand already this season.

A1 - Williamsville East

The Flames have a standout in Cal Shifflet, a maestro in Max Schneider, and the experience of playing in the Class A1 Final last seasom.

A2 - Health Sciences

I told Ty Parker in early December that I thought this was the best Health team I'd ever seen. 

B1 - Iroquois

The Chiefs were my preseason pick, but haven't even been a ranked small school for most of the season.  And it looks like they'll need to beat Olean just to get to Buff State.  This is a prediction that either makes me look really smart or very stubborn. 

B2 - Allegany-Limestone

Of all the public schools in Section VI Class B, the Gators have looked like the best one to me, with just the right blend of everything.

C1 - Middle College

The Kats brought so much back from the crew that played for a state title last season and didn't disappoint this year, going undefeated in the city for a third straight Yale Cup.

C2 - Randolph

This one comes with a centercourt guarantee.  There are some very tough teams in Class C2 and it's definitely the more talented bracket as a whole compared to the C1 competition, but the Cardinals are on another level in this bracket.

D - Panama

It will not be easy for the Panthers to get past Sherman, who they only beat by three points in both meetings between the two teams during the regular season.  But I'm not betting against a Cam Barmore-led team in a Section VI postseason.

 

-centercourt

Comments

[Buffalobill]

I’m confused?? 2 of the top 5 five “exciting” semi final games include A2 schools...so wouldn’t the winners make for an exciting final game?? Lol

[Buffalo bill]

Confused?? How does A2 have 2 of the 5 most exciting semi finals but not finals?? Lol

[KD]

Both the western conference semis looked exciting last year but nobody thought the western conference final would be exciting and it wasn't. Portland was a good match-up for the Nuggets but not for the Warriors

[Buffalobill]

If A=B and B=C... then A=C lol

[Disappointed in WNY]

I just saw the all league teams from AA in a Jamestown’s newspaper. Coach Foleys son from Frontier was on the 2nd team. Everyone complains about Kyle Husbands conflict of interest in MMA , how is a coach of a player involved in the process of picking his own son in section 6? (I hope I’m misinformed) It would be very hard for the other coaches to go against another coach when it comes to his son. I’ve watched a lot of AA games and his son is a good player but there’s definitely other boys deserving on teams with better records. Politics as usual in WNY high school basketball. Again, I’m not taking away from the boy just feeling bad for some of the other boys who were overlooked because of politics.

[Retired Cop]

Good God the basketball dads are terrible. You all know who you are and you all stink. You spend your time pumping up your kid who for some reason the majority just isn't as high on. The above comment stinks on so many levels. The name stinks. You're not Disappointed in WNY, you're disappointed in your sorry self and that your kid isn't higher for some award that he probably doesn't deserve. You are misinformed. Coaches don't vote for their own teams. You watch a lot of good AA games? How many that Frontier played in? I'm guessing only the game or 2 your kid played against them. Your sentence "again, I’m not taking away from the boy". Again what? You are totally taking away from him and calling it politics. Others were overlooked. Who? Your kid? What's his name chicken bleep. Support your argument with a name other than the boy you came on here to bash.

[No longer disappointed in WNY]

My sons not involved. If you read my post I stated that I hope I was misinformed and he doesn’t vote for his own son. That being said thanks for clarifying things. Makes me feel good. Thanks

[No longer disappointed in WNY]

Retired a Cop, I apologize to the people who run this site and the coach and young man. My intention wasn’t to take away from the boy. I watched him play 4-5 times and he’s a good player. Congrats to all the boys.

[Ballislife]

Predictions

AA- probably the most open class. There are 5 teams I think have a legit chance to win (OP, will north, Jamestown, lancaster, falls)
Winner- Jamestown

A1- the potential semi matchup between Mckinley and North Tonawanda is interesting and I think the winner of that game ultimately wins the championship against Will East.
Winner- North Tonawanda

A2- the matchups at Buff State have the potential to be some of the most exciting games, but I can't go against the team that has looked the best all year.
Winner- Health Science

B1- I don't know if I would call it an upset but based on their seeding I guess it would be considered one. I feel Olean has played well all year but with the loss of a legendary coach and some well known players they are under the radar this year.
Winner- Olean

B2- #5 Maritime is a team I could see making a run but I think the best team is...
Winner- Allegany-Limestone

C1- The potential final between Tapestry and Middle College is a game I am looking forward to.
Winner- Middle College

C2- I think Randolph is the dominant team here and I don't see them slowing down now. If they can win the crossover C1 C2 game I could see Randolph heading to a state title.
Winner- Randolph

D1- I will be honest I don't know a lot about these teams except for what I read and seeing highlights of games.
Winner- Panama

[Sal]

Ball is life don’t overlook the Wolverines

[Ballislife]

Would never overlook the 4x defending champs. Even though falls has a victory over Jamestown earlier in the season I feel Jamestown is playing the best ball right now. But like I said I think class AA is wide open this year and it wouldn't be a shock to see any of 5 teams win it,especially the Falls.

[BD1]

What a game between Wil East and WSW. Ryniec’s new nickname should be Buff State Nate. Congrats to both teams on a good game and on good sportsmanship. WSW in the finals against a very good NT team. How many people predicted these two in the A1 final?