Large Schools
1. Orchard Park (AA) - I didn't even have these guys ranked in the preseason. But after watching them win at Amherst and at Timon, along with knocking off previously unbeaten St. Mary's, the Quakers jumped in my elevator and said "Going up"! So I told them once they reached the penthouse to go ahead and look around, but don't unpack until you win at Jamestown - coming up this Friday night.
2. St. Francis (A) - While you were busy jamming to jingle bells & slugging egg nog, the Red Raiders were piling up five straight wins (McKinley, Lackawanna, Will East, Health Sciences, & McQuaid). Health had been #1 in the last rankings and McQuaid just beat Aquinas, who had just beat Canisius & St. Joe's. They visit Nichols on Friday night, where a win makes it six in-a-row and a loss makes this ranking seem like a Hoak's!
3. Canisius (A) - After earning a nine-point win at Nichols before break, the Crusaders went 1-2 in three games at the St. Pius Tournament, where they entered as the defending champs. A big one to open the New Year looms when Timon visits on Monday, along with games against O'Hara & St. Mary's later in the week.
4. Amherst (A2) - I really like the Tigers this season and believe they will only get better over the next couple months. The only loss in the first seven games came at the hands of Orchard Park, who is currently exploring the penthouse. So I feel like a bold prediction is an order… Amherst doesn’t lose another game in the regular season and makes its deepest postseason run since Chris Kensy took over the program.
5. Health Sciences (A2) - After a great start to the season, the Grinch came along and put a lid on the baskets in Athol Springs where Health was shooting. In consecutive games at the St. Francis Tournament, the Falcons scored 35 points and 42 points, along with dropping their first of the season to the host Red Raiders.
6. Jamestown (AA) - Began the season 1–0 in ECIC I with a win at Hamburg before Christmas. Two more league games await this week with visits from Frontier and #1 Orchard Park.
7. St. Joe's (A) - After dropping three straight games (McQuaid, Aquinas, & Syracuse CBA) the Marauders face a pivotal matchup on Wednesday night when Timon visits Kenmore Avenue.
8. Niagara Falls (AA) - A visit from Grand Island will end an extended layoff for the Wolverines, ahead of a big Friday night battle at CSAT.
9. McKinley (A1) - After losing their first of the season to St. Francis, the Macks rebounded nicely with an 18-point win over Williamsville North. They host East and Bennett this week.
10. Niagara Wheatfield (A1) - The Falcons have won five straight games and have a 4–0 record in the NFL. They will be tested on Tuesday night in a visit to Lockport.
Small Schools
1. Timon (B) - After collecting some small school wins to begin the year, the Tigers took their first loss of the season in an exciting battle against Orchard Park. The competition now remains as real as it gets to start the New Year, with consecutive trips to Canisius and St. Joe’s coming up this week.
2. Olean (B1) - Undefeated through their first six games of the season, the Huskies begin league play with a big one at Allegany-Limestone this week.
3. Tapestry (B2) - Defeated Cardinal O’Hara right before Christmas, giving them a 2-0 record against Top 10 small schools. The Thunderhawks host Medina on Monday.
4. Nichols (B) - Coming off a home loss to Canisius, the Vikings look to snap a two-game skid when they head to St. Mary’s on Wednesday night, before hosting the red hot Red Raiders from St. Francis on Friday.
5. St. Mary's (B) - The Lancers visit Pembroke this week, ahead of league play starting up, where they will host Nichols and then visit Canisius. They suffered their first loss of the year prior to Christmas at Orchard Park.
6. Cardinal O'Hara (B) - The Hawks traveled over break and took losses to Lowville and Auburn. Jumping back into the win column looks to be a daunting task this week with Canisius, St. Joe’s, and Bishop Ludden all waiting for them.
7. Lackawanna (B1) - After playing a brutal December schedule designed to toughen them up, the Steelers are more than ready to start the New Year and league play in ECIC IV. Here’s another prediction and I won’t even call it a bold one…Lackawanna doesn’t lose another game in the regular season.
8. Salamanca (C) - Four consecutive wins for the Warriors include a big one at Randolph in a game they led throughout. They play in one of the toughest leagues in WNY (CCAA I West) and first up in division is a visit from Fredonia on Thursday.
9. Randolph (C) - The Cardinals bounced back from their first loss of the season to Salamanca with a 30-point win over Ellicottville. They have a huge nonleague game coming up on Saturday when Allegany-Limestone makes the trip.
10. Fredonia (B2) - The Hillbillies, who have only lost at St. Mary’s, put their four-game win streak on the line when they travel to Salamanca on Thursday night.
-centercourt
O'Hara girls are in the large school poll while their boys are small school. Does the catholic league classify by strength of the team rather than enrollment? If so, why aren't Timon and Nichols large schools on the boys side?
Posted by: FBL | Tuesday, January 04, 2022 at 12:34 AM
I can only speak to what they do with the boys and Nichols & Timon are both classified as small schools this season
Posted by: centercourt | Friday, January 07, 2022 at 06:06 PM