Large Schools
1. Orchard Park (AA) - One of two unbeatens left after improving to 7-0 with wins over Lancaster, Clarence, & Hamburg last week. The Quakers look to stay in first place and keep the train rolling with games at Frontier and against Williamsville North this week.
2. Canisius (A) - After earning an exciting win over St. Joe's, the Crusaders traveled to Erie for the BK Classic. They came back with an 8-4 record overall after splitting games there, defeating host Cathedral Prep, before falling in the championship game to St. Edward. They host Aquinas on Saturday afternoon in a rematch of an earlier loss.
3. St. Francis (A) - Took down Cardinal O'Hara by 12 points to start the week, then beat St. Mary's in a thrilling finish that saw Logan Reaska score at the buzzer, before hopping a bus to Cuse to knock off Corcoran in round one of the Bishop Grimes MLK Tournament. They'll look to keep bowling over the competition with three more opponents coming up this week, beginning with a tournament championship game and then visits from St. Joe's on Wednesday & Timon (and me) on Friday.
4. St. Joe's (A) - The Marauders need wins at St. Francis and at Nichols this week, after coming up short in a battle at Canisius on Wednesday. No nights off!
5. Health Sciences (A2) - The Falcons looked mostly dominant at their rivals from Tapestry on Friday night, winning their by 26 points. They were even more impressive at the MLK Classic against East. On Wednesday, they face a huge test at Nichols in a classic contrast of styles matchup.
6. Jamestown (AA) - The Red Raiders are tied for first place in ECIC I with OP after staying perfect in league play with wins over Lancaster and West Seneca West. They'll be on the road this week with two long trips to Williamsville North & Clarence, before a Saturday night date with Park at JCC.
7. Amherst (A2) - Took a tough loss Williamsville East on Tuesday night before bouncing back with a big home win against Iroquois on Friday. The Tigers go to work on another win streak this week, beginning at Starpoint and then hosting West Seneca East.
8. Williamsville East (A1) - The Flames ended a five-year losing streak to Amherst on Tuesday, earning a 57-51 victory after outscoring the Tigers by 11 points in the final frame and limiting them to 4 points. They are now tied for first place in ECIC II and to stay there, they'll need wins at Sweet Home and against West Seneca East this week.
9. Niagara Wheatfield (A1) - Whether you're talking about the National Football League NFL or the Niagara Frontier League NFL, the phrase "since the merger" pops up when it's statistically relevant. Well the Falcons have been very relevant this season and after knocking off Niagara Falls for the first time since before the Falls merger with LaSalle, they are all alone in first place. A win over Ken West on Saturday kept them there. Next up is top league contender Lew-Port, followed by another dangerous squad in CSAT.
10. McKinley (A1) - Saw their 19-game win streak in Yale Cup action come to an end with a 62-46 loss to South Park before rebounding with a 20-point win over Bishop Kearney at the MLK Classic. The Macks face I-Prep & Hutch-Tech this week.
Small Schools
1. Nichols (B) - Took down #1 Timon with a big comeback performance that lasted an extra session and then did the exact same thing at Cardinal O'Hara two nights later, to become the new top dog. But it's far from lonely at the top as Health Sciences & St. Joe's will keep the Vikings company in another week of fun contests.
2. Olean (B1) - The other unbeaten team in WNY, the 9-0 Huskies have now won 8 of those 9 games by double figures, with Fredonia & Southwestern the latest to fall victim. They should have no trouble making it 9 of 10 and 10-0 when they travel to Dunkirk.
3. Timon (B) - Lost their second MMA game of the season at Nichols in an instant classic. The Tigers look to get back into the win column with St. Mary's and league rival St. Francis up next.
4. Randolph (C) - Lots of new varsity faces enjoying the same old success at Randolph, marked by outstanding defense. An impressive finish to a tightly contested game throughout before a great crowd at Salamanca has the Cardinals sitting at 9-1 on the year. Their next two games are against Cassadaga Valley and at Silver Creek.
5. Tapestry (B2) - The Thunderhawks won handily against Maritime before their rivalry game with Health Sciences got away from them. They'll tune up with charters BASCS & Global Concepts, ahead of a fun one with Sweet Home.
6. Salamanca (C) - Won by 19 at Southwestern ahead of a 52-point trouncing of Dunkirk, before dropping an intense game with Randolph that raised over $7,000 for Cystic Fibrosis. The Warriors next welcome in Allegany-Limestone and then face Chautauqua Lake in a game played at JCC.
7. Lew-Port (B1) - Made it six wins in their last seven games with victories over Grand Island & Niagara Falls last week. There's now just two teams in the NFL that the Lancers haven't beaten - first place Niagara Wheatfield and the only league team with a win over Lew-Port...Ken West. The Lancers face both of those opponents in a pivotal week ahead.
8. St. Mary's (B) - Led for over three quarters against St. Francis before the lead slipped away late. Life in the MMA is tough and maybe the toughest place to play is at Timon where they travel on Wednesday, before their first of two meetings against Cardinal O'Hara at home on Friday.
9. Lackawanna (B1) - Made it back-to-back games scoring 100 points with a 64-point thumping of Eden. Roadies with Tonawanda & JFK are next for the Steelers.
10. Westfield (D) - A 52-point win over Falconer improved the Wolverines to 10-1 on the year. Three more CCAA II West opponents ahead in Chautauqua Lake, Panama, and at Sherman.
-centercourt
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