The fourth set of state rankings for the 2023 the season have been released by the NYSSWA. Below are the WNY teams that made the cut:
Class AA
Niagara Falls #12
Jamestown #16
Health Sciences #27
Class A
Amherst #13
Class B
Timon #4
Allegany-Limestone #5
Nichols #9
Lew-Port #16
Salamanca #30
Class C
Randolph #3
Holland #8
Class D
Clymer #12
Panama #15
Westfield #17
According to the rankings...
- Not much has changed in the Class AA landscape, but all three teams acknowledged by the state (Falls, Jamestown, & Health) are inching up. As of today, Falls is projected to be a state final four team, but two publics remain ahead of them. Meanwhile, Health is eyeing the legit Top 25 for next week instead of this magical #27 stuff and a look at the week ahead suggests they'll pile up three more wins.
- One thing did change in Class AA, sort of. In a sneaky move by the Amherst Jungle, they reclaimed their reservation at the Queensbury in Glens Falls...something they had seemingly been generous enough to transfer to the NFHS Pep Band just one week ago when it seemed they were no longer invited to states. However, the Tigers shot back up the state rankings from #18 to #13 and are once again the highest ranked Class A team in the Far West Region. As of now, the percussion section of the band has reserved some rooms at the Northway Inn, which has some really lousy online reviews. They are checking daily to see if rooms open at the Queensbury so the whole band can be together. Stay tuned, literally.
- A side note or an observation as to how losses are handled by the fine folks who meet each week to assemble these rankings. When Amherst lost to unranked Pittsford Mendon by 15 points, the Tigers had entered that contest ranked #9 in NYS Class A. The loss dropped Amherst nine spots to #18 and Irondequoit (Section V) moved up to the #9 ranking with an undefeated record. However, when Irondequoit lost its first game of the season (a road loss at Greece Athena) they fell all the way to #27 in NYS Class A. Greece Athena is now ranked #26. It's like Section VI was graded on a curve for its loss. Not complaining, but definitely something I noticed.
- The MMA is out! Unless you're a team classified as a small school. That means of the three Class A private schools in Buffalo (Canisius, St. Francis, & St. Joe's), none are ranked. Not even through the magic of 30 teams. No Top 25 private schools in Class A from WNY. Not sure I've ever seen such a thing.
- Timon slips back two spots in NYS Class B to #4 following its loss to Syracuse CBA. According to the rankings, they still win the CHSAA Class B state title. According to the rankings, the 2nd best team in CHSAA Class B is Nichols, ranked #9 in NYS Class B. And according to the new postseason structure in the MMA, neither should have any shot at that title. They've made it so only sub .500 teams should have the opportunity to play for a state championship.
- Allegany-Limestone's week off didn't change its ranking, still #5 in NYS Class B. However, the Gators are now one of the top two public schools in the NYS Class B rankings and that would put them in the state championship game.
- Salamanca's loss to Avon (3rd highest-ranked Class C team from Section V) on Saturday evening was sure to drop them from the NYS Class B rankings. But the team wisely blasted Abracadabra by the Steve Miller Band on repeat & at full volume all the way back to Salamanca. Surely the bus driver wanted to disappear before the bus even made it to Cattaraugus County, but for the Warriors it was just the touch of magic they needed...the NYSSWA magically expanded the rankings in Class B to 30 teams and awarded the coveted #30 slot to them.
- Randolph now sits at #3 in NYS Class C, but that's still not good enough to reach Glens Falls with Section V Lyons looking down at them from #2.
- Clymer is now our regional representative in Class D after dishing Panama its first loss last week. The Pirates have two losses on the season, but both came at the hands of Class B teams from the powerful CCAA I West (Salamanca & Southwestern).
Click HERE for complete NYSSWA State Rankings
-centercourt
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