Large Schools
1. Amherst (A2) - After 36 & 35 point wins against Starpoint and Hamburg, the Tigers made it nine straight victories with a 78–54 win against Lockport on Saturday. Wednesday night, they head to Williamsville East for a rematch with the Flames, who they defeated by 25 earlier this season. Then on Saturday night, we finally get a little WNY basketball history, as the Tigers will finally face Canisius on the hardwood in the main event of the Centercourt Classic at Hamburg. Literally #1 vs #2 in WNY, just wow!
2. Canisius (A) - Passed one of the toughest tests in WNY, picking up a road win in Jamestown on Monday night, in an ultra-competitive game that came down to the buzzer. Without time to plan or prepare, they blitzed Park the very next night by 37 points and capped off the week with a 24 point win at Nichols, scoring 94 and 81 points in consecutive games. That sets up the gauntlet week of the regular season: three ranked opponents include a rivalry game against St. Joe’s on Tuesday, a trip to St. Francis on Thursday, and then the epic inaugural battle between the Crusaders and Amherst at the Centercourt Classic on Saturday night. The only way to see it is to be there.
3. Jamestown (AA) - After dropping a heartbreaker in the final second of the game against Canisius on Monday, the Red Raiders held consecutive opponents to 41 points, dismantling Park & West Seneca West. They will play away from home for three straight games this week, at Frontier on Tuesday, and at Clarence on Thursday, before a fascinating battle with the top small school in WNY, when they take on Timon in the Centercourt Classic at Hamburg on Saturday.
4. Health Sciences (AA) - The Falcons have been piling up wins like a city loader after a snowstorm. Maritime and Tapestry were the latest victims of Big Health last week. They will enjoy the comfort of their home gym, while looking to pile up a couple more W’s when BASCS and Global Concepts come in during the week, ahead of their annual battle with St. Joe’s, this year part of the big event on Saturday in Hamburg at the Centercourt Classic.
5. Niagara Falls (AA) - Improved to 13–2 with a strong finish at North Tonawanda in a 14-point victory. They’ll visit Kenmore West on Tuesday and host Lockport to finish up the week.
6. St. Joe's (A) - Improved to 10–7 during a productive week that included 14-point wins over both Nichols and Frannies. The Marauders have been hot lately, winning six of their last seven games heading into the rematch on Tuesday at rival Canisius. Thursday, they visit Park School and then on Saturday, the only two coaches that have appeared in every Centercourt Classic will square off as Gabe Michael leads his squad against Ty Parker and Big Health. That game is a 1:45 tip at Hamburg on Saturday. Michael coached against Parker in the Inaugural Centercourt Classic in 2018 when he was at Will South, leading the Billies led by Greg Dolan, past a Health that featured the Ticket, Davonte Gaines.
7. St. Francis (A) - Coming off a tough week that included double figure losses at Timon and Joe’s, the Red Raiders have both their games against Park, coming up in the same week, with a home date on Thursday against the Crusaders sandwiched between.
8. McKinley (A1) - Used to 22–4 start to overcome a tough Clarence team who came back strong in the Macks' 68–65 win on Tuesday. This week, McKinley will host Maritime on Tuesday and visit East at week’s end.
9. Niagara Wheatfield (A1) - Kept themselves atop the NFL standings with Tuesday’s win at Grand Island and hung on Friday night for a tough win over Frontier behind a career-high 39-point outing by Xander Fletcher. An important league game awaits on Tuesday night at the Lumberyard in NT, along with a game against Ken West. The Falcons finish their week with a return trip to the Centercourt Classic on Saturday at Hamburg, for a rematch of last season's epic Class A1 championship against Williamsville East.
10. Lockport (AA) - After picking up a 24-point win at Ken West on Tuesday night, the Lions lost by the same margin to the number one team in WNY from Amherst on Saturday. Two more big tests are on the schedule for Lockport this week and both are on the road against Class, AA opponents, Lancaster and Niagara Falls.
Small Schools
1. Timon (B) - In their only game last week, the Tigers took care of business against visiting St. Francis. This week, they travel to St. Mary’s on Tuesday and host Nichols Thursday night, before a big battle in the Centercourt Classic on Saturday night at Hamburg against the Jamestown Red Raiders.
2. Nichols (B) - Dropped both of their games last week against St. Joe’s & Canisius, by 14 and 24 points. They head to O'Hara on Tuesday night and then take on Timon for a second time this season on Thursday. The week wraps up on Saturday afternoon against one of the top small schools from the Southern Tier, when Class C favorite Randolph meets the Vikings at Hamburg High School on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 in the Centercourt Classic.
3. Lew-Port (B1) - The Lancers earned a third straight victory over a Class AA opponent when they knocked off Orchard Park at home on Tuesday night. It was a special evening as Jalen Duff achieved a major career milestone, eclipsing the 2,000 career point total. This week, they have a home game against Grand Island and a road trip to CSAT.
4. Salamanca (B2) - Just one game last week, a win at Dunkirk, gave the Warriors time to be ready for the huge week ahead. Two important league games, starting with a road trip to Fredonia on Monday, and then the rematch with a Allegany-Limestone in their gym on Thursday night.
5. Fredonia (B2) - Two more wins for the Hillbillies after blowing the doors off Springville on Tuesday and then defeating Olean at home on Friday night. Fredonia can move into a tie for first place in the league with the win on Monday night when they host Salamanca. Thursday night is a rivalry trip down 60 to see the boys from Dunkirk.
6. Allegany-Limestone (B2) - Back on the winning track after defeating Wellsville on Tuesday and then avenging an earlier loss with the road win at Southwestern Friday night. This week brings important rematches against league opponents, first a trip to Olean, and then a big one on Thursday night at first place Salamanca.
7. Depew (B1) - Took firm control of ECIC III with a 21-point win against Lackawanna Tuesday night, but came out on the wrong side against visiting North Tonawanda on Friday night, ending a five-game win streak. This coming Friday, the Wildcats are at Lake Shore.
8. Bennett (B2) - All rested up after a week off, the Tigers host Middle College Wednesday night and City Honors over the weekend.
9. Newfane (B2) - Stayed perfect in the N-O with a 30-point win against Medina on Tuesday and a second victory this season over Barker Friday night. They visit Roy-Hart on Tuesday night and then wait for their rivals from Wilson to sail in on Thursday.
10. Southwestern (B2) - Went into Randolph and put one on the Cardinals on Tuesday night to earn this last spot. The Trojans are at Dunkirk on Monday and looking for a sweep of Olean on Thursday night.
-centercourt
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