Large Schools
1. Amherst (A2) - The Tigers are now one of two Top 10 large schools that have yet to lose to another area team, after adding wins over Sweet Home and Iroquois last week. In fact, a 25-point went over Williamsville East is the closest game they’ve had in WNY. Look for the winning ways to continue this week with road games at West Seneca East and Williamsville South.
2. Jamestown (AA) - The other Top 10 large school with no local losses. The Red Raiders knocked off Williamsville North on Saturday in their only action of last week. They will look to stay unbeaten in league play when they visit Orchard Park on Thursday. Jamestown finishes off the week with a nonleague home game against Elmira.
3. Health Sciences (AA) - Came away with a 43-point win from their trip to Tapestry last week and collected two more victories over Maritime and BASCS. The lone loss on the season for the Falcons was at Canisius in the season opener at the start of December. Friday night they head to Lackawanna.
4. Niagara Falls (AA) - The mighty Wolverines finally dropped a game after 11 straight victories to begin the year. While I still view this team very highly, the loss at Lew-Port on Friday night reinforces to me that this season, anyone can be had. And the response from the team to this loss will be a fascinating one, considering their next opponent is Canisius.
5. Canisius (A) - Knocked off St. Francis on Tuesday and St. Mary’s on Thursday, for the team's third straight victory. On Monday they will lace 'em up against Niagara Falls, a team they last faced in 2020 and defeated narrowly at home. The season prior in 2019, Niagara Falls bested the Crusaders at the Centercourt Classic. A fascinating match up and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
6. St. Francis (A) - The Red Raiders rebounded nicely from a loss at Canisius on Tuesday by throttling Nichols and holding them to a season low in points. They have league games coming up this week at O’Hara on Wednesday and against St. Mary’s on Friday, but the week begins against the top squad in the Yale Cup from McKinley
7. McKinley (A1) - The Macks stayed undefeated in city play with a pair of road victories over two of the top teams in their league, South Park and Bennett. Saturday in the MLK Classic, the team stood toe-to-toe with Timon for three quarters, before the Tigers pulled away in the final frame. I love the schedule they played last week, and this week starts big again with a battle against Frannies. The week rounds out with games against Hutch Tech and at Middle College.
8. St. Joe's (A) - The Marauders evened to their season record to .500 with wins at St. Mary’s and against Cardinal O’Hara last week. Joe’s will look to win away from home with three road trips coming this week, at Park on Wednesday and at Timon on Friday night, after taking on Orchard Park at Hilbert College on Monday.
9. Niagara Wheatfield (A1) - The Falcons sent Lew-Port home with a 13-point loss on Tuesday night in their only action last week in a game they were in control of throughout. They take on Hamburg and visit CSAT this coming week.
10. Lockport (AA) - The Lions host Lew-Port on Tuesday and visit Grand Island Friday night, coming off wins over CSAT and Ken East last week. The only losses on the season for Lockport came to Timon, Nichols, Niagara Wheatfield, and a three-point loss to Niagara Falls.
Small Schools
1. Timon (B) - Three more wins for the Tigers last week and they were notable - Nichols, Park, and McKinley. South Park & St. Joe’s visit South Buffalo this coming week, along with a trip to face Middle College.
2. Nichols (B) - Came storming back on Tuesday night against Timon after falling behind big and got within a point, before running out of gas. Then on Thursday night, the tank reached empty when they got to St. Francis. It didn’t take the Vikings long to fill back up, earning their second win of the season against Aquinas on Saturday, the team considered the top squad in Class AA from Rochester. Nichols will play Allderdice (PA) and Park this week, along with an away game at St. Mary’s.
3. Lew-Port (B1) - Reeling from a loss at Niagara Wheatfield, the Lancers got everybody’s attention with a stunning win over the top-ranked large school from Niagara Falls that came in undefeated. That victory shows they can play with anybody, and they will need that same energy on Tuesday night at Lockport and again on Friday when Ken West visits.
4. Salamanca (B2) - A heck of a week for the Warriors as they earn two double-digit victories over league opponents, Fredonia and Allegany-Limestone. The latter win put the first blemish of the season on the host Gators, and put Salamanca in first place tie in league play. To be in sole possession of first, they will need to pass a pair of tests coming this week in their gym when Olean and Southwestern visit.
5. Allegany-Limestone (B2) - After jumping out to a 17–2 lead against visiting Olean on Tuesday, the Gators cruised to a win. However, Friday night against Salamanca, the team didn’t start as fast and failed to match the intensity of the visiting Warriors, which resulted in their first loss of the season. They have another tough league game in their gym this coming Friday against Fredonia, after road games against Dunkirk and Riverside to begin the week.
6. Randolph (C) - After handling Frewsburg earlier in the week, the Cardinals took one on the chin against visiting York from Section V on Saturday, losing every quarter. Randolph hopes to get back on track at Gowanda and against Cassadaga Valley this week.
7. Depew (B1) - Logan Shipley's deep three-pointer as time expired gave the Wildcats an exciting victory over East Aurora on Saturday, the second win of the week for the team after beating Lake Shore on Monday. Tuesday night they head to Maryvale and then host Pioneer on Saturday afternoon.
8. Bennett (B2) - Coming off of 37-point win against Hutch Tech on Tuesday, the Tigers took a pounding at the hands of the defending Yale Cup champions from McKinley on Thursday night. The next two opponents for Bennett are are going to be tough ones, with league games at I-Prep and against South Park.
9. Newfane (B2) - The Panthers were tied with North Tonawanda in the fourth quarter on Friday night before taking a tough loss at home. They remained undefeated in league play after beating Wilson last week, and will look to keep the good times rolling against Albion on Tuesday and at Akron Thursday night.
10. Southwestern (B2) - The Trojans won a pair of league games by double digits last week, first knocking off Dunkirk and then beating Olean by 14. Senior Matthew Pannes broke the school record for points in a game in the first win, dropping 43. Then on Friday night, he broke his own record with a 47-point outing in the win over the Huskies. Some impressive water these boys in Western New York are drinking this season, I will say that! Pannes and his squad have a tough week ahead with Fredonia coming in on Tuesday and visit to Salamanca this Friday
-centercourt
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