Large Schools
1. Timon (AA) - Seven games into the season, the Tigers are still waiting for a challenge. They scored 101 points at Pioneer, beat McKinley by 31 (the same amount of points Jacob Humphrey had at halftime), and knocked off Amherst by 26. On Thursday, St. Joe's arrives, before they travel on Saturday to play at Syracuse Academy of Science.
2. Niagara Falls (AAA) - The Wolverines picked up a pair of wins in Charlotte prior to Christmas and then defeated Health Sciences right after it, before losing their second of the season to Maryland state champion Edmonson. They have a game at McQuaid this week, before a big weekend in Erie for the Burger King Classic.
3. Canisius (AA) - We have a pretty good idea how tough Canisius is based on early season results against local opponents. So the competition they faced over break must’ve been absurdly good. The Crusaders never trailed at St. Joe's prior to Christmas. Thursday night, they host Nichols and Saturday afternoon, McQuaid comes to town.
4. Frontier (AA1) - Respect is earned, and it is given, especially when you start the season the way Frontier has. Six wins and no losses, including placing their signature on a victory over Health Sciences. The gauntlet known as ECIC I gets going on Wednesday when the Falcons fly to Clarence.
5. Orchard Park (AA1) - Five straight victories to begin the 2024 season with an eye-popping 32-point win over St. Mary’s among them. The Quakers host CSAT this week.
6. Jamestown (AA1) - The Red Raiders defeated Dunkirk, Franklin from Section V, and took down Lockport by 26. The defending league champions begin conference play at Lancaster on Wednesday, and then host Clarence Saturday afternoon.
7. Nichols (AA) - The Vikings competed with Maryland state champion Edmonson a few days after knocking off Amherst at the buzzer in overtime. Last season, they started the New Year out in style with a win at Canisius. Well, lookie here…Nichols heads to Delaware Avenue on Thursday!
8. Health Sciences (AA2) - I might have had the Falcons too high at the beginning of the season, but I would also be surprised if they are this low in the rankings when the year is over. Health struggled to find their way offensively in losses to Frontier and at Niagara Falls, after defeating Middle College and Williamsville East. Maybe the rims will be a little more kind against Hutch Tech this week.
9. St. Joe's (AA) - The Marauders left their rivalry game against Canisius pretty deflated, but bounced back nicely with a pair of wins in NYC over St. John Prep and St. John the Baptist, before a three-point loss to tournament host Holy Trinity. SJCI will take a run at Timon on Thursday.
10. Lancaster (AAA) - Wins at East Aurora and against CSAT made it six straight for the Legends to begin the year. A seventh straight will not be easy with Jamestown coming in on Wednesday night and then Williamsville North arriving Friday.
Small Schools
1. Randolph (C) - The Cardinals came back from the Tully Tournament with a pair of thrilling victories in hand after defeating a tough Allegany-Limestone team prior to Christmas. That makes 13 wins in a row dating back to last season, and the 14th looks pretty promising when they head to Cassadaga Valley this week.
2. Salamanca (B2) - The Warriors lost two consecutive games at the IAABO to Warren and Otto-Eldred. Prior to break, however, Salamanca earned convincing victories against Niagara Wheatfield and Sweet Home. They begin the New Year against Olean.
3. Newfane (B1) - After defeating Albion by 51 points, the Panthers took down CSAT over the break. Newfane plays its neighbors to the east when they host Barker on Wednesday, before a short drive to the neighbors from the west in Wilson on Friday night.
4. Fredonia (B1) - Rolled past Buffalo Arts and Maritime, after defeating Lake Shore, and proved they could compete with Clarence in a 9-point loss. A good game awaits them on Thursday at Allegany-Limestone.
5. Westfield (C) - Four more victories since the last rankings from these Wolverines: Clymer, Southwestern, North, Collins, and throttling 35-point victory over Falconer - a team that won at Olean this year by 10.
6. Middle College (B1) - I know I’ve been jumping these Kats all around the rankings in the first two weeks, but they definitely belong in them, after defeating Williamsville East, and nearly doing the same to Lockport. This week they host Bennett.
8. Burgard (B1) - The Bulldogs remained unblemished with a 12-point win against Dunkirk, and should keep that trend going against Riverside this week.
7. Akron (B1) - A victory over CCA improved them to 5–0, before taking their first loss of the year at the hands of Pembroke. The Tigers bounced back with a win at Barker, and are in action next on Wednesday against Wilson, before ending the week at Medina.
9. Eden (B2) - A solid 15-point victory over Springville to keep the unbeaten season alive at Eden. Interesting road test coming up this week at Tapestry.
10. Falconer (B2) - A pair of victories against Cassadaga Valley came between a nice 20-point win over previously unbeaten Maple Grove. The Golden Falcons look to bounce back from their loss at the hands of Westfield when they play Gowanda this week.
-centercourt
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