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The following are the league champions in WNY this season:
MMAA – St. Joe's, Canisius co-champs
Yale Cup I – East
Yale Cup II – I-Prep at Grover
ECIC I – Jamestown
ECIC II – Williamsville South
ECIC III – Maryvale
ECIC IV – Tonawanda
NFL – Niagara Falls
N-O – Wilson, Newfane co-champs
CCAA I – Dunkirk
CCAA II – Cassagdaga Valley
CCAA III – Maple Grove
CCAA IV – Panama, Clymer, Sherman co-champs
-centercourt
Go Crusaders!!!!!!!!!
So Mr. Court the question now is.. to what percentage did you successfully predict those league champions back in November?
The league champs that I got wrong were:
ECIC III – Maryvale (picked Depew)
ECIC IV – Tonawanda (picked Lackawanna)
CCAA I – Dunkirk (picked Olean)
CCAA II – Cass Valley (picked Portville)
CCAA III – Maple Grove (picked Westfield)
CCAA IV – (correctly picked Panama) Clymer, Sherman were also co-champs
MMAA – (correctly picked Joe’s) Canisius also co-champ
* I did correctly call the Wilson/Newfane split though
So in the end, I was over 50%, but not much over.
Well…it’s about that time to make predictions.
AA:
Top seeds Jamestown and the Falls are clear and heavy favorites to meet in the final in a rematch of the opening game of each team’s season. Neither’s road is clear of potential stumbling blocks, however. Each will play the winner of an interesting pre-quarter in their first game. Jamestown will either host Clarence for the second time in eight days or Lockport. I don’t see either team being problematic for the Raiders, considering how well they have looked most of the season, especially the three games after the loss to North. The Falls will play the N-W/Frontier winner. Frontier has to be a favorite in this prequarter after blowing out KW on Saturday, a team N-W lost to twice in the regular season. Again, however, I don’t see either being a major hurdle for the Falls.
A matchup to watch is the probable pre-quarter between OP and KW. Many will likely be looking for an upset here, considering Saturday’s result and OP’s latest game with Frontier. I feel the blowout loss could be the worst thing or the best thing to happen to KW…either they wilt to another ECIC 1 team after a strong year, or they use it as a wake up call and play much more aggressively than they did on Saturday. In any event, I feel it will be a tight game but think West’s athleticism carries them late. The winner will take on Lancaster on Friday. A KW/Lancaster matchup is certainly a clash in styles…the depth and fast paced style of KW and the half-court sets and two man show for Lancaster. I feel Harrington would be too much inside and Lancaster makes their first appearance at Buff St. that I can recall.
The other intriguing potential quarterfinal is McKinley visiting North. I don’t see McKinley having any trouble with WSW, especially after they have seemingly righted the ship against Tech. Much like the KW/OP game, I think many will be thinking McKinley will come through after North’s(specifically Taplin’s) listless performance against Wil East. However, I feel that was more a product of looking ahead to sectionals rather than simply not being that good of a team. Assuming both team’s play to their potential, I see quite a high scoring affair. North’s front line isn’t nearly as athletic as McKinley, but players like Hussain and Safir do the little things that should even the balance. McKinley is a team that I feel Taplin could thrive against, but I also feel McKinley’s depth will be too much for North to handle. I like McKinley to head back to Buff St.
Thus, I see Jamestown/Lancaster and Falls/McKinley as the semifinal matchups. I think both have the potential to be close games, as Lancaster has played Jamestown tough in both prior meetings and McKinley has the athletes to hang with the Falls. However, I’m going with the chalk…I feel Jamestown and the Falls just has superior talent and will come good when it matters most. The final of Jamestown/Falls is intriguing in numerous ways but most of all in that people will be talking about it from so many different angles. Some have said Jamestown is more talented and would have won the first meeting with a few more minutes on the clock. Others will now be saying that the Falls will be on a mission after losing to Joe’s. I feel it’s as simple as one player…Jaysean Paige. If he is on as he has been for so much of the year, I do not think the Falls can contain him, even with their depth at guard and size up front. To me, the Falls just doesn’t have the talent or experience to overcome a player like Paige and the compliments around him. I like Jamestown repeating as AA champs and having a real shot to make a deep state run.
TML, you said specifically Taplin’s listless performance? You seemed to make a comment about that in an earlier post as well. Didn’t he still have 11 points?
I like your take TML, if the Campion’s along with Diaz and Cechinni can hit shots against NF and throughout the playoffs, Jamestown will be a formidable opponent for anyone. Though congrats to Jamestown for their Varsity Boys, JV Boys, Varsity Girls, and JV Girls all winning the ECIC league championships this year. A truly special years for Jamestown Hoops this year, let’s hope they keep it going…
WNYHOOPS – you must be the J town AD to know they all won their leagues? Who cares who wins JV leagues !! What do you think Drake? : )
No need to be jealous of the depth that Jamestown’s program has man. It’s a pretty small town here so we all know how all of our teams are doing. We support Red Raider basketball here, and care about every team from our Varsity to our youth leagues. Do you wish your school had this depth too?
Some fun Sectional Champions Stats. I was bored and put this list together. Dating back to 1938 these are the list of teams that have won ten or more sectional championships and also a list of Yale Cup teams that have won sectionals.
Niagara Falls High School – 15
Lackawanna – 14
Trott Vocational – 13
Traditional – 11
Olean – 11
Franklinville – 11
Bennett – 10
Lasalle – 10
Jamestown – 10
Sherman – 10
Yale Cup Teams (only go back to 1970 for some reason)
Traditional – 11
Bennett – 10
Grover Cleveland – 8
City Honors – 7
McKinley – 6
East – 6 (3 in the 70s, 3 in the 00s, debatable that the last 3 should be a part of Traditional’s totals)
Emerson – 5
South Park – 4
Burgard – 4
Riverside – 4
Kensington – 4
Hutch Tech – 3
Seneca (MST Prep) – 3
Lafayette – 2
OTC Middle College – 1
Probably wrong on a few and possibly missing some, but you get the gist of it. Interesting stuff.
Ha pretty cool list! Even cooler that LaSalle won 10 in a ROW….1988 to 1997…they also won 1 in 1999….and I think 1984….so 12 total. That is if you include ‘A1’ as a title even if they lose in the overall A final.
Best time of the year for bball now until National Championship game in April.
Gonna be in Houston MIG. How bout you??
Congrats to Jamestown. Good times keep rolling!
What about A, B, C, D and MMAA TML? Filling out my bracket and need HELP!!
hoopster –
I remember reading your bracket last season and you do need help.
StateChamps2003 –
Thanks for compiling that list. I love that stuff. And I think Traditional & East should be lumped together…just my opinion.
WNYHOOPS –
That is quite an accomplishment and the sign of a great program. Jamestown is definitely a school that reloads every year, and a “down” year is one where the teams loses in the semis.
I was really impressed with Frontier Saturday night. They pass the ball well and almost the whole team can knock down threes. I have seen all of Ken West’s home games this season and feel that Edwards is the best player to play against the Blue Devils that is including anyone on the Falls. Frontier may give the Falls some problems. OP will not be an easy game for KW. I saw them play earlier in the season. They shoot the ball well but if I remember correctly lack height which is something Campbell, Cosme, and Grandits can exploit.
All Over WNY
Devoted to boys varsity basketball, covering Section VI and the Monsignor Martin Association of WNY
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