THE VIEW FROM CENTERCOURT | Western New York Boys High School Basketball

2013 Poll Ballots – Week 2

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centercourt42

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As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools.  The polls are based on games played through Sunday of each week.  Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.

 

Large Schools

1. Niagara Falls (AA) – League play in the NFL began last week, and so did the 40+ point wins for NFHS.  Good thing they aren't allowed to go independent – who wants more good games?

2. Canisius (MMA) – Bounced back nicely from the opening loss to Olean by winning the Tom Keenan Memorial Tournament, defeating Fordam Prep and Nazereth.  They get a chance to move up on this ballot tomorrow night, depending on their showing against Bishop Kearney of Section V.

3. Jamestown (AA) – Picked up a nice win against St. Joe's last week.  The Red Raiders have enough balance that Tommy Campion will get a lot of good looks this season, bad news for all oponents.

4. St. Joe's (MMA) – Survived the waves of McKinley pressure on Friday night and came away with an exciting victory in front of a packed gym at Mack High, thanks to the last second heroics of Mark Cerza.

5. McKinley (A1) – Fall behind the Marauders after falling to them at home. Still heavy favorites in both Class A and the Yale Cup.  League play begins tomorrow for the Macks, as they visit South Park to play the Sparks who are off to a 5-0 start. 

6. Williamsville North (AA) – Topped Riverside at home, then went into Clarence and scored a 23-point victory over the Red Devils.  After a 3-0 start, I can't help but start looking ahead to that first game against Jamestown – a roadie in early January.

7. Timon/St. Jude (MMA) – The Tigers have begun the year 2-4, but only two of those games were played against WNY teams – a loss to McKinley and a win over the number eight team right behind them.

8. Kenmore West (AA) – Between the OT loss to St. Joe's and what they showed against the Tigers, it's tough to make a case for another team at this spot. 

9. Clarence (AA) – As the season wears on, we'll find out if there is really that much separation between this team and the ones at the top of ECIC I.

10 Amherst (A2) – The Tigers are 3-1, with the loss being a close one to Clarence.  Face Maryvale and East Aurora in league play this week, before entering a competitive tournament at Willaimsville South over the break.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) – The Huskies played one of the greatest halves of high school basketball that I've ever witnessed in their win over Canisius.  As if they didn't already have enough expectations coming into the season, a win over the defending Manhattan Cup champs will have people talking Federation Championship.

2. Middle College (C1) – If you've read anything I've written recently on Silver Creek, then you know I must think a lot of the Kats to have them a spot ahead of the Black Knights. Despite a vastly depleted lineup on Wednesday, they still finished off CSAT.

3. Silver Creek (C2) – If I say too much more about this team, people will start calling this The View From Silver Creek.  Big game on Thurday night when unbeaten Portville visits.

4. Lackawanna (B1) – The Steelers are already 5-0, including a victory against Frontier.  They face a great nonleague test this Thursday at Batavia.

5. Nichols (MMA) – They competed with Sweet Home, but a player ejection, coupled with a pair of players in street clothes, was too much for the Vikings down the stretch.

6. Newfane (B1) – I'm still not even sure this is the best team in the N-O, but until league play sorts all that out, the Panthers deserve this spot ahead of their contemporaries.

7. St. Mary's (MMA) – A win against City Honors over the break would earn them a tournament championship matchup against a cross-town rival…either Depew or Lancaster.

8. Depew (B1) – The Wildcats will need a win when they host East Aurora tomorrow night, to hold on to this spot.  Host rival Lancaster in tournament over the break and are hoping for a second round date with St. Mary's.

9. Cleveland Hill (B2) – Only loss was to Nichols.  After earning a pair of wins over AA schools Lancaster and North Tonawanda, the Golden Eagles soared out to a 34-13 halftime advantage in a win over Alden.

10. Maryvale (B1) – Was impressed with the Flyers when I watched them defeat Lancaster.  Another team who's only loss is to Nichols, they just earned a convincing win against East Aurora, which was enough to get my vote.

 

-centercourt

13 responses to “2013 Poll Ballots – Week 2”

  1. guest Avatar
    guest

    how is nazareth rated higher than canisius in this weeks rankings, that poll has always favored the city

    Reply
  2. McShea is God Avatar
    McShea is God

    I already said something – u r correct. It’s a joke really. Not sure how ‘Canisius is 2-1 with a win over Nazareth’ doesn’t resonate.
    I have W North and McKinley switched. Will South at 9 (only loss 2 Jamestown) Clarence 10. Same top 4 Small but way different bottom 5. CC likes Nichols and the teams they beat much better than I do. I have Newfane 5, Mary’s 6, Maple Grove 7, East 8, Nichols 9, Depew 10

    Reply
  3. WT716 Avatar
    WT716

    Know it is early, but All-WNY team….
    PG-Campion
    SG-Taplin
    SF-Weir
    PF-Crumpton
    C-Eckstrom

    Reply
  4. Hawk Pride Avatar
    Hawk Pride

    After 6 games, WNY’s leading scorer…
    Senior F Jared Keppel of North Collins, averaging nearly 30 ppg.

    Reply
  5. Use Ya Left Avatar
    Use Ya Left

    Have to ask: Can anyone offer an opinion on Bishop Kearney and how good they really are? I certainly respect Canisius as a team, and I know Okoboh did not play, but a 19-point loss for a team that still had two D-1 level kids on the floor?
    I’ve only seen BK’s Bryant play East Aurora at Buff State last March, but it seems like I see a lot of unspectacular 10-point or single-digit totals for him. (Totally understand that he’s just a sophomore).
    The other kid, Ogide, also doesn’t exactly light it up … and neither does Okoboh, for that matter. Definitely more of a defensive specialist.
    Just wondering…

    Reply
  6. Truth Be Told Avatar
    Truth Be Told

    I got an opinion. Kearney has the rep as a traditionally good program and their players get the looks other programs may not. Also, all the players you mentioned have some size. No secret that you can’t teach height. There are many players out their with better skills that don’t get the looks because of size. Kearney’s problem is that they don’t jell as a team.

    Reply
  7. centercourt Avatar
    centercourt

    I agree with everything Truth wrote.
    I’ll add that I’m not sure Godspower Ogide is a DI talent and that Thomas Bryant could not be more underutilized. Obokoh is the one player on that team that offers a true defensive presence in the paint and without him, BK is a much different team.
    Last night, Canisius played extremely well – BK was lousy for the last three quarters. Their coach rarely got off the bench. They played with no intensity and seemed to give up fairly easily. BK could never do what Canisius did against Olean (claw its way back from a huge deficit). That’s not who they are. They are actually the polar opposite. If they get on an early roll, they can look invincible – something they did two years ago in the Class A sectionals and again in the regular season, both times against Aquinas. And in both games, once Aquinas settled in and began mounting a comeback, BK became unraveled.

    Reply
  8. centercourt Avatar
    centercourt

    The player with the most heart on that team is by far and away PG Antwoine Anderson.

    Reply
  9. PJB Avatar
    PJB

    As for Bryant, he he gets little in the half court other than 15-20 foot jumpers, they don’t seem to run plays to take advantage of his size and slashing ability. Handles the ball well for his size, runs the floor well and has good form and touch on his shot but doesn’t seem to take over (he is a soph on a veteran team). Defensively he is able to contest shots with his long arms and athleticism. He isn’t really asked to play the other teams best players man to man, that usually falls to Anderson or English. I also noticed he seems to fatigue quickly.
    In the two games Obokoh played he was solid at the defensive end, rebounds well and has nice post moves but they only ran a play for him in the post half a dozen times vs NF. He has soom range on his shot and moves well.
    Ogdie has a big body, but not nearly the movement skills (ie quickness and footwork)of the other two. He also likes to put up 3s instead of posting up. More of a work in progress than the others.
    As a team, I have not been overly impressed with them in their two outings this year. Their half court offense struggled mightily against teams they had signigicant height advantages on and there was too much settling for jump shots and they didn’t offensive rebound especially well for ther size. Although NF and Canisius both play very good man defense, I just thought Kearney did not establish its strenghts very well. Because of their height they give up very little easily down low, but Canisius was able to get some open perimeter looks. They do a good job of limiting second chance opportunities on the defensive end.

    Reply
  10. hoopster Avatar
    hoopster

    Saw my first hs game of the 2012-13 season last night. I was Charles Dickens heading to Delaware Ave. with Great Expectations. I have never been disappointed with a Dickens novel. BK on the other hand was thoroughly and resoundingly disappointing. Aside from their pg Anderson, there was absolutely no fight in that dog last night. I can see the potential in Bryant as a lanky pretty fluid outside 6’9″ guy who will definitely get better. However based on what he showed last night his best days may well be 3 if not 7 years away.
    Canisius on the other hand won easily because of their hustle and scrappyness. They seemed to get every loose ball and every ball on the floor. Aside from Weir no stars just role players who all do everything needed of them and then some. That type of hustle will make up for a lot of mistakes and likely carry the Crusaders far this year.
    It was a treat watching Adam Weir. He does it the right way!!! Plays very hard, has good skills, shoots extremely well and conducts and carries himself on the court in fine fashion . He has the potential to be another Brian Dux and that is a huge compliment for anyone not familiar with Brian and never saw him play in high school or college.

    Reply
  11. centercourt Avatar
    centercourt

    I had the priviledge of dining with hoopster prior to the game last night. I actually enjoyed it even more than the game. Was great to spend time with an old friend again.

    Reply
  12. WT716 Avatar
    WT716

    Does CHS jump NF in the polls CC?

    Reply
  13. centercourt Avatar
    centercourt

    The next poll isn’t until after the New Year. There are 10 pollsters and six would have to change their vote to make that happen. You’ll have to wait until 2013 Poll Ballots – Week 3 comes out to see how I vote.

    Reply

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Centercourt

Devoted to boys varsity basketball, covering Section VI and the Monsignor Martin Association of WNY

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