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

2013 Poll Ballots – Week 7

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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. Canisius (MMA) – The Crusaders did a fantastic job representing WNY at the RAP Invitational held at East High in Rochester over the weekend.  Not only was Canisius the lone team from WNY to win during Saturday night's triple-header, but they did so less than 24 hours after grinding one out at Timon.  The best part about the Crusaders' win over Fairport was the way they did it.  Canisius dominated a highly regarded team for the first three and a half quarters and led by as many as 20 points late in the third quarter.

2. Niagara Falls (AA) – The Wolverines had their chance to cement themselves as the areas top team this weekend, but ended up losing two games within 20 hours in Rochester, to a pair of teams that may likely face each other to decide the Class AA regional representative from Section V.  Last season, Falls dropped back-to-back games on consecutive nights and then went on to win Section VI's Class AA.  If they can do that again, they'll need to be a lot better they they were this weekend in the regionals.

3. Jamestown (AA) – Turned to the big guys against Williamsville North, and they were up to the challenge, big time.  After scoring a season-low in that game, Tommy Campion came back in Saturday's win over Lancaster to score a career-high 40 points, which also matches the top effort by any player from WNY this season.

4. St. Joe's (MMA) – Started the week off with a win at Timon and will have to do the same thing to end this week if they remain in this spot when the next ballot gets cast. The Marauders host the rematch against with the Tigers on Friday, after visiting St. Francis tomorrow.

5. Williamsville North (AA) – Bounced back nicely from the Jamestown loss by pounding on Frontier.

6. McKinley (A1) – The Macks head into what is likely a Yale Cup-deciding game with East tomorrow, coming off a solid 13-point road win over Middle College.  Earlier in the week, McKinley logged the highest point total of the season, unloading 111 points on South Park in a 61-point win.

7. Clarence (AA) – In what looked like a potetntial trap game, Clarence goes into Frontier last week and wins by 17 points.  The Red Devils are eyeing a home game in the Class AA quarterfinals.

8. Amherst (A2) – Taking care of business against East Aurora was what I've been waiting for from the Tigers. If they hope to win an overall Class A title, the time is now for them to begin ascending to their highest level.  Hosting Cheektowaga tonight.

9. Timon/St. Jude (MMA) – A difficult schedule on paper turned into a difficult week for the Tigers, who have dropped three of their last four.  Making matters worse was not having the services of Dante Williams over the weekend.   Friday night at St. Joe's is an opportunity for Timon to reassure itself that the MMA still consists of a "Big 3".

10. Sweet Home (A1) – North Tonawanda's loss to Lockport made room for the Panthers, who have waited patiently all season for a debut on this ballot.  With a 12-2 record overall and an unblemished mark in ECIC II, I think they're more than deserving.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) – They got a little of everything they were looking for on Friday night at Rochester's Eats High: A quality opponent, a highly competitive game, and a come-from-behind victory after facing a little adversity.  The Huskies play with more team chemistry than any other unit from WNY.

2. Silver Creek (C2) – The only undefeated team remaining in WNY hosts Randolph this Friday, the team that got the closest to the Black Knights on the scoreboard this year.

3. Oracle Charter (C1) – The Phoenix finishes off their regular season this week, with trips to Olmsted tonight and Buffalo Science on Saturday.  Since winning at McKinley, Oracle Charter has gotten visits from the Buffalo News and YNN.  The Phoenix has definitely risen.

4. East (B2) – Facing McKinley in the game of the week tomorrow, with major Yale Cup implications hanging in the balance.  Winners of six straight since loss to the Macks on January 3rd.

5. Nichols (MMA) – Played well enough against St. Joe's to have a fourth quarter lead before falling off late.  The Vikings play four games this week, beginning with hosting Canisius tomorrow and ending with a trip to Aquinas on Saturday.

6. Cleveland Hill (B2) – The Eagles finished strong and won at Lackawanna on Thursday. They are co-defending league champs, along with Tonawanda, the team they visit tonight. The last time Cleveland Hill won the league in ECIC IV outright was in 1989. They can accomplish that with a win tonight and on Friday at Holland.

7. Middle College (C1) – The Kats have dropped three of their last four heading into games with Riverside and Bennett this week.  The win for Middle College was against Sweet Home, which was its best win of the season.  

8. Lackawanna (B1) – The Steelers got off to a great start against Cleveland Hill, but poor free throw shooting down the stretch kept them from a strong finish.

9. St. Mary's (MMA) – Three double-digit wins following a loss at Nichols, one of which came against Niagara Catholic, who they host again tomorrow.

10. Maple Grove (C2) – The Red Dragons visit Randolph in a makeup game on Saturday night.  The Cardinals will be coming off a game with Silver Creek from the night before, Maple Grove's stiffest competition in Class C2.  

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42

67 responses to “2013 Poll Ballots – Week 7”

  1. TML1000 Avatar
    TML1000

    I would say it would be like the Falls losing to Ken East. Falls losing to Ripley would be like Kansas losing to Longwood.

    Reply
  2. Roy Williams Avatar
    Roy Williams

    I am devastated by the Kansas loss. it’s going to be tough to pull myself together this weekend and coach my team against Miami. The “U” is a real power in the ACC this year. Rock Chalk, Lawrence Kansas.

    Reply
  3. StateChamps2003 Avatar
    StateChamps2003

    According to Section V basketball’s website, if the playoffs started today, Kearney would be the 8th seed, play a pre-quarterfinal game and then the quarterfinal game would be at #1 Webster Schroeder. Reminds me of the time when Grover Cleveland had Eric Rawls and Jose Narvaez a few years back and had to travel to Olean for a quarterfinal game and lost.

    Reply
  4. TML1000 Avatar
    TML1000

    AA1 in section V is certainly interesting. Rush, Thomas and BK are all very close for the 6-8 seeds. BK has three games remaining, Edison today who they will beat, then two games against NJ teams, Elizabeth and Roselle Catholic. Both are 14-4 and in the top 20 of the NJ state ranks. Assuming a split in those games, it is still likely BK will get the 6 seed due to Rush’s final two games being against Fairport and Penfield(they could lose both) and Thomas facing Penfield and Schroeder(could also easily lose both).

    Reply
  5. John Wallace Avatar
    John Wallace

    Wow. I think Bishop Kearney’s schedule was harder than Syracuse University’s traditional November and December Domefest. Maybe Kearney’s plan was brilliant after all. Or maybe statechamps analogy is correct, and they go down in the quarters. Either way, I think Section V will dominate the large school regionals this year.

    Reply
  6. centercourt Avatar
    centercourt

    Dominate as in win the two games or dominate as in dominate?
    I think both the AA and A games at the regionals will be exciting and competitive contests. I’ll be surprised if either of those Section VI reps get handled easily.

    Reply
  7. John Wallace Avatar
    John Wallace

    I mean dominate in every facet of the tournament. Better programs, better venue, better food at the venue, better restaurant within walking distance of the arena(dinosaur-get the pulled pork). I think Rochester wins the AA game by 10-12 points, and although closer, will win the A game as well. You guys might win B with Olean, but I’m John Wallace and I don’t care about the B game. Plus, our section has John Moriello, who is about to be inducted in the Hall of Fame Glenns Falls wknd. However James Johnson and Keith McShea is probably a push, with the slight edge to McShea. (I watch that prep talk TV- enough said)

    Reply
  8. TML1000 Avatar
    TML1000

    Johnny boy…in A, the Macks will be an extremely tough out for Charlotte/Newark/AQ…they are more tested than all of those teams and very deep.
    Besides Olean, MEC/Silver Creek/Oracle would all be favorites in the C game.

    Reply
  9. John Wallace Avatar
    John Wallace

    Wil South destroys Sweet Home in rematch. Imagine their will be a shakeup in the polls next week. I would not give the A title to Mckinley just yet, Too Much Love.

    Reply
  10. TML1000 Avatar
    TML1000

    The Macks will run over either South or SH.

    Reply
  11. Mansa Habeeb Avatar
    Mansa Habeeb

    Mckinley is good this year, but I don’t think they have the talent of some Macks teams a few years back.

    Reply
  12. guest Avatar
    guest

    surprised timon hasnt beaten a good team yet

    Reply
  13. yale cup Avatar
    yale cup

    Guest. I can’ t remember the last time they have. Drop them out of top 10 until they do. I don’t care who replaces them. What makes it worse is it people think its a quality win for the other MMA teams that beat them. Overrated.

    Reply
  14. red raider fan Avatar
    red raider fan

    I have been watchiing closely the AA bracket and those teams and I have to say that the Clarence team looks like they could do some damage. They seem to have flown under the radar this entire season. I watched them play last night and they did not play their best but they have been taking care of the teams that are in their league quite easily. The games they have lost have been only against other top ten schools and they have given Oracle and Amherst their only loses of the season. Plus a big quality win over Will North. With that said, when the top ten comes out the pollsters for some reason put the Devils below Amherst which I do not understand because they beat them and Amherst has not beaton one top ten school all year, they also play in ECIC 3 which is not all that strong. So where is that logic.
    I also like Ken West over Amherst and Sweet Home when it comes to the top ten. Campbell from Ken West would have an easy time against either of those teams and Wests guards would be to physical for either of them. Pollsters need to do a better job of checking who these teams have quality wins over. The referees who are on the poll need to be sure they take their time and vote for the appropriate teams and who they have beaten.
    Falls seems to be vulnerable and North, Jamestown and Clarence can all beat one another any day. My sleeper in the AA would be Lockport. They can give teams troubles with all their athleticism, they would have no problem with Amherst either.
    To me the AA has the most talent this year and should make for a fun playoff run.

    Reply
  15. Gerspach Avatar
    Gerspach

    Tommy Campion deserves to be first team all WNY Saw him play 11 times this season and went to at least 50 other games and he has shown me to be very deserving

    Reply
  16. Sam Avatar
    Sam

    The “city” kids that fail to keep up at Catholic High Schools is normally because they fail classes not because of tuition. Most are given a free ride. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink! It’s quite sad that given opportunities with every tool to succeed is available yet most of them don’t put in any effort! There has to be at least some responsibility at home however; this is usually where they are stripped of their chance to succeed.
    How is it that when a student-athlete returns to public school and continues to fail the student portion they remain on the court? That is not beneficial to anyone… Probably one of the reasons the drop out rate is so high in Buffalo. What is the lesson for that student or the others that are actually trying to pass their classes? Student-athletes should be just that… A student first! Grades do matter unless high school is your final stop towards education. What’s worse is that grown men are riding the backs of these failing students based on their athletic ability to boost their “coaching/recruiting credibility” and not putting any focus on the kids education present or future. They are selling them “hoop dreams” that will never come to fruition since you must have academic standings to even be eligible for NCAA. Maybe I’m wrong… I think ECC has a basketball team but they do have an entrance exam also… Hmmm, that means a community college won’t even accept you unless your academic standings are in order.

    Reply
  17. TML1000 Avatar
    TML1000

    It looks like the two games that BK was supposed to play this weekend in NJ have been cancelled.
    How about MEC v BK and/or Nichols v BK…would be a great test for both local teams before playoffs start. I doubt any section V teams have open dates…at least any competitive team, especially with the postponements that were made there on Friday.

    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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