The Section VI postseason begins tonight with first round games, and the winners move on to participate in the pre-quarterfinal games played on Wednesday.  Friday night is when the action really kicks up, as 32 quarterfinal games will decide which teams move on to Buffalo State and JCC for the semifinals. 

 

Below I take a look at some of the best matchups we could potentially see in the pre-quarterfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals, and even the championship games.  There's also my thoughts on the biggest favorite and the most competitive brackets, along with some winning streaks and predictions.

 

Top 6 Pre-Quarterfinal Games (Wed. 2/20)

6. Class A2 Starpoint vs. Riverside ** At McKinley

5. Class B1 Tonawanda vs. Burgard ** At MST Seneca

4. Class B2 City Honors vs. Emerson ** At Hutch-Tech

3. Class B1 Alden vs. Lafayette ** At McKinley

2. Class C1 Allegany-Limestone @ Salamanca

1. Class AA Lancaster @ North Tonawanda

 

Top 6 Quarterfinal Games (Fri. 2/22)

6. Class B2 Roy-Hart @ Cleveland Hill

5. Class B2 Akron @ Fredonia

4. Class AA Kenmore West @ Williamsville North

3. Class AA Lockport @ Clarence

2. Class B1 Newfane @ Maryvale

1. Class B1 Depew @ Lackawanna 

 

Most likely Quarterfinal upsets

Class A1

(5) Hutch-Tech @ (4) Hamburg – It seems like every season, the Engineers are a tough large school that finishes behind the elite large schools of the Yale Cup, ending up with a lower seed and a road game in the quarterfinals, before advancing to Buffalo State for the semifinals.  Why sould this year be any exception?

Class A2

(7) Cheektowaga @ (2) Iroquois – The Chiefs biggest obstacle to reaching the Class A2 final might occur before they even reach Buffalo State. Cheektowaga benefits from playing in ECIC III, where they've faced teams similar to Iroquois all season.  I like the Chiefs to pull it out and grace us with their presence on the big stage, but don't be surprised if the Warriors find their way back to Buffalo State, where they seem to wind up year after year.

(5) Lake Shore @ (4) South Park – It's a shame that the seedings fell in a way that these two must face each other now, rather than in the semifinals.  Instead, Lew-Port is a three seed and hosting a quarterfinal.  Both schools bounced back nicely from a series of down years to make some noise on the hoops scene.  Both schools also have a player that can fill it up – Tyrell Mitchell for the Sparks and Clark Brueckl for the Eagles.

(6) Pioneer @ (3) Lew-Port – The Panthers boast a large lineup that could present a problem for the Lancers.  Lew-Port is coming off an 11-point loss to Grand Island.

Class C1

(5) Tapestry Charter @ (4) Randolph –  Both teams have faced the best in Class C this season and are battle tested.  Tapestry has the ability to go into Randolph and steal the win, as evidenced by road wins this season against MST Seneca and Roy-Hart.

(6) Barker @ (3) Holland - A battle between teams led by talented underclassmen, sophomore Clay Lewis for the Dutchmen and junior Jake Haight for the Raiders.  Holland ended the year on a three-game skid with lopsided losses to Lackawanna, Cleveland Hill, and MST Seneca, so its confidence may not be where it needs to be for the postseason.  Conversely, Barker won three of its last five, and the two losses were a five-point decision to CSAT and a one-point heartbreaker to Roy-Hart.

 

Biggest Favorites to win a Sectional

3. Class A1 – McKinley

2. Class A2 – Amherst

1. Class B1 – Olean

 

Most likely to avance to Glens Falls

Class B – Olean

 

Best Brackets top-to-bottom

Class AA & Class B2

 

Most exciting potential semifinal matchups

4. Class A1 – Williamsville South vs. McKinley

3. Class AA – Clarence vs. Jamestown

2. Class AA – Williamsville North vs. Niagara Falls

1. Class B2 – East vs. Cleveland Hill

 

Most exciting potential championship matchups

Class D – Brocton vs. Sherman

Class C2 – Maple Grove vs. Silver Creek

Class C1 – Oracle Charter vs. Middle College

Class AA -  Niagara Falls vs. Jamestown

 

Winning Streaks heading into Sectionals

Class C2  Silver Creek – 18 games

Class C1 Oracle Charter – 17 games

Class C2 Maple Grove – 16 games

Class A2 Amherst – 16 games

Class B2 CSAT – 13 games

Class D Brocton – 11 games

Class B1 Olean – 10 games (Huskies have won 35 straight vs. public schools)

 

Predictions

Class AA – Niagara Falls

Class A1 – McKinley

Class A2 – Amherst

Class B1 – Olean

Class B2 – East

Class C1 – Oracle Charter

Class C2 – Silver Creek

Class D – Sherman

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42