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 three-time defending Manhattan Cup champions open the season with wins over the likes of Nazereth & Olean after graduating a pair of D1 players and a couple more who landed in D3…and doing it with three underclassmen in the starting lineup.  What was that 80's drama – Dallas? No….Knots Landing? No….Oh yeah, Dynasty.

2. Timon/St. Jude (MMA) –  Let's go boys!  I'm voting the Timon Tigers, a team I've been tough on in the polls the last few years,  number two.  They deserve it.  Loses have been to Aquinas, Olean, & East, not bad loses.  Wins over Williamsville North and St. Mary's carry a lot of weight right now, especially with the way the Lancers are playing this year.  Are they good enough to trip up the team I have above them?  Maybe, but only if Donte & Company decide all decide to lay it on the line for 32 minutes, something I'm still waiting to see out of this very talented group – and the reason I began this blurb with, let's go boys!

3. Clarence (AA) – A fast start to the season for the Red Devils until the hit a speed bump called St. Mary's.  It only makes sense that Saints would win out over Devils at this time of year, after all – 'tis the season'.  The good news for Clarence, those early quality wins keep you here on my ballot.

4.  Williamsville North (AA) – Erased a 15-point deficit against Jamestown in three minutes.  Life got in the way of me writing a post about that game, but I didn't forget about it.  How could I?  Nice comeback & nice '3' Jack…Maceo Jack that is.

5.  Jamestown (AA) – Someone said it to me this way following the collapse at North – "If somebody put a gun to my head and asked who the best team in Class AA was, I'd still say Jamestown.  They were up 15 in the 4th, lost in the final seconds, on the road, and if they could have hit a free throw it never happens".  I just looked around the room and don't see any firearms displayed, so I'm sticking with the results – the Red Raiders get slotted here behind the Spartans.

6. St. Joe's (MMA) – Speaking of voting based on results, the Marauders get this spot, ahead of the Macks, for beating them over the weekend for a third straight year.  Wins over Lockport & McKinley deserve some love.  Maybe the loss at Park earlier in the week says more about how good those Pioneers really are.

7. McKinley (A1) – Despite their recent struggles with the Marauders, the Macks have done just fine the last few seasons (actually like the last 15 seasons).  They still have a 28-game winning streak active in the Yale Cup and a nonleague games against Clarence and Williamsville North after the break that could get them back up to the top half of this poll.

8.  Amherst (A2) – The Tigers are rolling along with their only loss coming to Clarence on a buzzer-beater.  They'll look to capture another Jolly Boys Tournament title at Williamsville South over the break.

9.  Kenmore West (AA) – After opening their season with a loss against the blistering pace of McKinley, the Blue Devils are off to a 5-0 start in the NFL, including taking the first meeting against both Lockport and North Tonawanda.

10. Lockport (AA) – The Lions two losses were in overtime to St. Joe's and by three points at Kenmore West.  They still haven't put it all together – watch out if they do, there's a lot of talent at Lockport this year.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) – If they were starting to puff their chests out about the way the season started, the Canisius loss should remind them that nothing wass promised last season and nothing is promised this season – everything they achieve, they'll have to earn.  With that said, I don't think any team in WNY was beating the Crusader team that took the court on Saturday.  The Huskies are a much better team than they showed this weekend.

2. East (B2) – I'm keeping them here at number two until I see Rasheed Paul in the lineup.  With him and the addition of AJ Ayala, the Panthers have a legitimate case for the top spot.  Without Paul, they may still have a case.  But if the wins continue, and when Paul is playing, I'll give East a bump.

3. St. Mary's (MMA) – The Lancers scored a big time 15-point win against Clarence over the weekend and chased it with a 30-point thumping of City Honors.  Lancer, what is your profession? 

4. Fredonia (B1) – The Hillbillies picked up a quality road win in a nonleaguer against Lackawanna.  Over the break, they play in the Clarence Tournament.

5. Park (MMA) – The Pioneers have beaten everyone they've faced except Canisius (12-point home loss).  These guys seem like they're for real, as evidenced by home wins over St. Joe's, Silver Creek, and Health Sciences.

6. Middle College (C1) – Played St. Mary's tight to the vest and earned a recent rout at Hutch-Tech behind a monster game from Kevin Briggs (35 points & 12 assists).

7. Nichols (MMA) – Pounded on Depew without the services of Tanner Schmit.  Quite a turnaround from the team that got pounded on by Lancaster with Schmit playing.  Sounds like the Vikings can be as good as they want to be.  On my ballot, they're as good as number seven for now.

 8. Sherman (D) – Anyone remember reading how Randolph blew out Maple Grove by over 50 points?  Well Sherman just beat Randolph.  These guys are a state title contender in Class D

9. Silver Creek (C1) – The wins are piling up for the Black Knights almost as fast as the triple-doubles are mounting for Billy Brooks.  

10. Randolph (C2) – The overtime loss at Sherman slides them down a few spots on my ballot, but I'm still big on the Cardinals this season and their chances of making a postseason splash.

 

-centercourt

@centercourt42