As a pollster for the Buffalo News, I'm asked to send in my weekly ballots ranking the top ten large and small schools. This is the last time I'll vote this season, so these ballots represent where the teams finished. Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.
Large Schools
1. Jamestown (AA) – A spectacular postseason run for the Red Raiders earns them the top spot on my ballot. Cameback after trailing the majority of the game to defeat Lockport in the semifinals. Avenged a road loss to Clarence in the Section VI final. Avenged a 20-point season-opening home loss to Greece Athena in the regionals. Knocked off the team (Union-Endicott) who eliminated Mount Vernon from the state tournament. Then were tied with Green Tech after three quarters in the Class AA state championship game, before bowing out by five.
2. Canisius (MMA) – Dominated the local competition like we haven't seen a team do in several seasons. The Crusaders won every game by double digits against competition from WNY (including Olean and McKinley, along with sweeps of Timon & St. Joe's) until they were tripped up by Nichols in the Manhattan Cup semifinals to unceremoniously end their season.
3. Clarence (AA) – Reached the Section VI Class AA final after earning a three-way share of the ECIC I crown. The Red Devils were a cohesive group that, besides splits with Jamestown and Williamsville North, won games against McKinley, Amherst, North Tonawanda, and Iroquois.
4. McKinley (A1) – The Macks used a whole new cast to repeat as the regional representative in Class A for Section VI. They also broke the Yale Cup winning streak, a record that ended at 33 games for McKinley this season. Unlike McKinley's star-studded lineup from last season's state championship squad, this year's version was more like the Macks' team of past seasons under Zaire Dorsey, a deep unit with waves of contributing players and different players stepping up throughout the season.
5. Lockport (AA) – After earning a share of the NFL title with the Blue Devils during the regular season, the Lions went into Kenmore West and won a second straight over their league foe, this time in spectacular fashion. From there, Lockport advanced to Buffalo State to face Jamestown in the Class AA semifinals, where they led for nearly all of the first half and led by nine in the third quarter, before succombing to a comeback by the eventual Class AA state finalist.
6. Timon/St. Jude (MMA) – The Tigers reached the Manhattan Cup championship game for a second straight season. Their year was marked by wins over Williamsville North & St. Joe's, along with taking care of business in the regular season against ranked small schools Nichols, St. Mary's, and Park.
7. Williamsville North (AA) – The Spartans seemed to peak midseason this year when they won seven straight, including a convincing road win at Clarence and a rout of Frontier at home.
8. Cheektowaga (A2) – Won its first ever Section VI title in school history after knocking off Amherst for a third time this season in an overtime thriller at Buff State.
9. Amherst (A2) – Repeated as ECIC III champs and reached the Class A2 title game for a second straight season.
10. Kenmore West (AA) – The Blue Devils get this last spot by a slight margin over St. Joe's, who they defeated at home prior to the start of the postseason. It was the right win at the right time poll-wise for Kenmore West, as St. Joe's had just beaten Williamsville South, who was also a candidate for this spot.
Small Schools
1. Olean (B1) – The Huskies beat the next three teams on this ballot (Nichols, East, & St. Mary's), defeated Greece Athena, and swept Bishop Kearney & Timon. They also won their first three playoff games against Burgard, Depew, & Fredonia by an average of 38 points. Olean advanced to the Class B state championship game, where they fell to eventual Federation champion Westhill.
2. Nichols (MMA) – After starting the season 9-7, the Vikings won 10 of their last 12 games, including wins over Canisius, Timon, St. Joe's, and a pair over Park. They also earned the biggest upset in the last seven years (knocking off Canisius) on their way to hoisting the Manhattan Cup, and did so with 6-7 Tanner Schmit, who has D1 offers, sidelined with an injury.
3. East (B2) – With a healthy Tyree Tyson in the lineup, East began the year routing teams: Timon by 23, South Park by 54, Bennett by 47, & Leadership Academy (swept Section V Class B champ Charlotte) by 39. Without Tyson, the Panthers still won at Aquinas by 13, took rematches with Middle College & McKinley, and routed both Hutch-Tech & Sweet Home by 40 & 32. And who could forget their performance in the game of the year against Olean.
4. St. Mary's (MMA) – The Lancers won more games against ranked small schools (six) than any other team in WNY, knocking off Middle College & Fredonia, along with sweeping Nichols & Park. They also earned a victory against Clarence and a pair of wins over St. Joe's. St. Mary's was an overtime loss in the Manhattan Cup semifinals against Timon, away from an opportunity to win a fifth straight versus Nichols dating back to last season.
5. Middle College (C1) – Reached the Class C state championship game after winning Yale Cup I outright. The Kats defeated Class A2 champ Cheektowaga, swept overall Class A champ McKinley, and took its first meeting against Class B2 champ East during the regular season.
6. Park (MMA) – Tough to fault the Pioneers for going out in the Manhattan Cup quarterfinals against Nichols, after the Vikings went on to win the Cup. Still a very impressive debut in the MMA for Park, who returns all its key players next season.
7. Fredonia (B1) – The Hillbillies proved to be the second best team in Class B1 this season with a convincing victory over Tonawanda to reach the final, before running into Olean. A 16-5 season included sweeps of Class C1 & Class C2 finalists, Silver Creek & Maple Grove. Losses came to Greece Athena, Olean, St. Mary's, Iroquois, & Fairview (PA).
8. Randolph (C2) – The team that nearly got the hashtag #BombsAway trending for its willlingness to fire away from beyond the arc. The Cardinals won Class C2 and led the entire first half against Middle College in the overall Class C final, before ultimately falling by three points.
9. Sherman (D) – The Class D champs put on an epic shooting display in the regionals against private school Batavia Notre Dame to reach Glens Falls. Even though they didn't win a Class D state championship, they also never lost to a Class D public school this season. The Wildcats' only two losses all season – Randolph (Class C2 champion) and Coleman Catholic (a private school that hides in Class D and reaches Glens Falls annually).
10. Cleveland Hill (B2) – The Golden Eagles lay claim to the final spot in the small schools for winning ECIC IV and reaching the Class B2 final, where they ran into East and lost by nine.
-centercourt
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