
(Trevon Thompson & Silver Creek are eager for Salamanca's visit on Thursday)
Here's a list of what I think are the top games to follow this week:
Monday, February 9th
Cheektowaga @ I-Prep – 5:30 pm
Randolph @ Salamanca – 7:30 pm
Tuesday, February 10th
McKinley @ East – 5:30 pm
Wilson @ Medina – 6:30 pm
Walsh @ St. Mary's – 6:30 pm
St. Joe's @ Nichols – 6:30 pm
Lockport @ Niagara Falls – 6:30 pm
Niagara Wheatfield @ Lew-Port – 6:30 pm
North Tonawanda @ Kenmore West – 6:30 pm
Canisius @ Aquinas – 7 pm
Cleveland Hill @ JFK – 7 pm
West Seneca East @ Williamsville East – 7:30 pm
Maple Grove @ Sherman – 7:30 pm
Wednesday, February 11th
Bishop Kearney @ St. Joe's – 7 pm
Fredonia @ St. Mary's – 7:30 pm
Thursday, February 12th
Park @ Nichols – 6 pm
Salamanca @ Silver Creek – 7:30 pm
Friday, February 13th
Niagara Catholic @ Walsh – 6:30 pm
Kenmore West @ Lockport – 6:30 pm
Niagara Falls @ Lew-Port – 6:30 pm
Canisius @ Timon – 6:30 pm
Williamsville East @ Starpoint – 7:30 pm
Lancaster @ Williamsville North – 7:30 pm
Tapestry @ Health Sciences – 7:30 pm
Sunday, February 15th
Timon @ Park – 2 pm
Cardinal O'Hara @ Walsh – 2 pm
St. Francis @ Nichols – 3:30 pm
Niagara Catholic @ St. Joe's – 3:30 pm
St. Mary's @ Canisius – 4 pm
Game of the Week – Salamanca @ Silver Creek on Thursday, February 12th
– Since the start of the season, I've been beating the drum for CCAA I East, saying how competitive the league would be this year. After Thursday night's big game, we should know who will emerge as the this year's division champs. As of today, Salamanca & Silver Creek have identical 8-1 records in CCAA I East.
The two teams have plenty in common. Both are class C1 schools that expect to contend for a sectional title this season, after both reached the sectional semifinals last year (Silver Creek went a game farther, reaching the sectional final). Each team is led by a young, enthusiastic coach. The two best big men in the CCAA leagues play for these two: Bill Brooks of Silver Creek & Jared Fish of Salamanca. Brooks was a 2014 All-Centercourt 3rd Team selection, while Fish was HM in '14. And both teams have won this season, despite missing a key starter due to injury. Fish missed a few weeks with an ankle injury, while the Black Knights were without second leading scorer, Trevon Thompson, for several games. Both are healthy now and should start on Thursday.
Silver Creek's lone league loss came at Salamanca on January 16th, by 13 points. Both Fish and Thompson missed that game. Salamanca's league loss came at Randolph on January 13th, a team the Black Knights have already swept. Prior to arriving at Silver Creek on Thursday, the Warriors will try to avenge the loss at Randolph when they host the Cardinals on Monday night. Even if Salamanca losses a second time to Randolph, a win at Silver Creek would keep them tied for first place. But if Silver Creek wins on Thursday, they are alone at the top of CCAA I East.
Neither team is lacking for confidence coming in to this game, and both feel they are the better squad and this is their year. On Thusday we will find out if the recent success Silver Creek is enjoying is due to them taking the next step, or if Salamanca really does have the Black Knights' number and are a cut above the competitive CCAA I East.
-centercourt









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