Monday, March 2nd
Class A1 Semifinals at 6 pm & 7:45 pm
#1 North Tonawanda (15-4) vs. #4 Sweet Home (10-9)
– The Jacks finished as co-champs of the NFL with Niagara Falls, the Panthers tied for 3rd in ECIC II
– NT is led by Chris Woodard & Ryan Gilbert.
– Sweet Home is led by Jordan Heine and Brandon Smiley.
– The Jacks lost in the semifinals to Will South at Buff State last season
– The Panthers last appearance at Buff State was in 2013, when they lost to Hutch-Tech, 67-47, in the Class A1 semifinals.
– Last season, NT ended Sweet Home's season in the Class A1 quarterfinals.
– Best win for NT was at Niagara Falls.
– Best win for Sweet Home was against Williamsville East.
– I did not for for either team in this week's large school poll
#2 Williamsville South (17-2) vs. #3 McKinley (17-2)
– McKinley went unbeaten in the city to win the Yale Cup, South won league in ECIC II.
– South is led by Sam Castronova (returning All-Centercourt Honorable Mention selection) and freshman Greg Dolan.
– McKinley is led by Devin Morris (returning 5th Team All-Centercourt selection) and Shaquan Jones.
– These two met in the Class A1 final last season. McKinley won, 71-66.
– Best win for Williamsville South was at Williamsville North
– Best win for McKinley was at Williamsville North
– I voted McKinley #3 and South #5 in this week's large school poll.
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Tuesday, March 3rd
Class B2 Semifinals at 5:15 pm & 6:45 pm
#1 Cleveland Hill (16-3) vs. #5 East (11-8)
– The Golden Eagles were unbeaten ECIC IV champs, East finished 4th in Yale Cup I.
– Cleveland Hill is led by Jermaine Hairston & Anthony Sullivan.
– East is led by Percy Bryant (returning 4th Team All-Centercourt selection and 1,000 point scorer) and Damone Brown
– These two met in the Class B2 final last season. East won, 58-49.
– Best win for Cleveland Hill was against Salamanca.
– Best win for East was against Middle College.
– I voted East #6 and did not vote for Cleveland Hill in this week's small school poll.
#2 Fredonia (17-2) vs. #3 Wilson (16-3)
– The Hillbillies were co-champs with Olean in CCAA I West. Wilson won the N-O.
– Fredonia is led by John Piper (1,000 point scorer) and Patrick Moore.
– Wilson is led by Kyle Bradley and Evan Shank.
– The Hillbillies lost to Olean in the Class B1 final last season.
– Wilson's last appearance at Buff State was in 2012 when lost lost to CSAT in the Class B2 final.
– Best win for Fredonia was at St. Mary's.
– Best win for Wilson was against Niagara Catholic.
– I voted Fredonia #2 in this week's small school poll. I did not vote for the Lakemen.
Class AA Semifinal at 8:15 pm
#1 Jamestown (16-3) vs. #4 Lancaster (11-8)
– The Red Raiders were unbeaten champs of ECIC I, Lancaster finished 3rd.
– Jamestown is led by Zack Panebianco & Stephen Carlson.
– The Redskins are led by Alex Damiani and Collin Murray.
– Jamestown won Class AA last season and advanced to the NYSPHAA Class AA state championship.
– Lancaster's last trip to Buff State was in 2011, where they lost to Jamestown in the Class AA semifinals.
– Best win for Jamestown was against Amherst.
– Best win for Lancaster was against Cleveland Hill.
– I voted Jamestown #2 in this week's large school poll. I did not vote for the Redskins.
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Wednesday, March 4th
Class B1 Semifinals at 5:15 pm & 6:45 pm
#1 Burgard (13-6) vs. #5 Alboin (8-11)
– The Bulldogs finished 3rd in Yale Cup I, the Purple Eagles tied for 3rd in the N-O.
– Burgard is led by Jaelyn Hall and Isaiah Jamison.
– Albion is led by Austin Lloyd and Dez Blackmon.
– Burgard's last trip to Buff State was in 2006, when they lost to eventual state champion, Lackawanna, by two points in the Class B1 final.
– The Purple Eagles will make their first trip to Buff State. It's on Grant Street in Buffalo.
– Best win for Burgard was against East.
– Best win for Albion was against St. Francis.
– I voted Burgard #10 and did not vote for Albion in the small school poll.
#3 Medina (10-9) vs. #10 Maryvale (9-10)
– The Mustangs finished 2nd in the N-O, the Flyers finished 5th in ECIC III.
– Medina is led by Jason Hellwig and Justin Morgan.
– Maryvale is led by Mike Kelleher and Ray Blackwell.
– The Mustangs last trip to Buff State was in 2009, where they lost to Olean in the Class B1 semifinals.
– The Flyers lost to Cheektowaga, 72-53, in the Class A2 semifinals last season.
– Best win for Medina was against Wilson.
– Best win for Maryvale was at Depew.
– I did not vote for either team in the small school poll.
Class AA Semifinal at 8:15 pm
#2 Williamsville North (15-4) vs. #3 Niagara Falls (13-6)
– The Spartans finished 2nd in ECIC I, the Wolverines were co-champs with NT in the NFL.
– North is led by Dylan Lambert and Maceo Jack.
– Niagara Falls is led by Mikey Bermudez and Qeyion Williams.
– The Spartans lost in the Class AA semifinals last season to Clarence, 49-39.
– Niagara Falls' last trip to Buff State was in 2013, when they lost in the Class AA final to Jamestown, 46-39.
– Best win for Will North was against Timon.
– Best win for Niagara Falls was at North Tonawanda.
– I voted North #6 in this week's large school poll. I did not vote for Niagara Falls.
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Thursday, March 5th
Class A2 Semifinals
#1 Amherst (17-2) vs. #4 Cheektowaga (15-4)
– The Tigers were undefeated in ECIC III, the Warriors finished 2nd in ECIC III.
– Amherst is led by TC Brown and Dorian Billups.
– Cheektowaga is led by Dominick Welch and Zak Ciezki.
– They played in the Class A2 final last season, with Cheektowaga winning in OT, 69-68.
– Best win for Amherst was at Cheektowaga.
– Best win for Cheektowaga was against East.
– I voted Amherst #4 and did not vote for Cheektowaga in the large school poll.
#2 Starpoint (16-3) vs. #3 Olean (15-4)
– The Spartans finished 2nd in ECIC II, the Huskies were co-champs of CCAA I West with Fredonia.
– Starpoint is led by Brock Kroening and Christian Nodine.
– Olean is led by Chucky Martin and Connor Prizel.
– Starpoint's last trip to Buff State was in 2003.
– Olean won the overall Section VI Class B title last year and advanced to the NYSPHAA Class B state championship.
– Best win for Starpoint was at Williamsville South.
– Best win for Olean was against Fredonia.
– I voted Starpoint #10 in this week's large school poll. I did not vote for Olean.
-centercourt
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