(Canisius enters this week with the longest winning streak (14 games) in NYS / Photo by Elliott Jerge)
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 Saturday of each week. Here's a look at how I see them and some of the rationale used to get there.
Large
1. Park (MMA) – The Pioneers will hit the New Year with a 6-0 record, the #1 Class A ranking in NYS, and the state's second longest winning streak at 11 games. Bishop Kearney visits Harlem Road on January 2nd.
2. Canisius (MMA) – The Crusaders winning streak of 14 games is tops in NYS. Three major challenges await this week as they participate in the annual National Jesuit Tournament in NYC.
3. Amherst (A2) – The Tigers travel to Long Island this week to play in the Anthony Parlato Memorial Tournament.
4. McKinley (A1) – The Macks improved to 6-0 with an easy win against East last Monday. They host a tournament this week, facing Nichols on Tuesday and likely Cheektowaga on Wednesday.
5. Williamsville South (A1) – The Billies make their way out to NYC to play in the Chaminade Tournament this week, where they'll face top caliber competition. Locally, South is 3-0 in ECIC II with wins of 40, 31, & 31 points.
6. Lockport (AA) – The Lions roared loud enough to wake up anyone who was still sleeping on them, when they dismantled Starpoint on Tuesday. Now 7-0, Lockport will play the best team it scheduled this year, Aquinas, in its Christmas Tournament beginning on Tuesday night.
7. St. Joe's (MMA) – Knocked off McQuaid on Wednesday night and will look to keep it going this Wednesday when Starpoint visits in a battle of local top 10 large schools.
8. Niagara Falls (AA) – The Wolverines are in the middle of a three-week hiatus, before resuming their schedule on January 5th. They are currently tied for first place in the NFL with an unbeaten league mark.
9. Lancaster (AA) – The best start for Lancaster that I've ever seen continues. The Legends are now 7-0 after breezing past West Seneca West last week and topping Tapestry in the Buffalo Hoop Group Tournament at St. Francis on Saturday. They'll play St. Francis tonight for the tournament championship.
10. Starpoint (A2) – The Spartans lost all the momentum they were riding following a win over Timon, when they arrived in Lockport last Tuesday. It was the kind of loss that will have all eyes on their game at St. Joe's this week, to see which team shows up.
Small
1. Olean (B1) – The Huskies are 6-0, ranked #1 in NYS Class B, and still waiting for their first competitive game, after winning their first six by double figures.
2. Health Sciences (B2) – Scored their biggest win in program history, going on the road and knocking off Middle College in a game they never trailed in over the last two quarters. This is the highest they've ever been on my ballot, but the Falcons have earned their way here.
3. Walsh (MMA) – One of eight teams from WNY that entered the holidays with an undefeated record. The Eagles play in the Coudersport Tournament over the break and then again on January 5th.
4. Middle College (C2) – The Kats have an opportunity this season to match what the 2010 team did – win it all. However, their 3-4 start to the season, that includes a one-point win over East, raises some questions.
5. St. Mary's (MMA) – The Lancers won the Depew Tournament, defeating East Aurora in the final. Next up is the Five Guys Tournament at Williamsville North this week, where they'll open against Global Concepts on Tuesday night.
6. East (C1) – Still just one win, against Burgard. Losses include Bishop Kearney (AA), Edison Tech (AA), McKinley, Middle College, & Timon. The Middle College loss was by one point. No team below them is winning any of the games they lost, nor are they pushing Middle College to a one-point game. Polls are not standings. The state rankings use a stupid policy of not ranking a team below .500. I go watch games and do my best to rank the top 10 teams. So yes, a team can be in the top 10 with a 1-5 record.
7. East Aurora (B1) – The Blue Devils are .500 with a mark of 4-4. Losses were to Olean, Amherst, St. Mary's, & Orchard Park. Again, these guys are a top 10 small school, and losing to teams that are better doesn't change that.
8. Tapestry (C1) – Came up short against Lancaster in a game where they waited too long to play with any intensity in. The Thunderhawks identity has been a team that plays up tempo and constantly pressures the ball, and when they are true to themselves, they're a tough team to beat.
9. Nichols (MMA) – The Vikings own 20+ point wins over Cleveland Hill & Medina, and beat RCM Charter of Rochester by 15 points. The boys are in for an experience on Tuesday when they play at McKinley…pipe some noise into your practices this week and work on your press break.
10. Franklinville (D) – The Panthers were 7-0 at press time, the only unbeaten left in Class D, and playing for the small school IAABO Tournament championship tonight against Chautauqua Lake.
-centercourt
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