(Fredonia nearly upset Olean last week, while St. Mary's prepares for Walsh on Friday / Photo by Ron Szot)

 

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 Schools

1. Canisius (MMA) – Not only the best team in WNY, but one of the best defensive teams I've ever watched.  Holding Park to 21 points over three quarters wasn't exciting to watch, but it sure was impressive.  Hosting Timon on Tuesday and then visiting St. Joe's Friday night.

2. Park (MMA) – Rebounded nicely from the Canisius loss with an interior-dominating win at Timon on Friday.  Tonight they travel to Aquinas to face the Lil Irish, ranked #8 in NYS Class AA.

3. Amherst (A2) – The Tigers haven't faced a team currently ranked in WNY's large school top 10 since losing to Park in December.  That changes Thursday night, when Jamestown arrives for a nonleague sectional tuneup against the ECIC III champs.  

4. Williamsville South (A1) – Last season, the Billies won ECIC II despite a home loss to Starpoint.  On Thursday night, the two will square off on Main Street again, where a South win would again give them the outright league title.

5. McKinley (A1) – The Macks escaped East High with a victory after trailing the Panthers all game on Tuesday night.  That means a win at Middle College on Thursday gives them the Yale Cup all to themselves.

6. Timon (MMA) – The Tigers have established themselves as a clear #3 in the MMA Class A after sweeping St. Joe's, but losing a second time to Park.  They get another shot at Canisius on Tuesday and then travel to play the red hot Red Raiders at St. Francis on Friday.

7. Niagara Falls (AA) – Had a more than respectable showing against Canadian power Father Henry Carr on Saturday night, after locking up another league championship in the NFL.

8. Jamestown (AA) – Put some pressure on ECIC I leader Williamsville North by handing the Spartans their first league loss of the season on Tuesday.  Zacc Kinsey's long 3-pointer at the buzzer scored a nonleague win over 2015 regional champ Leadership Academy on Saturday.

9. Williamsville North (AA) – Despite getting tripped up by Jamestown, the Spartans still control their own fate.  Wins tonight and Wednesday against Lancaster earn them the title in ECIC I & the top seed in Class AA.

10. Starpoint (A2) – Thursday is a big night for the Spartans.  The school's all-time scoring leader, Christian Nodine, will go for his 1,000th point as Starpoint attempts to force a co-championship in ECIC II.

 

Small Schools

1. Olean (B1) – Prevailed in what was likely the most thrilling game of the year at Fredonia on Friday night.  The overtime win keeps the Huskies undefeated, ranked #1 in NYS Class B, and the top seed in Class B1.

2. Walsh (MMA) – After getting upset at home by St. Francis last week, the Eagles face a tough finish to the regular season, beginning this week with road trips to Niagara Catholic, St. Joe's, & the 'Game of the Week' at St. Mary's. 

3. St. Mary's (MMA) – The Lancers have had a great season and boast several quality wins along the way, but Friday's game against Walsh is the most important regular season game they play this year, especially after losing at their place in January.

4. Health Sciences (B2) – Finish the regular season against Class AA Lancaster on Friday night.  A regular season that includes wins over Middle College, South Park, and a sweep of Tapestry will earn the Falcons a home game in the sectional quarterfinals.  Only losses this season have come from ranked MMA schools Park, Timon, & St. Mary's.

5. Middle College (C2) – The Kats can claim a share of the Yale Cup with a win over McKinley on Thursday night.

6. Fredonia (B2) – The Hillbillies have no wins this season over any ranked teams, but claim this spot thanks to a pair of gritty showings against Olean, the only team to threaten the Huskies' undefeated season with a pair of single-digit losses.  They will look to avenge a home loss to Southwestern this week.

7. East (C1) – Another squad with no wins over ranked teams, but who has earned respect similar to how Fredonia has garnered it, with a pair of narrow losses to Middle College and nearly knocking off McKinley – the two schools playing for the Yale Cup.

8. Gowanda (B2) – The Panthers finally debut on my ballot after getting out to a 15-3 record and reaching the top of the standings in CCAA I East.  They'll deserve this spot if they close out the season with wins over Randolph and Silver Creek this week.

9. East Aurora (B1) – Losses in three of its last four games isn't an ideal way gear up for the postseason, but the Blue Devils still look like the best team in Class B1 after Olean.

10. Tapestry (C1) – Some pollsters went with Panama in this spot, whose only quality win came against Randolph – a team they then lost to four days later.  Tapestry also beat Randolph, twice, along with beating Medina, Roy-Hart, and Grand Island (who only lost to Niagara Falls by one point).

 

-centercourt