The seventh state rankings for the 2017 the season have been released by the NYSSWA.  Below are the WNY teams that made the cut:

 

Class AA

No teams ranked

 

Class A 

Park #5    

St. Francis #12

Williamsville South #16   

Timon #22   

 

Class B

Health Sciences #8    

East Aurora #24     

Cardinal O'Hara #25

 

Class C 

Chautauqua Lake #3     

East #18         

 

Class D

Ellicottville #6 

Franklinville #9 

Sherman #19     

 

** According to the rankings… 

 

– Section VI goes 1-4 in the Far West Regionals this year.  Section V has three ranked Class AA teams to our zero.  In Class A, there are three teams ranked ahead of our highest ranked public school.  In Class C, Section V has the NYS #1 in Perry.  And in Class D, Prattsburgh is ranked two spots ahead of Ellicottville.  Apparently Health Sciences is our only hope.

 

– Losing to an unranked opponent only cost the Pioneers four spots.  Park went from #1 to #5 in NYS Class A for its home loss to St. Francis.

 

– The reward for St. Francis?  They return to the state rankings at #12, only two spots higher than they were two weeks ago, before they were dropped completely last week.  What I'm trying to figure out is, what had them ranked #14 two weeks ago? Beating Cathedral Prep?  And if beating Cathedral Prep (from PA) was worthy of #14, how is a win AT Park only good for two spots better?

 

– Williamsville South was punished harder for losing to unranked Amherst on the road than Park was for a home loss.  The Billies dropped nine spots from #7 to #16 in NYS Class A.

 

– Meanwhile, Amherst, who has been in the state's 'Honorable Mention' for weeks, remains there despite the win.  Dear NYS rankings:  It's time to rank the Tigers!  I know that much stock is put into "records" when compiling the state rankings, with much less weight on who wins & losses come against.  Well the "too many losses" garbage argument might work for continuing to not rank Canisius with a 7-5 record, but there is no excuse to not have Amherst ranked. They are 12-2 with no bad losses, but some impressive wins. 

 

– Just to recap on Amherst, the Tigers have spent five weeks this season as a NYS Class A Honorable Mention.  Then they defeat Williamsville South, who comes in ranked #7 in NYS Class A.  The prize?  More Honorable Mention.  How?  Why?

 

– Staying in NYS Class A, Timon dropped FIVE spots, from #17 to #22 for losing on the road to UPrep (#5 in NYS AA).  So that road loss is more punishable than Park losing at home to an unranked Class A team???  Please!!!  It sounds so ridiculous, you'd think I just made this stuff up for your entertainment.

 

– Cardinal O'Hara's sixth straight win was enough to finally get them into the poll, barely, at #25.  But it took a double-digit victory over Walsh, who had been #22 before being dropped for the loss.  

 

– East Aurora dropped five spots in NYS Class B, from #19 to #24 for its loss at Cheektowaga.

 

– Sherman lost to Clymer last week and fell seven spots, but not out of the rankings.  The Wildcats, who's best win this season came against Frewsburg, went from #12 to #19 in NYS Class D.

 

– Finally there's the Class C developments to leave you scratching your head like you have a bad case of itchy scalp.  The only two teams that have been ranked all season, Chautauqua Lake & East, both had league road games last week against defending state champions.  The Thunderbirds lost at Olean by one, while East lost at Middle College by three.  As a result, Chautauqua Lake moved up THREE spots from #6 to #3.  East fell four spots from #14 to #18.  Makes sense right?  

 

Click HERE to see the complete NYSSWA State Rankings.

 

– centercourt