(Health Sciences & Middle College are now both top 3 small schools)

 

Large Schools

1. Park (MMA) – The Pioneers return to the top spot this week.  Walsh & St. Mary's visit Harlem Road during the week, before Park makes a Friday night trip to South Buffalo for its rematch with Timon.

2. Williamsville South (A1) – Followed a big win at St. Francis on Tuesday night, with a great showing in Rochester against NYS Class AA top five UPrep.  The Billies were the better team throughout and never trailed over the final five minutes, behind a 16-point fourth quarter from Greg Dolan.  Two more big games this week with Jamestown & defending Class AA state champion Aquinas coming to town.

3. St. Francis (MMA) – If not for the loss to Williamsville South on Tuesday, the Red Raiders are still #1.  They led for the final three quarters against Timon and were the aggressors all night.  If you're a non-believer in this team and waiting for them to 'come back to reality', my advice is don't hold your breath.  With wins over Cathedral Prep, Park, Timon, & Health Sciences, along with 30+ point wins over Dunkirk & Cardinal O'Hara, they are for real.  They host Canisius on Friday night and I expect to see them still in first place in the MMA next week at this time.

4. Timon (MMA) – To my fellow pollsters, a friendly reminder of some earlier results this season.  They have three local losses to the three teams above them on my ballot (Park, South, & Frannies).  The Tigers beat Amherst & Canisius, along with a win over Bishop Kearney, who Canisius also just beat on Friday.  Yet for some reason that lacks any sort of logic that I'd be able to follow, Timon has fallen behind Canisius & Amherst in the Buffalo News poll.  Again I ask – why even play the games? St. Mary's, O'Hara, and Park are on the slate this week.  

5. Canisius (MMA) – Dropped the hammer on the Lancers Wednesday night and then won an exciting game on Friday night over visiting Bishop Kearney.  The Crusaders have games with Nichols and Niagara Catholic during the week, before a Friday night showdown at St. Francis, where they'll attempt to knock the Red Raiders out of first place and avoid a third league loss.

6. Amherst (A2) – Had a productive trip to Jamestown on Tuesday night, which is never an easy place to leave with a win.  Then the team got a great experience over the weekend in Toronto that included taking in a Raptors game.  Just four league games remain for the Tigers until the sectionals begin.

7. North Tonawanda (A1) – The Jacks are now alone in first place in the NFL after Falls lost its third league game to Lockport over the weekend.  Now to stay there, North Tonawanda will need to avenge an earlier 13-point home loss to Lockport on Tuesday night to stay there.  

8. McKinley (A1) – The Macks are coming off a light week and staring down a pivotal point in the season.  Two teams currently tied for first place in Yale Cup I, East and South Park, await a visit from McKinley this week.

9. Jamestown (AA) – James Rojas scored hos 1,000th point in a win over Clarence on Friday.  The Red Raiders have a tough road trip to Williamsville South on Tuesday night that will feature a pair of the area's premier talents.

10. Kenmore West (AA) – The Blue Devils are taking their turn making an appearance on my ballot – the fourth team from the NFL to get a vote here this season.  They just knocked Niagara Falls, who I had #7 last week, out of first place.  They've swept the season series with Lockport already.  If Ken West takes care of business this week and gets help from Lockport against NT, they will be in a tie for first in the league.

 

Small Schools

1. East Aurora (B1) – For the first time since the preseason, the Blue Devils are on top in the small school ranks.  They handled Depew on Friday in a 16-point win and will turn around and face them again at home this week in their only scheduled game.

2. Middle College (B2) – Recent wins over East and Health Sciences have the Kats back in a familiar spot.  Middle College spent the entire season at #2 last year, right behind Olean.  They are a young team that seems to improve every time they take the floor.  They will battle at South Park tonight, with the winner staying in first place in Yale Cup I.

3. Health Sciences (B2) – Suffered back-to-back losses for the first time all season in games against Timon & Middle College last week.  As coach Ty Parker said "You have to lose to learn how to win."  The speed bump heading into February might be the best thing for the Falcons, who face Tapestry this week.

4. Chautauqua Lake (C1) – The Thunderbirds have followed a heart-breaking loss at the buzzer in Olean with a pair of lopsided victories.  Look for more of the same this week with games against Panama & Maple Grove.

5. Ellicottville (D) – Remember, these Eagles missed a pair of free throws at the end of the game that would have lifted them to a win over Chautauqua Lake this season.  Will look to extend their winning streak to eight games after this week, with games against Pine Valley & North Collins.

6. Cardinal O'Hara (MMA) – Lost at St. Mary's in the rematch on Friday night, ending a six-game winning streak.  They host Timon on Wednesday night and are hoping to send some shock waves throughout WNY.

7. St. Mary's (MMA) – I kept them right behind the Hawks, despite winning the more recent meeting, after flipping a coin.  Kidding – I looked no farther than the fact that O'Hara won its game vs St. Mary's by a larger margin (22 vs 13) and that the Lancers lost at home to Walsh, who the Hawks beat by 15.

8. East (C2) – The Panthers swept Burgard and took it to South Park already this season.  Monday's 'Game of the Week' against McKinley will decide if they can stay in first place in Yale Cup I.

9. Burgard (B1) – I finally get to rank the Bulldogs.  They have no bad losses this season, but do have some pretty good wins, most recently a two-point victory over Franklinville on Friday night.  It was Burgard's second win over the Panthers this season and they also own wins over McKinley & Medina.

10. Franklinville (D) – I kept the Panthers right behind Burgard because they missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.  

 

– centercourt