Poll Ballots 2018 – Week 5 – The View From Centercourt

(John Orogun & Park reject the notion that any other teams deserves the #1 ranking/Photo: Larry Scheur)

Large Schools

1. Park (MMA) – To be the best, you have to beat the best. Or beat the team the pollsters have been ranking as the best. Well, the Pioneers did that and then some. In fact, they did so in dominant fashion for most of the game in their win over Canisius. Park led by as many as 18 points and were up by double figures for the majority of the game. Of the teams we're comparing Park to in this poll, only Timon has clipped them – by one point at home. I gave that game respect when it happened and I have to give Park its due now, they earned it.

2. Canisius (MMA) – A trip to St. Mary's on Monday night should result in a rebound win for the Crusaders. They have a trip to Bishop Kearney coming on Saturday as well.

3. Timon (MMA) – South Buffalo is the place to be this Friday afternoon when the Tigers host league rival St. Francis, a team point guard Julian Cunningham knows pretty well, for a 4 pm tip.

4. West Seneca West (A1) – Hammered on Springville last week in another nonleague game scheduled before new head coach Des Randall took the job, before closing out Clarence by 21 points after a fairly competitive game for three quarters.

5. St. Francis (MMA) – After dropping a 14-point decision at home to new #1 Park, the Red Raiders bounced back with a road win at St. Joe's. They have to visit St. Mary's on Wednesday night before they can place their focus on Friday's game at Timon.

6. Niagara Falls (AA) – Won all three of their games last week in convincing fashion – the average margin of victory was 33 points. That included a 56-point win at Grand Island prior to showing Lockport who was boss of the NFL.

7. Williamsville South (A1) – Sweet Home & Williamsville East are two teams that sit right outside of the top ten among large schools based on their resumes. The Billies took care of them by 31 & 34 points last week. It's interesting to wonder where they'd be ranked if they hadn't lost to St. Francis at home. Amherst visits on Friday night, a team they knocked off by 28 in the first meeting. I heard Greg Dolan is a decent player and is having pretty good season.

8. Lockport (AA) – All season, I've viewed the large schools as having a clear top seven. Saturday afternoon's result against Falls supports that line of thinking. The Lions still deserve this spot, having won nine straight games prior to Saturday, including a win over North Tonawanda. They face CSAT and Amherst this week, before a rematch with NT on Friday.

9. North Tonawanda (A1) – The Jacks hosted Grand Island and earned a 15-point victory, before a 20-point win at the Lumberyard over Starpoint. Friday's game at Lockport is a big one for NT.

10. Williamsville North (AA) – The last two wins for the Spartans have been emphatic ones. North rolled Ken West by 32 and Frontier by 24 last week, which had me considering moving them up. We'll see how Friday night shakes out with them visiting Orchard Park, while Lockport & NT square off.

Small Schools

1. Health Sciences (B2) – Three more wins for the Falcons last week over their charter competition and none were even close. Davonte Gaines outscored one of them himself in the game he surpassed 1,000 career points, as he dropped a career-high 52 points – the most scored in WNY this season.

2. Olean (B1) – We get reminded of just how good Olean is when teams like Maryvale take them on in a nonleague game and come back with an 18-point loss. The Huskies home court win streak dating back to the 2011 season remains intact and will next be tested by visiting Williamsville East this Saturday.

3. East (D) – The Panthers have played four games since the New Year and they are crushing teams. The average margin of victory has been 39 points in those four games. Two of their opponents in that stretch were Middle College & Burgard. They most recently beat I-Prep by 35. I-Prep lost on the road to Lockport at the buzzer.

4. Franklinville (D) – These Panthers are also laying some beat-downs since the calendar changed. Five wins since New Year's by an average margin of 30 points per win. Competition is on the way – a rematch with Burgard, who clipped them by a point in December.

5. St. Mary's (MMA) – The Lancers are coming off road wins at Nichols and St. Joe's and now face the gauntlet with this week's schedule, playing four games in five nights. Canisius, St. Francis, O'Hara, and CCA. Yikes! Think they rest their starters in any of them? I doubt it, you have to be a multi-millionaire to think you deserve that. Although Matt Ciezki does look like a high-roller.

6. Niagara Catholic (MMA) – If you thought their road win at O'Hara was impressive, how about taking Timon to the end without the services of one of their starters? They visit Lew-Port on Monday before a Friday night trip to Goliath's place – Park.

7. Middle College (B2) – Rebounded from the East loss to hang 101 on I-Prep in a remarkable 49-point win and then took Burgard down in overtime to complete the season sweep. They will look to bust out the brooms again if they can earn a win at McKinley this Friday, who they beat by 10 in December.

8. Cardinal O'Hara (MMA) – Had wins at Nichols and Walsh last week, in between the loss to Niagara Catholic. Home-sweet-home this week for the Hawks, with CCA, UPrep, and St. Mary's all visiting the Nest.

9. Tapestry (C) – The Thunderhawks face Maritime during the week, prior to a Saturday trip to defending Class C2 champion Randolph for an intriguing nonleague battle in Class C.

10. Ellicottville (D) – Won a third straight game going away on Thursday night and in the process, Elliot Bowen became the school's all-time leading scorer. The Eagles have a big test on Monday at Randolph, who they beat by nine in December, but has come on strong as of late.

-centercourt