(Mike DiGiulio and the South Billies host the Game of the Week / Photo: Harry Scull,Buff News)
Wednesday, January 2nd
Hutch Tech @ Grand Island – 6:30 pm
Sweet Home @ Williamsville South – 7:30 pm
Thursday, January 3rd
Nichols @ Cardinal O'Hara – 6:30 pm
Williamsville East @ West Seneca East – 6:30 pm
Medina @ Newfane – 6:30 pm
Orchard Park @ Frontier – 7 pm
West Seneca West @ Clarence – 7:30 pm
Jamestown @ Williamsville North – 7:30 pm
Friday, January 4th
McKinley @ South Park – 6 pm
Middle College @ East – 6 pm
Amherst @ Williamsville South – 7:30 pm
Fredonia @ Olean – 7:30 pm
Franklinville @ Ellicottville – 7:30 pm
Silver Creek @ Randolph – 7:30 pm
Westfield @ Panama – 7:30 pm
Maple Grove @ Chautauqua Lake – 7:30 pm
Saturday, January 5th
Health Sciences @ Tapestry – 3 pm
Canisius @ Aquinas – 3:30 pm
Sunday, January 6th
At Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse)
St. Francis vs. Bishop Ludden – 1:45 pm
Timon vs. Bishop Grimes – 3:30 pm
St. Joe's @ Christian Brothers Academy – 5:15 pm
* Game of the Week - Amherst at Williamsville South on Friday, January 4th
In 2016, Williamsville South and Amherst were top five large schools in WNY and spent the season on a collision course to meet in the overall Class A Final at Buff State. When the big game finally came to fruition, large student sections from both schools filled the baseline bleachers at the Buff State Sports Arena and infused the place with a little something extra. Not only was the winning team to advance to regionals, but there was also a matter of geographic pride on the line. Separated by just 2.3 miles on Route 5 in Buffalo, this was dubbed the Battle of Main Street.
Led by the Dolan brothers, the Billies won the big game on the big stage by 10 points over a Tigers squad that boasted TC Brown and Amadi Ikpeze, en route to the team's only trip to Glens Falls in program history. The following season, divisional realignments in ECIC landed Amherst in the same league as South and the Battle of Main Street became an annual two-game series & an instant rivalry.
In 2017, South gave up its home court advantage to play the first round across the street from the home of the Tigers at Daemen College. The Billies would score a thrilling win before an overflow crowd that evening. However in round two, it was Amherst's turn to grant fans the privilege of chanting "We own Main Street", as the Tigers controlled the game and won by 10 points at home.
During Greg Dolan's CC MVP campaign in 2018, Williamsville South was a clear cut above a young Amherst team and took a pair of lopsided decisions, to give the Billies a 4-1 advantage in 'The Battle' since 2016.
Early indications from the games played so far in the 2019 season have ECIC II being a battle royale, with several teams having the horses and belief that they can win the league. Amherst and Williamsville South are both once again right in the mix. The Tigers will enter the game with a 3-1 league record, while the Billies come in 2-1. Amherst's loss came at the hands of West Seneca East, who Williamsville South defeated. The Billies league loss was by 10 points to Hamburg, who the Tigers trounced by 30 points.
While it's hard to make sense of those results, it might be harder to find a parking spot and a seat if you get there late on Friday. It's the first 2019 'Game of the Week', Main Street style!
-centercourt
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