(Myles Cooper gets up for Amherst / Photo: Shawn Turri)

 

Large Schools 

1. Canisius (A) – The Crusaders are now 15-1 on the season and alone in first place atop the MMA standings, following an 18th consecutive victory against rival St. Joe's on Saturday.  This week presents rematches at Cardinal O'Hara on Tuesday and at home against St. Francis on Friday.

2. Park (A) – The Pioneers took a road trip to Albany on Saturday night to compete in the SLAM North/South Classic, where they fell to the defending NYS Class A Federation Champions from Albany Academy, the same team Park defeated in the 2018 Federation Championship game.  It's a tough loss that will only help the Pioneers at season's end, having now seen the team they'll need to get past to return to a third straight Federation Tournament at the end of March.

 3. Health Sciences (A2) – Make it 14-0 for the Falcons after beating South Park on Thursday and then Tapestry at Villa on Saturday in what was the most entertaining 32 minutes of basketball I've enjoyed this season.  On Monday night, the Falcons take on East as part of a double header at St. Joe's, beginning at 6 pm.

4. St. Joe's (A) – A better start to the second half against Canisius on Saturday might have yielded a different result, but instead the streak continues.  It was the Marauders first loss is eight games and now they face a big challenge on Monday night against the top Class AA team in from Section V in UPrep – a game that will follow Health Sciences vs. East in a great night of basketball at the Home of the Marauders on Kenmore Avenue beginning at 6 pm.  Another big test comes on Friday night at the same venue when Niagara Falls visits.

5. Niagara Falls (AA) –  Following an idle week, the Wolverines are back in action and looking to stay undefeated in the NFL when the defending league champs from Lew-Port arrive on Tuesday night, before traveling to St. Joe's on Friday.

6. Amherst (A2) –  Followed up an impressive showing at the MLK Classic the weekend prior by gutting out a win over WNY's top ranked small school from Middle College.  Myles Cooper calmly sank the game-winner for the Tigers as time expired, after laying out to earn a steal with 16 seconds left.  They are undefeated in ECIC II heading into this week's games against Williamsville South on Wednesday and at West Seneca East on Friday.

7. Lew-Port (A2) - A seven-game win streak came to an end on Wednesday night for the Lancers in a narrow defeat at the hands of Middle College, despite a performance for the ages turned in by Roddy Gayle.  The sophomore scored 26 of his game-high 38 points in the second half, while grabbing 15 boards and delivering a rejection that only a player who soars through the air as effortlessly as he does, and did while pounding the rim three times with big-time dunks, could do!  

8. Jamestown (AA) – The Red Raiders appear to have grabbed the proverbial switch and flipped it straight up.  Jamestown followed up a 23-point win over Willaimsville North with a 36-point lambasting of McKinley.  They are also alone in first place in ECIC I.

9. Orchard Park (AA) – In an ultra competitive season, the decisions get very difficult toward the end of the large school poll this year. The Quakers just dropped a game at Lancaster on Saturday afternoon, leaving them in a three-way tie for second place in ECIC I with those Legends and Williamsville North.  Without room for all three teams in the Top 10, I analyzed the quality wins that each of those teams has to this point.   The Quakers own victories over Middle College, Timon, Nichols, St. Francis, and North.   In my opinion, it was the best resume of the three.

 10. CSAT (A2) – I voted the Eagles in last week and wasn't about to drop them for an idle week during regents exams.  This week we find out what's up, with road games at North Tonawanda and at Sweet Home.  

 

Small Schools 

1. Middle College (C1) –  After winning their ninth straight game at Lew-Port on Wednesday, the Kats were finally tripped up at Amherst on Friday night.  Back to league play this week with games against South Park and City Honors.

2. Allegany-Limestone (B2) –  Took a two-game lead over both Fredonia & Olean in CCAA I West last week with a second double figure victory over Fredonia that gave them the season sweep.  Thursday night they host Chautauqua Lake, before a visit to Randolph on Saturday night's 'Game of the Week'.

3. Randolph (C2) – The Cardinals survived an overtime game at Silver Creek thanks to a triple-double performance by Tyler Hind.  They'll try to build on an eight-game win streak during a busy week ahead that holds games against Ellicottville, Salamanca, & Allegany-Limestone.

4. Timon (B) – Pushed Canisius to the brink on MLK Day, falling in overtime despite 38 points scored by Jamyier Patton.  Two nights later, they were in overtime with St. Francis.  A 44-point win over St. Mary's sends them into the rematch with Cardinal O'Hara with momentum.

5. Tapestry (C1) – After hanging 104 points on Bennett Tuesday night, the Thunderhawks dropped one to Maritime the following day.  However on Saturday night, they left with much to be proud of after going toe-to-toe with undefeated Health Sciences in front of a sold out gymnasium.  Tuesday night, they face a tough nonleague trip to Class AA Clarence.

6. Fredonia (B2) – Following Thursday's loss to Allegany-Limestone, the Hillbillies had one week to prepare for the rematch with Olean.  Three weeks ago, Fredonia went into Olean and won by 13 points. 

7.  Maritime (B2) - Picked up a true signature win on Wednesday when the Commodores grabbed everyone's attention, defeating Tapestry.  Two nights later, they ran into Bennett for a second time this season and lost the rematch by four after beating the Tigers by five in December.  

8. Westfield (C2) – Head coach Bob North earned his 400th career win last week in a win over Brocton and followed that up with #401 as the Wolverines survived a late-game rally attempt by Sherman to improve to 11-0 on the year.  

9. Olean (B1) - Made it four straight wins last week by downing Southwestern and Hilton, with a rematch looming on Thursday at Fredonia, where the Huskies will try to even the season series.

10. Bennett (B1) – Tied for first place in Yale Cup II with Olmsted after winning the rematch handily and now winners in five of their last six games after knocking off Maritime.  The Tigers look like men on the court and are easily the strongest looking high school basketball team I've ever seen in WNY.  

 

-centercourt