(Cam Barmore & the Panama Panthers have a pair of big games this week/Photo: Post Journal)

 

Monday, January 6th

Orchard Park @ Williamsville North- 7 pm

West Seneca West @ Jamestown – 7:30 pm

Williamsville South @ Hamburg – 7:30 pm

 

Tuesday, January 7th

Middle College @ McKinley – 6 pm

West Seneca East @ Amherst – 6:30 pm

Cardinal O'Hara @ Canisius – 6:30 pm

Fredonia @ Olean – 7:30 pm

Randolph @ Salamanca – 7:30 pm

Panama @ Sherman – 7:30 pm

Maple Grove @ Westfield – 7:30 pm

 

Wednesday, January 8th

West Seneca West @ Health Sciences – 7 pm

 

Thursday, January 9th

South Park @ East – 6 pm

Williamsville South @ West Seneca East – 6:30 pm

Hamburg @ Sweet Home – 6:30 pm

Nichols @ St. Mary's – 7 pm

Williamsville North @ Jamestown – 7:30 pm

 

Friday, January 10th

Middle College @ East – 6 pm

Lew-Port @ Ken West – 6:30 pm

Iroquois @ Cheektowaga – 6:30 pm

Timon @ Cardinal O'Hara – 6:30 pm

Olean @ Allegany-Limestone – 7:30 pm

Westfield @ Panama – 7:30 pm

 

Saturday, January 11th

Williamsville North @ West Seneca West – 12 pm

Jamesville-DeWitt @ Amherst – 1 pm

South Park @ Tapestry – 2:30 pm

Cardinal O'Hara @ Randolph – 6:30 pm

 

* Game of the Week – Westfield @ Panama on Friday, January 10th

Last season, Panama was mere seconds away from advancing to the NYSPHAA Class D state championship game.  They had a four-point lead in the closing seconds of the state semifinal.  After unwisely contesting a desperate 3-point attempt that caught the rim and rebounded out to the corner, their opponent collected that rebound and launched one last attempt – which went in…And 1.  The free throw that ensued also went in, good for a four-point play that forced overtime. The extra session was unkind to the Panthers.  Game over, season over, and a long ride home thinking about what could have been.  But that was last season.  The 2020 Panthers are already thinking about what could be this season and tearing through opponents in the process.

Despite the postseason success that landed Panama in the state final four a year ago, things didn't start out so well.  The team began 0-3 and they were just 3-5 through their first eight games.  They didn't even win their league in CCAA II West last season, because they were swept by the team that did – Westfield.

This year has a much different feel for Panama already.  The team has started the season with a 7-0 record, winning by an average margin of 22.3 points per game.  They are ranked #1 in NYS Class D.  And their standout center, Cam Barmore, has taken his game to a whole new level.  The two-time state champion on the gridiron earned First Team All-State honors after averaging 20.6 points a night as a junior.  This year, he's torching defenses to the tune of 33.3 points an outing through seven games.

Here's the hitch – Westfield is unimpressed by the whole story.  After all, the Wolverines are the defending league champions and the only thing stopping them from raining on Panama's 2019 postseason success is the 16 students over the cutoff that put them in Class C2, as opposed to Class D.  Westfield has also started the season with a 7-0 record and two of those victories came against an opponent who Panama also has two of its wins against – Chautauqua Lake.  So which team fared better against the common opponent?  Westfield did.  The Wolverines won those two games by 8 points & by 15 points.  Panama defeated Chautauqua Lake by 4 points the first time and by 3 points in the rematch.

There's only one thing that could take a bit of the shine off of the Friday night Southern Tier special, and that's Tuesday night.  Panama has to travel to Sherman, while Westfield hosts Maple Grove, who Panama owns a seven-point win over this year.

Should both squads take care of business on Tuesday night, we'll have a battle of unbeaten teams.  Either way, we'll have a key battle in CCAA II West between the two teams sitting at the top.  Either way, the gym will be sold out and the atmosphere will be awesome.  And either way, I'm taking the long roadie for the 'Game of the Week'!

 

-centercourt