Large Schools

1. Health Sciences (AAA) –  The Falcons opened the season with a pair of wins, one coming in league play over South Park and the other on Saturday night against fellow Top 10 program St. Joe’s.  These guys are loaded and play to their strengths.  Four games coming up this week with the biggest test coming Monday evening against Niagara Falls.  They also host Hutch Tech, then visit Williamsville South and Bennett.
2. Nichols (AA) –  After defeating O’Hara handily, the Vikings suffered their first loss of the season at Holy Trinity.  Friday evening should be a fun one when they head to Kenmore Avenue to take on St. Joe’s.
3. Canisius (AA) –  Defeated Park to begin the 2026 Season and followed that up with a victory over McKinley on Thursday night, before losing to Penfield on Saturday afternoon in the Tom Keenan Memorial Tournament.  The Crusaders go on the road this week to take on two of the top programs in the section, Jamestown and Niagara Falls. 
4. St. Joe’s (AA) –  Earned a home victory over Timon earlier in the week, before losing at Health Sciences Saturday night.  Three more contests ahead for SJCI, beginning with the always tough Cathedral Prep visiting on Monday, a road trip to O’Hara, and then a Friday night tilt against Nichols in the Centercourt ‘Game of the Week’. 
5. Jamestown (AAA) –  Idle this past week, Jamestown returns to the court Wednesday night, where they will host Canisius, before heading off to Rush Henrietta at the end of the week. 
6. Niagara Falls (AAA) –  Dropped a close one to Berne Knox at home on Friday evening.  Monday night, the Wolverines hope to trudge through the snow and return to the Cataract City with a win over Health, before hosting Canisius on Saturday afternoon.
7. Orchard Park (AA1) –  The Quakers began their season last week with a pair of resounding victories over Middle College and Depew.  They will look to keep the good times rolling this week and should find a good opponent waiting for them at Sweet Home on Tuesday, before hosting East Aurora on Thursday and then heading to the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland to take on Vertus over the weekend.
8. McKinley (AA1) –  The Macks put themselves through a gauntlet this week and came out of it with a pair of victories over Williamsville East and Horseheads, while falling for the first time at Canisius.  They get a good one on Wednesday night at South Park.
9. Grand Island (A1) –  Now 3-0 on the year after taking care of business against Kenmore West, the Vikings face two more tough league opponents, first hosting North Tonawanda, and then visiting Lew-Port on Friday.
10. St. Francis (AA) –  The Red Raiders crash the rankings, taking the last spot on the strength of their victory over St. Mary’s, who defeated North Tonawanda, who defeated Lew-Port, who defeated Timon.  You follow? The Live Like Luca Tournament is this weekend and they open with a game against Frontier on Saturday, but first they head off to South Buffalo to take on league rival Timon.  

Small Schools

1. Akron (B2) –  After picking up a win over Albion, The Tigers had a strong showing in a victory over the team they had to go through to win a title last season, Olmsted.  They travel to East Aurora this week, ahead of the annual Jack Silvernail Tournament hosted by the Tigers, where they will open against Starpoint in Round One.
2. Tapestry (B2) –  Winners by 59 points over Maritime, the Thunderhawks are 4–0 to start the year and will remain that way this week with no games on the slate.
3. Wilson (C) –  Champions of their annual Tip-Off Tournament after defeating Buffalo Culinary and Tully, the Lakemen started the week with a big win at MST, led by the big guy, Shamus George and his career-high 38 points.  The team should find themselves in three competitive games this week, beginning with a trip to league rival Newfane – a game that is sure to sell out.  Wilson also hosts Barker and then visits Niagara Wheatfield.
4. Middle College (B1) –  More Slim Shady out of these guys… a 42-point loss at Orchard Park is followed by a victory over Olmsted, who ended their season last year.  I’m riding with the winning result for now and putting them here because I think they are for real.
5. Olmsted (B1) –  Not the way they wanted to start their season, with just one victory and three losses.  But I am keeping the Owls here because the teams they have lost to, I believe are legitimate, and that’s how I see this team as well.  The return of Jaden Wood will only help.  They will need a win at Bennett this week to stay here and they also face South Park on Saturday. 
6. Global Concepts (C) –  This is a difficult team to gauge right now because of the competition they are facing.  Another very lopsided victory, this time over City Honors.  That same result is certain when they host West Valley on Tuesday night, a team with just one victory in the last two seasons.  Hopefully their participation in the Depew Tournament beginning Thursday, provides some answers.  They open against Lake Shore at Depew.
7. Medina (B1) –  The Mustangs are unbeaten through four games, after surviving one against Barker on Thursday.  Medina will look to make it six straight victories to begin the 2026 campaign when they host Maryvale and Roy-Hart this week.
8. Newfane (B2) –  The Panthers have a nice squad, as evidenced by their win over Starpoint to begin their season last week.  Rivalry time comes early this year when Wilson invades the Panthers Den on Tuesday night, before Newfane heads off to Albion to finish out the week.
9. MST (B2) –  The Wolves were dealt a tough loss at the hands of Wilson on Tuesday, but rebounded nicely against Hutch Tech on Friday evening.  They host East on Wednesday night.
10. Salamanca (B1) –  It didn’t take the Warriors long to work their way back into the rankings, something they accomplished by winning the Maple Grove Tournament this past weekend, which included victories over Randolph and host Maple Grove.  They have a tough game coming on Tuesday night at Dunkirk.

–🏀centercourt🏀