Ranking the Top 10 Large & Small 2026 – Week 8

Click HERE for Centercourt Classic Tickets

Large Schools

1. Health Sciences (AAA) – Coming off a a second straight win over Middle College, the Falcons have a busy week ahead with three games on the schedule during the week ahead of the big clash with Canisius at the Centercourt Classic on Saturday night. Big Health has just one victory against Canisius in 7 tries…but that one victory came in the 3rd Annual Centercourt Classic in 2020!
2. St. Joe’s (AA) – Earned season sweeps over Timon and Park, improving to 13–4 on the season. They will look for another sweep on Tuesday against O’Hara, before hosting Orchard Park on Friday night in the Centercourt Classic.
3. Canisius (AA) – In their only action last week, the Crusaders had no trouble posting a win over McQuaid. Canisius has a major test coming up on Saturday night in the Centercourt Classic against Health Sciences, but first they must travel to St. Mary’s on Tuesday and host St. Francis on Thursday.
4. Nichols (AA) – Three more victories last week has Nichols on a 6-game win streak, first earning the sweep over St. Mary’s, then picking up victories against O’Hara & South Park. Park visits Amherst Street on Tuesday evening and the Vikings will take on Jamestown in the night cap of the Centercourt Classic on Saturday.
5. Niagara Falls (AAA) – Having an easier time catching a cold than catching a break, the Wolverines haven’t played since January 6th thanks to postponements! The good news is, thanks to all the changes, Falls picked up a game with McKinley on Tuesday evening. Falls and McKinley last played in 2011, when they were forced to meet in the Class AA sectionals. Why these two programs who both have won state championships don’t play each other every single season, I’m not sure. But they should. It’s a good game for both teams and the fans. It’s a great experience for either team playing on the other’s home court. Glad this worked out, let’s start a new tradition! Falls closes out the week against Timon on Saturday in the Centercourt Classic.
6. St. Mary’s (A) – Started the week by dropping a 2nd game this season to Nichols, but finished the week by avenging a December loss at St. Francis with a solid victory. On Tuesday, they will play their first of two games against Canisius and then the Lancers open the Centercourt Classic on Saturday with a big one against Akron.
7. Orchard Park (AA) – Now 12-1 after beating Frontier & Lancaster last week to make it 6 straight wins. The Quakers are at Clarence this week, prior to a Friday night showdown at St. Joe’s in the Centercourt Classic.
8. Jamestown (AAA) – With the Frontier game postponed, Jamestown won its only game of the week against Clarence. They are scheduled to host North on Monday and will get a visit from Lancaster on Thursday, before a Centercourt Classic date with Nichols Saturday evening.
9. Grand Island (A1) – The Vikings did not end up playing Bennett on Thursday, whatever the reason was for that. Tuesday night is a rematch with North Tonawanda, a game that came down to the final second in Round One. Then on Thursday, Lew-Port, winners of eight straight games, visits Grand Island.
10. Williamsville North (AA) – Took a 19-point win home from Clarence last week. Monday is the rematch at Jamestown and they close out the week against Williamsville East.

Small schools

1. Tapestry (B2) – Hung 103 points on Holland Friday evening, improving to 12–0 on the season. Tuesday is a rematch with Cleveland Hill, who they defeated by 73 points already, and on Thursday they head to Eden.
2. Wilson (C) – The Lakemen now own a two-game lead in the race for the Niagara-Orleans league title after picking up a pair of victories during the week over Akron and Newfane. Wilson makes their first ever appearance in the Centercourt Classic against Lew-Port on Saturday afternoon, after beginning of the week with games against Barker and Roy-Hart.
3. Akron (B2) – Bounced back to put a thumping on Albion Friday evening, after dropping their 2nd league game of the season earlier in the week at Wilson. Thursday evening is a rematch at home against Newfane, one of their two losses, and Saturday brings a return to the Centercourt Classic to take on Top 10 Large School St. Mary’s.
4. Global Concepts (C) – Raced past Eden on Saturday afternoon for their 8th win on the season. Three games ahead this week for the Gators against Holland, JFK, & Northstar Christian.
5. Middle College (B1) – Dropped one to St. Francis last week and then had their Saturday game postponed. Back in action on Wednesday at MST.
6. Medina (B1) – Came storming back from 17 points down to pick up the victory over Newfane last week. A pair of league games against Roy-Hart and Barker are up next for the Mustangs.
7. Olmsted (B1) – Rested up after a week off, the Owls have three games on tap this week and all are roadies, at Starpoint, Sweet Home, & O’Hara.
8. MST (B2) – The Wolves have a big game on Wednesday night – a rematch with a Middle College squad that pulled off a late-game rally in the first meeting between the two.
9. Salamanca (B1) – Picked up the season sweep over Falconer to improve to 8-6 on the year, with a rematch against Dunkirk coming on Tuesday and their first of two games with Southwestern the following night.
10. Newfane (B2) – Tough week for the Panthers with Medina erasing a 17-point lead, followed by a loss at Wilson on Friday. Newfane will aim to get back in the win column and avenge a loss against Albion on Tuesday before a rematch with Akron later in the week.