How The News voted: MLK four days away
Throughout the boys basketball season, 10 voters will rate Western New York's best teams from 1 to 10 in the large and small school polls. The News has one vote in each poll.
The polls are part of the Sidelines published weekly in Tuesday's Scholastic Spotlight.
Here's a look back at The News' ballot for the first, second and third polls of the season, and here's this week's:
Large schools
1. Niagara Falls (9-0) [last week: 1] -- The Wolverines are the only thing missing from Saturday's MLK lineup.
2. Nichols (11-1) [2] -- Another great matchup for Vikings on Saturday when they meet East at ECC-City.
3. Jamestown (9-2) [4] -- Won at Frontier too handily not to move them up. Here's the Post-Journal's write-up about that game in which the Raiders showed of some new unis.
4. Grover Cleveland (6-1) [3] -- Almost left them at No. 3. Despite two close wins over Olean and Bennett, it's not as much a reflection on Grover as it is on Jamestown winning at another top 10 school.
5. East (5-1) [5] -- Looking forward to seeing the Panthers for the first time since their Pastor-Cooper title.
6. Williamsville North (7-1) [6] -- Host Jamestown a week from today.
7. Williamsville South (6-3) [9] -- Loss to North means that the Spartans are the Billies' ceiling on this ballot.
8. Frontier (6-4) [8] -- Loss to Jamestown is better than Depew's loss to Maryvale, so we're keeping the Falcons in while very reluctantly keeping the Wildcats out. A very close loss at a very tough league rival in Maryvale s no great shame, but it's enough to get you knocked down ever so slightly. Depew's the 11th top 10 team (and the smallest large school in Western New York, just for the record).
9. McKinley (6-1) [10] -- Macks hustled their way past Middle College without Habeeb.
10. Sweet Home (8-1) [NR] -- Finally found a spot on this ballot -- we seriously thought of debuting them at No. 6. We'll find out more Saturday at MLK.
Small schools
1. Lackawanna (4-3) [1] -- Like East, we're very much looking forward to getting another look at these guys Saturday.
2. Wilson (6-2) [2] -- Could Lakemen stumble in N-O this week? Hosting Newfane today and Medina Friday.
3. St. Mary's (7-3) [3] -- Took a couple of hits, but those are large schools they're losing to.
4. Olean (5-4) [6] -- Two things: Seems like the Southern Tier is playing some balanced ball this year (like the teams in this poll), and seems like a healthy Olean is still tops in the Southern Tier.
5. Fredonia (6-4) [NR] -- Hillbillies beat Gowanda and Allegany-Limestone last week (and in the weekly impactful Monday game played Olean to one point).
6. Randolph (6-2) [4] -- Wins against Maple Grove and Allegany-Limestone got them here, loss to Westfield last week knocks them down a bit (here's a link to an eventful last Monday -- which also serves as a reminder to Southern Tier schools to please call The News, too, which also helps section6basketball.net keep track of the seedings numbers).
7. Allegany-Limestone (7-2) [5] -- CCAA I dogfights (Olean, Fredonia, A-L, Gowanda) will continue through February.
8. Alden (7-2) [8] -- Have to wait until Jan. 30 for Bulldogs to host Lackawanna.
9. Maple Grove (6-3) [9] -- Still No. 1 in Class D, still should improve as season goes on.
10. East Aurora (5-4) [10] -- We see them as a top 10 small school. Akron bumped for now -- blame it on the depth in competitiveness the Southern Tier has shown.
Don't like what you're reading here, or in the overall poll? The comments section is below. Or join me in a live chat here Wednesday night at 10 p.m.
---Keith McShea
I hate this new setup, too. And I work here. I'll see what I can do.
Posted by: Keith McShea | January 17, 2009 at 06:03 AM
I'll second that hoopster.
Next...Scroll...Next...Scroll
I only went through all that effort this time to see what the great hoopster had to say!
Posted by: centercourt | January 16, 2009 at 11:47 PM
Nice posts on the Medina/Wilson game. Wish I coulda been there.
Hey, I don't like this new format on the blog at all. Before if you wanted to read someone's post all you had to do was hit their name and voila you were there. Do the same now and you have to scroll through four-five pages to get there. Absolutely NO good. Gotta fix that guys.
Posted by: hoopster | January 16, 2009 at 11:38 PM
Nice feature article in the Gazette today on Wilson PG Brennan Moxham
http://niagara-gazette.com/sports/local_story_015225828.html
Posted by: centercourt | January 16, 2009 at 11:12 PM
It was an intense game. Medina was actually down by 18 points at 35-17 with about 2:30 left in the half. The went on a 19-1 run (late 2nd/early 3rd) to take the lead.
Levi Pace played a great game tonight, 20 points, several rebounds & blocks, and a great defensive effort on Ethan Baker, holding him to 4 points in the second half.
Moxham played a great game for Wilson, finishing with 22 points.
Most intense game I've seen this year except for Falls/Nichols.
Medina has earned 1st place in the N-O with wins over Akron & Wilson.
Posted by: centercourt | January 16, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Medina 66
Wilson 63
An incredible back and forth game by both teams. Both are legit contenders. Incredible defense and clutch shooting. Really intense.
Posted by: hoopsboy | January 16, 2009 at 10:33 PM
MEDINA WAS DOWN SEVENTEEN AND CAME BACK AND WON
Posted by: NO LEAGUE | January 16, 2009 at 09:53 PM
WILSON LOSES TO MEDINA THEY WERE UP BY SEVENTEEN BIG WIN FOR MEDINA
Posted by: NO LEAGUE | January 16, 2009 at 09:51 PM
Not that it should really matter because rarely have I seen more than a handful of students attend any particular game this season....maybe with the exception of the NOL, which I view as no coincidence that they are playing their games tonight. I would just like to know why school districts like N-T and the Falls were shut today...did the administrators have to get out of town early for their long weekend skiing excursion.
Posted by: TML1000 | January 16, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Most, if not all of tonight's games will not be played due to the closing of most of the schools. This is an absolute joke, just because it is cold. It's cold everyday in the winter...these administrators are PATHETIC.
Posted by: TML1000 | January 16, 2009 at 03:28 PM
Medina at Wilson is on.
Posted by: hoopsboy | January 16, 2009 at 02:41 PM
Was just told we cancelled the game tonight against Nichols. Not sure when it will be played.
Posted by: St. Mary's | January 16, 2009 at 02:24 PM
mlk games will be on right?
Posted by: 3intheKey | January 16, 2009 at 01:46 PM
St. Marys v Nichols is still on
Posted by: Dr. Naismith | January 16, 2009 at 01:31 PM
All games in Chaut county are cancelled for tonight.
Posted by: Chaut_CO | January 16, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Keith do you know what games are still on tonight after all the snowdays?
Posted by: delavans finest | January 16, 2009 at 10:10 AM
I didn't say it was a disappointment that they only won by 27 I just said it was a surprize. I've seen Emerson play and I use to coach 8th graders in a church league that could of killed them. So in no way was I trying to disrespect Coach Schunk or his team.
Posted by: delavans finest | January 16, 2009 at 10:04 AM
I agree with Coach Schunck. When I was a senior and had freshman and sophmores on the team, we looked forward to playing against the weaker opponents not because it was an opportunity for us to pad our stats but an opportunity for the young guys to play and cheer them on because they came to the same amount of practices as the older guys and practice just as hard as everyone on the team. Besides, in the end, it doesn't matter if you win by 27 or 2, a W is a W.
Posted by: StateChamps2003 | January 16, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Delevan's finest you can't be serious. You lose credability making comments by that. They won by 27 points!!!! So now a 27 point win isn't good enough? Unbelievable.
If there's one thing to learn from this, and Coach Schunk I'm sure knows all too well, you can never win being a coach. They won by 27 and there still are people not happy. If Grover would have won by 50, Coach Schunk would have been accused of running up the score by someone.
Posted by: Sharpshooter | January 16, 2009 at 08:41 AM
Sorry... I didn't know we had to beat the spread. My idea in a game like that is to give guys who don't normally play A LOT of time. It promotes team unity, and I get to see if any of those guys can help me if I need them. Most importantly, nobody can say I never game them a chance to show me what they could do. Beating a team by 50 proves nothing.
Posted by: Coach Earl Schunk | January 16, 2009 at 05:30 AM
dang, Grover only beat Emerson by 27. Ive seen Emerson play and there's noway they should of put up that many points or stayed with a team like that against a team ranked in WNY.
But maybe Grover was playing down to their competition.
Posted by: delavans finest | January 15, 2009 at 10:50 PM
hey i was just wondering whats going on at ohara and if anyone knows the status of mullhern(?) at st joes.. i heard he was injured which is not good news
Posted by: hs bball fan | January 15, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Who was Cardinal O Hara's point guard and why did he get kicked off the team?
Posted by: delavans finest | January 15, 2009 at 05:17 PM
Southerntier
Hey buddy all this trash talking is in fun. Don't want anyone to take this stuff personal. Its just a game and its not life or death. So if a guy wants to talk about Lancaster or Jamestown let them. Isn't this is what Blogs are for????
Posted by: Basketball Guru | January 15, 2009 at 04:56 PM
Gentlemen,
Listen by no means Im saying McKinley is not a good team but Coach Daye seems to light a fire under those kids who have played for him in the past. Don't count McKinley out just yet. They do have Habeeb and he is one of the top 5 players in WNY. (Just ask Grover's team from last year when he lit them up in the sectional finals).
Posted by: Basketball Guru | January 15, 2009 at 04:52 PM
What's up with O'Hara. Their point guard #3 gets kicked off the team at half-time last night, they are completely out of control and their big man acts if he is looking for a brawl. I hope Coach Dan gets things straightened out there and in a hurry.
Posted by: cohsalum | January 15, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Hey guys,
I'm back... Sorry for going away for awhile, I am a very up front person with my comments and I will tell you jamestown stunk the other night, and that's why their not in the same category as Falls, Falls would never lose a home game to op. Oh well the season isn't over, they just have to go back to work, they will be fine. That loss should put them down to number 5 or 6 in the poll, i would think, or lower at the lowest #7.
Posted by: southerntier | January 15, 2009 at 03:13 PM
Ok, that clears it up for me. I'm not that close with McKinley either, but I was in attendance for one game where Habeeb was benched the entire game, and the Macks came out with a win that game, so who knows? They still seemed to play hard and won...
Posted by: Confused | January 15, 2009 at 02:56 PM
It's got nothing to do with the team being "depressed" that they lost Daye, it's got to do with Daye being one of the Yale Cups better coaches over the years. It doesn't matter that the assistant coach was on the bench last year, they're not the same person and I know Coach McKinney personally, he was one of my assistant coaches that I played for a few years back and I know his basketball IQ is through the roof. I also think they'll lose because I believe Sweet Home is a little better of a team and I'm just not convinced that Mckinley is at the top of their game. A win Saturday will convince me otherwise.
Also, I'm not close with the McKinley team but correct if I'm wrong, I believe Habeeb was benched once earlier this week for the entire game and benched for a half in a game earlier in the year. Whats to say that he gets benched again for whatever reason?
Posted by: StateChamps2003 | January 15, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Oh, and Kevin Chillis is on the team now and those two together are a powerhouse.
Posted by: highschool bball fan | January 15, 2009 at 02:37 PM
McKinley's Habeeb is fine, one bench and you guys worry?. Also, the coaching staff is just fine. The head coach now was Daye's assistant coach last year that sat right next to him on the sidelines. The other 2 coaches are also very good.
Posted by: highschool bball fan | January 15, 2009 at 02:36 PM
StateChamps & Guru, are you predicting that McKinley will loose Saturday's game because they are depressed about loosing Coach Daye, or because they are not good enough to win? The current coaching staff? What? It looks like they have a pretty good record, with only one loss...
Posted by: Confused | January 15, 2009 at 02:28 PM
wasn't darale young suppose to go to East too?
Imagine Darale Young, Dallas Gary, and Mansa Habeeb on the same team?
Posted by: baller de 80's | January 15, 2009 at 01:56 PM
I have to agree with the fact that McKinley really miss Coach Daye who is one of the better coaches in WNY! It seems as if Mansa Habeeb could be having second thoughts about staying at McKinley not sure how close he came to transfering over to East but if he had East would without a doubt would be right up there with Niagara Falls!
Posted by: Basketball Guru | January 15, 2009 at 01:49 PM
slow day at work today so I'm gonna continue to check the blog(don't tell the boss man)
But I like Sweet Home,Lackawanna, Canisius, and Nichols
Posted by: delavans finest | January 15, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Does anyone have any predictions for this Saturdays MLK games?
McKinley vs. Sweet Home 10:30
I like Sweet Home to win this one just because I'm still not convinced that McKinley is playing at the level where they should be. Also, Habeeb was benched recently and I just think that losing Daye has its effects.
St. Joe's vs. Lackawanna 12:00
I'll take Lackawanna, especially with the news that Mulhern won't be playing.
Canisius vs. Riverside 2:30
An interesting matchup. If Canisius' big men come to play then I think they'll take it but I'm taking Riverside in a close one.
East vs. Nichols 4:00
As much as I want East to win and I enjoy watching their team, I just don't think they have the bodies to handle Regan and Vandegriff down low. If Canestro and Mackinnon are hitting their shots, I don't think this will be a close one. East will have to play mistake free basketball to win this one and someone other than Dallas Gary has to step up.
Posted by: StateChamps2003 | January 15, 2009 at 11:54 AM
i see alot of your points but i am going to have to agree with delavan's. st marys program was in shambles the last few years and only now are they playing competitively. i have followed all the teams in the lancaster/depew area for over 20 years and consider this a great improvement for their program. while i agree that they havent beat any "big" teams, they are beating teams they have lost to in the past. they still have a long way to go to be consider legit but i think they also deserve some credit for their improvement this season. between canisius, st joes and st francis enrollment even on a down year they should beat st marys.
Posted by: curtis my favorite martin | January 15, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Ill still say Canisius is more talented then St Marys.
Sean Brady, Blair Helton, and the 2 big guys are more talented then anybody on St Marys. Then Canisius has some young talent like Aaron Nevins.
Who does St Marys have?
Posted by: delavans finest | January 15, 2009 at 11:45 AM
With all due respect, you can't say Alden, Akron, and Maritime are good wins for a team that plays in the MMA. Now those teams are good in there respective leagues, but you can't credit St Mary's with good wins vs those three. And there's no way you can say, well st mary's was close to winning this game or that game, come on people. If we looked at games teams played better teams close, nearly every team in WNY would have a case for the state rankings. Fact is they have no quality wins and lost 3 games in a row, that is why they dropped in the rankings.
And Delevans finest you seem to confuse me a bit. St Mary's doesn't have good players? I saw them play and they have some very good players, the ones that transferred from Lancaster make a big difference. You make it sound like there overacheiving or something, which is definitly not the case, especially since they haven't beaten anyone yet. And then you write on the chat that Canisius has a bunch of talented players? Again I'd have to disagree with that, Canisius is way down in talent this year, one of its weakest teams this decade.
I think that not only delevans finest, but many other people get caught up in the tradition of the school, or what they have been in the past. For example, Canisius and Joes have always been so much better than teams like St Mary's and O'Hara, but because the talent gap has narrowed this year, people credit Canisius and Joes with underachieving, while St Mary's and O'Hara with overacheiveing.
Posted by: Zen Master | January 15, 2009 at 11:39 AM
I didnt know that they beat Alden. But Akron and Maritime arent the greatest of wins.
But I do give St Marys credit for winning with the players that they have.
Posted by: delavans finest | January 15, 2009 at 10:46 AM
i agree with you somewhat but they have beaten akron, alden and maritime and played canisius and depew very tough which are both large schools. they have some quality small school wins, but have yet to beat a good large school. i see what your saying but i mildly disagree delavan.
Posted by: curtis my favorite martin | January 15, 2009 at 10:33 AM
probaly because whoever was ranking them realized they really didnt have any really good wins. And if you ask me St Marys is a good team with great defense and teamwork but they don't have any real ballers on the team.
Posted by: delavans finest | January 15, 2009 at 10:16 AM
anyone have any opinions on why st marys dropped out of the state rankings. their losses were all to "large" schools last week?
Posted by: curtis my favorite martin | January 15, 2009 at 10:01 AM
yo
Posted by: jhgj | January 15, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Niagara Falls jumps to the top. Ahead of all the NYC Catholic and Public powers.
New York State Rankings:
Class AA
1 - Niagara Falls
14 - Jamestown
20 - Williamsville North
Class A
1 - Jamesville-Dewitt (III)
2 - Nichols
6 - East
7 - Grover Cleveland
16 - Sweet Home
23 - Grand Island
Class B
1 - Bishop Kearney (V)
12 - Wilson
Class C
1 - Avon (V)
5 - Westfield
7 - Randolph
10 - Frewsburg
Class D
1 - Maple Grove
Posted by: State Rankings | January 14, 2009 at 10:58 PM
I think they have been great for the Tigers and a very under-rated part of Akron's success, as Tretter grabs most headlines. Both can shoot, are smart with the ball, and play aggressive defense.
Posted by: centercourt | January 14, 2009 at 10:27 PM
what do u think of the short brothers play on akron so far
Posted by: NO LEAGUE | January 14, 2009 at 08:50 PM
Jamestown didn't play their best but give some credit to OP. They are a strong team battling with Nichols and losing to North by 6. ECIC is a great division this year and it is going to be a battle. Watch out for OP when they get their starting big man and power forward back.
Posted by: bills23 | January 14, 2009 at 07:27 PM
Clymer played Maple Grove very well last night 60-49. Lead by 3 or 4 in the first half. It was a rough game and that seemed to play into clymers advantage. That is probably the 2nd or third best team in D and i think on a bigger court it most likley wont be close. But MG has some things to work on before there playoff run
Posted by: Chaut_CO | January 14, 2009 at 05:42 PM
Grow up dude, Jamestown had an off night last night just like any other team has. They lost by 2 points and played with no effort or emotion after riding high for so long on their wins. A loss like that was good for them, as it helped refocus them and make them realize that every night is not going to be a cake walk against inferior teams. Sure southerntier liked to talk about Jamestown this season, but 1 loss is not the end of the year they still have a long season ahead of them and hopefully another date with NF.
Posted by: WNYHOOPS | January 14, 2009 at 05:27 PM