2008-09 boys basketball polls

State classification is in parentheses; firstplace votes in brackets; *-tie in points. BOYS LARGE SCHOOLS No. Team (Class) Pts

1. Niagara Falls (AA) [10] 100

2. Nichols (A) 90

3. Grover Cleve. (A-2) 73

4. East * (A-2) 58

4. Frontier * (AA) 58

6. Jamestown (AA) 55

7. Wmsv. South (A-1) 34

8. Wmsv. North (AA) 21

9. Depew (A-2) 18

10. McKinley (A-1) 14

Also receiving votes (with points): Grand Island (A-1) 9, Canisius (A) 6, Orchard Park (AA) 5, Sweet Home (A-1) 4, Lockport (AA) 3, Hutch-Tech (A-1) 1, Middle College (A-1) 1.

2008-2009 large school pollsters: Earl Schunk (Grover Cleveland of the Yale Cup), Jim Palano (Bishop Timon-St. Jude/Monsignor Martin), Mark Simon (St. Joe’s/Msgr. Martin), Paul Schintzius (Sweet Home of ECIC II), Al Monaco (Williamsville South of ECIC II), Erik O’Bryan (North Tonawanda), Steve Allen (official), Benji Bluman (official), Dave Universal (state sportswriters poll), Keith McShea (The Buffalo News).

BOYS SMALL SCHOOLS No. Team (Class) Pts

1. Maple Grove (D) [2]

2. Lackawanna (B-1) [4]

3. St. Mary’s (B) [1]

4. Akron (B-2) [1]

5. Wilson (B-2) [1]

6. Alden (B-1)

7. Olean (B-1) [1]

8. East Aurora (B-1) 85 79 78 72 60 43 36 34

9. Southwestern (B-2) 23

10. Randolph (D) 9

Also receiving votes (with points): Allegany-Limestone (B-2) 8, Gowanda (B-2) 8, City Honors (B-2) 5, Maritime Academy (C) 5, Newfane (B-2) 2, Medina (B-1) 2, Niagara Catholic (B) 1.

2008-2009 large school pollsters: Sil Dan (Cardinal O’Hara of the Monsignor Martin Association), Dan Gill (St. Mary’s/Msgr. Martin), Tony Krupski (JFK/ECIC IV), Brett Sippel (Wilson/Niagara-Orleans), Jeff Anastasia (Olean/CCAA I), Rich Hill (official), Mike Greenburg (official), Mike Retchless (Southern Tier), Dave Universal (state sportswriters poll), McShea (News).

How The News voted

Take a look at how The News filled out its ballot in the large and small school polls at the Prep Talk blog at buffalonews.com/blogs.

2007-08 final girls polls

State classification is in parentheses; firstplace votes in brackets; *-tie in points. GIRLS LARGE SCHOOLS No. Team (Class) Record Pts

1. Pioneer (A-2) [5] 23-2 86

2. Jamestown (AA) 21-3 85

3. East Aurora (A-2) 18-5 67

4. Lockport (AA) 15-8 63

5. Kenmore East (A-1) 18-3 39

6. Williamsville East (A-1) 17-7 37

7. Clarence (AA) 16-7 36

8. Grand Island (A-1) 12-9 28

9. Orchard Park (AA) 14-7 26

10. Sweet Home (AA) 16-5 19

Also receiving votes (with points) Nardin 7, Sacred Heart 2. GIRLS SMALL SCHOOLS No. Team (Class) Record Pts

1. Nichols [6] 21-3 60

2.Olean (B-1) 18-6 54

3.Frewsburg (C-2) 21-3 44

4.Ripley (D) 16-7 40

5.Sherman (D) 21-2 36

6. Immaculata 19-6 31

7.Clymer (D) 18-4 15

8.Falconer (B-2) * 15-9 13

8.Fredonia (B-1) * 15-8 13

10.Allegany-Limestone (C-1) 15-9 12

Also receiving votes (with points) Franklinville 4, Pine Valley 3, Wilson 3, Niagara Catholic 1, Salamanca 1.

Coming attractions

Some nice games in boys basketball today include Frontier at Williamsville North in ECIC I, and nonleaguers of Maritime Academy at St. Mary’s and Hutch-Tech at Williamsville South — last year the Engineers won at South in the Section VI Class A-2 quarterfinals. Niagara Falls is at Lockport at 7 p. m. Wednesday, East Aurora is at Depew in ECIC III on Thursday, and Canisius hosts six great games this weekend in its Tom Keenan Memorial, including Grover at Canisius on Friday night.

In girls basketball, Sacred Heart hosts Mount Mercy on Wednesday at 6:30 p. m. at Villa Maria College in the Monsignor Martin Association opener for both schools.

Approximately eight teams will be running Friday night at an indoor track meet at RIT.

. . . Buffalo State will host a meet on Saturday night.

The Jamestown Ice Rink will host the 23rd Southern Tier Wrestling Officials Holiday Classic involving 38 teams on Friday and Saturday. . . . West Seneca East is hosting an eight-team dual meet tournament on Saturday. . . . Barker is having an eight-team round-robin tournament on Saturday.

Honors

The Buffalo Bills Booster Club presented its annual Bob Kalsu scholarship awards during the recent Western New York Amateur Football Alliance Dinner at Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant. The awards are presented in the name of the former Bills offensive lineman who was killed during the Vietnam War while serving his country. This year’s winners were: Tim Hersey of Kenmore West, Luke Tasker of St. Francis, John Urschel of Canisius and Xavier Hodge of Burgard.

Signings

Kelsey Welch and Jacquie Greco of Nichols recently signed national letters of intent to play hockey at Syracuse. Both have been members of the girls varsity hockey team since their freshman year, they are co-captains of this year’s team. Welch, who plays center, had 21 goals and 22 assists in 30 games last year. Greco, who plays defense, had six goals and 10 assists in 27 games last year.

Bulletin Board

St. Joe’s has openings for assistant lacrosse coaches. Contact Pete Schneider at 874-2224 or by e-mail at pschneider@sjci.com.

Eden has an opening for a varsity football coach for 2009. Contact Doug Beetow, Athletic Director, 3150 Schoolview Road, Eden, NY 14057 before Jan. 16.