April 29, 2019 at 08:29AM
The potential was there heading down the stretch to have more state champions crowned than spots for the final Power 10 of the winter sports season.
Had that happened, this corner would have been in quite a pickle, but it would have meant eight basketball teams and at least one more hockey team would still be celebrating the fact they're the No. 1 teams in the state.
But not every team that reaches a state Final Four is destined for the happy ending. This year provided a harsh reminder, but even after the state champions were included, a few spots remained for teams that had special seasons that didn't end with state glory.
Without further ado, here's the final Power 10 of the winter.
1. St. Joe's hockey
Late regular-season loss that resulted in a drop in the penultimate Power 10 after rising as high as No. 2 didn't squish the Marauders' chances at rising to No. 1 after all. The Marauders rebounded by winning their second state Catholic championship in three years, making it three state titles in four years for coach Richard Crozier and his group of assistants. They finished 23-2-2 to share the No. 1 ranking in the final state poll with III-Syracuse. There's no sharing in this poll.
•••
Williamsville forward Jenna Cavalieri celebrates with her teammates after she scored a goal in the first period against Potsdam in the state semifinals at Harborcenter. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)
2. Williamsville girls hockey
Williamsville (17-4-0) won the titles that mattered most in perhaps its best season ever. It captured its first Section VI championship and followed that by winning its first New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship. The team won those two titles by winning five single-elimination games in six days. It was unable to complete a postseason championships hat trick (Section VI, state and WNY Federation) as it got upset in Fed semifinals by Lancaster. Still, the memories will last a lifetime.
•••
Park School repeated as unanimous No. 1 in the Buffalo News large school poll. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)
3. Park boys basketball
After rallying to avoid an upset in the Manhattan Cup semifinals, Park finished its business by winning its second consecutive Cup. It then won two close games to capture its second straight New York State Catholic High Schools Athletic Association title. The dream of repeating as State Federation Tournament of Champions was ended by eventual winner Albany Academy. Still, 25-3 with a state Catholic Class A title is not too shabby.
•••
Cardinal O'Hara players Justin Hemphill celebrates his 1,000 career rebound as Jermaine Haynes Jr. celebrates his 1,000 point against Tapestry (Harry Scull Jr./ Buffalo News)
4 Cardinal O'Hara boys basketball
A school-record 26-win season comes up one win short of ending with Federation Class B championship. Still, the Hawks captured first state Catholic title since 1994. They averaged a school-record 80.7 points per game during entertaining season.
•••
Franklinville girls basketball players cheer and hold the New York state championship for their supporters to see following their victory. (Jenn March / Special to the Buffalo News)
5. Franklinville girls basketball
After coming so close to a perfect season and a state championship in 2018, a younger version of the Panthers – led by News Player of the Year Danielle Haskell – came together to play their best basketball during the second half of the year and earn the program's first state title.
•••
Dunkirk's girls bowling team: front row Summer Clark, Olivia Corbett, Tayler Skelly and Isabella Berger. Back row, Whitney Hice, Hannah Ellman, Makayla Pasierb, Mariah Glowniak, Rachel Glowniak and coach Donna Kubera (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News)
6. Dunkirk girls bowling
Section VI girls bowling is now 2-for-2 when it comes to winning the Division II (small schools) NYSPHSAA championship. Coach Donna Kubera's crew rallied to win the title with a total of 5,671 pins after trailing the leader by 136 points at the midpoint. Rachel Glowniak had the second-best six-game series of the tournament with 1,231. Makayla Pasierb finished fifth overall with 1,180.
•••
For the third straight year, Ellicottville's girls skiing team got to strike the champion's pose after the state competition. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Fredrickson)
7. Ellicottville girls skiing
The Eagles won third consecutive state championship led by Logan Fredrickson. She captured three individual state titles (slalom, giant slalom and alpine combined). Others who contributed to the championship run included Hayly Fredrickson and Cece Carls.
•••
Lewiston Porter center Roddy Gayle shoots against Niagara Falls. (Harry Scull Jr./ Buffalo News)
8. Lewiston-Porter boys basketball
Their quest to reach state Final Four came up short, but the Lancers had a season to remember – capturing the program's first Section VI title since 1978 and Niagara Frontier League crown since 1984 along with 21 victories.
•••
Niagara Falls guard Willie Lightfoot signals a three after a three point basket against Lewiston Porter (Harry Scull Jr./ Buffalo News)
9. Niagara Falls boys basketball
The Wolverines came within an inch or so of playing for the state Class AA championship. Niagara Falls won its fourth consecutive Section VI title and then took out McQuaid of Rochester in an entertaining Far West Regional contest.
•••
10. Lew-Port girls cheerleading
The Lancers win the program's first NYSPHSAA competitive cheerleading crown one season after graduating eight athletes who helped contribute to the team's seventh-place finish at states.
•••
High honors
Lake Shore girls hoops. Season-ending No. 1 News large school team ascended to the top spot by taking down previous Nos. 1 and 2 teams, Amherst and Williamsville South, in championship games to capture the Section VI Class A title for first time since 2016.
Cardinal O'Hara girls basketball. The only other large school with a case to be chosen No. 1 (they didn't play Lake Shore), especially after beating St. Mary's (which beat Lake Shore) twice in three meetings. The Hawks beat St. Mary's in the final to win a sixth consecutive Monsignor Martin Class AA championship.
East Aurora boys swimming. Great regular season included 50th straight division title, third straight Section VI Class B team title and another ECIC small schools crown. Officials need to add this team sport to its roster of state championship events.
Grand Island boys hockey. Not only did the Vikings reach their first Section VI Division II final, they captured the championship by defeating last year's winner, West Seneca West.
Orchard Park boys hockey. The best varsity season in Quakers history includes their first Section VI Division I title and run to state semifinals.
Maple Grove girls basketball. The Red Dragons lost last year's leading scorer to season-ending injury in an exhibition game but didn't let that stop them from making history by reaching their first state Final Four.
Middle Early College boys basketball: The Kats rode defense and teamwork to the Yale Cup title and an appearance in the state Class C final.
Olean boys basketball. The Huskies send the area's all-time leader in coaching wins and state basketball hall of famer Jeff Anastasia into retirement with another sectional championship and milestone (career win No. 600).
•••
Honor roll
Albion swimming, Allegany-Limestone boys basketball, Amherst boys basketball, Amherst girls basketball, Canisius bowling, Canisius squash, Canisius swimming, Clarence wrestling, Chautauqua Lake girls basketball, Cheektowaga track and field, City Honors boys basketball, City Honors girls basketball, East Aurora girls basketball, Forestville girls bowling, Falconer wrestling, Frewsburg swimming, Frontier girls basketball, Frontier/Lake Shore/Orchard Park hockey, Hamburg track and field, Holland/East Aurora track and field, Iroquois wrestling, JFK boys bowling, Lake Shore cheerleading, Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew girls hockey, Lancaster cheerleading, Lancaster track and field, Niagara Wheatfield wrestling, Nichols boys hockey, Nichols girls hockey, North Tonawanda girls bowling, Olean wrestling, Olmsted girls basketball, Orchard Park boys bowling, Orchard Park girls bowling, Orchard Park cheerleading, Orchard Park swimming, Orchard Park track and field, Panama boys basketball, Panama girls basketball, Randolph boys basketball, St. Francis wrestling, St. Joe's bowling, St. Joe's wrestling, Southwestern girls basketball, Starpoint bowling, Starpoint cheerleading, Sweet Home track and field, Tonawanda boys bowling, West Seneca West boys basketball, West Seneca West boys hockey, Williamsville North boys basketball, Williamsville South girls basketball.
The potential was there heading down the stretch to have more state champions crowned than spots for the final Power 10 of the winter sports season.
Had that happened, this corner would have been in quite a pickle, but it would have meant eight basketball teams and at least one more hockey team would still be celebrating the fact they're the No. 1 teams in the state.
But not every team that reaches a state Final Four is destined for the happy ending. This year provided a harsh reminder, but even after the state champions were included, a few spots remained for teams that had special seasons that didn't end with state glory.
Without further ado, here's the final Power 10 of the winter.
1. St. Joe's hockey
Late regular-season loss that resulted in a drop in the penultimate Power 10 after rising as high as No. 2 didn't squish the Marauders' chances at rising to No. 1 after all. The Marauders rebounded by winning their second state Catholic championship in three years, making it three state titles in four years for coach Richard Crozier and his group of assistants. They finished 23-2-2 to share the No. 1 ranking in the final state poll with III-Syracuse. There's no sharing in this poll.
•••
Williamsville forward Jenna Cavalieri celebrates with her teammates after she scored a goal in the first period against Potsdam in the state semifinals at Harborcenter. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)
2. Williamsville girls hockey
Williamsville (17-4-0) won the titles that mattered most in perhaps its best season ever. It captured its first Section VI championship and followed that by winning its first New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship. The team won those two titles by winning five single-elimination games in six days. It was unable to complete a postseason championships hat trick (Section VI, state and WNY Federation) as it got upset in Fed semifinals by Lancaster. Still, the memories will last a lifetime.
•••
Park School repeated as unanimous No. 1 in the Buffalo News large school poll. (Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News)
3. Park boys basketball
After rallying to avoid an upset in the Manhattan Cup semifinals, Park finished its business by winning its second consecutive Cup. It then won two close games to capture its second straight New York State Catholic High Schools Athletic Association title. The dream of repeating as State Federation Tournament of Champions was ended by eventual winner Albany Academy. Still, 25-3 with a state Catholic Class A title is not too shabby.
•••
Cardinal O'Hara players Justin Hemphill celebrates his 1,000 career rebound as Jermaine Haynes Jr. celebrates his 1,000 point against Tapestry (Harry Scull Jr./ Buffalo News)
4 Cardinal O'Hara boys basketball
A school-record 26-win season comes up one win short of ending with Federation Class B championship. Still, the Hawks captured first state Catholic title since 1994. They averaged a school-record 80.7 points per game during entertaining season.
•••
Franklinville girls basketball players cheer and hold the New York state championship for their supporters to see following their victory. (Jenn March / Special to the Buffalo News)
5. Franklinville girls basketball
After coming so close to a perfect season and a state championship in 2018, a younger version of the Panthers – led by News Player of the Year Danielle Haskell – came together to play their best basketball during the second half of the year and earn the program's first state title.
•••
Dunkirk's girls bowling team: front row Summer Clark, Olivia Corbett, Tayler Skelly and Isabella Berger. Back row, Whitney Hice, Hannah Ellman, Makayla Pasierb, Mariah Glowniak, Rachel Glowniak and coach Donna Kubera (James P. McCoy/Buffalo News)
6. Dunkirk girls bowling
Section VI girls bowling is now 2-for-2 when it comes to winning the Division II (small schools) NYSPHSAA championship. Coach Donna Kubera's crew rallied to win the title with a total of 5,671 pins after trailing the leader by 136 points at the midpoint. Rachel Glowniak had the second-best six-game series of the tournament with 1,231. Makayla Pasierb finished fifth overall with 1,180.
•••
For the third straight year, Ellicottville's girls skiing team got to strike the champion's pose after the state competition. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Fredrickson)
7. Ellicottville girls skiing
The Eagles won third consecutive state championship led by Logan Fredrickson. She captured three individual state titles (slalom, giant slalom and alpine combined). Others who contributed to the championship run included Hayly Fredrickson and Cece Carls.
•••
Lewiston Porter center Roddy Gayle shoots against Niagara Falls. (Harry Scull Jr./ Buffalo News)
8. Lewiston-Porter boys basketball
Their quest to reach state Final Four came up short, but the Lancers had a season to remember – capturing the program's first Section VI title since 1978 and Niagara Frontier League crown since 1984 along with 21 victories.
•••
Niagara Falls guard Willie Lightfoot signals a three after a three point basket against Lewiston Porter (Harry Scull Jr./ Buffalo News)
9. Niagara Falls boys basketball
The Wolverines came within an inch or so of playing for the state Class AA championship. Niagara Falls won its fourth consecutive Section VI title and then took out McQuaid of Rochester in an entertaining Far West Regional contest.
•••
10. Lew-Port girls cheerleading
The Lancers win the program's first NYSPHSAA competitive cheerleading crown one season after graduating eight athletes who helped contribute to the team's seventh-place finish at states.
•••
High honors
Lake Shore girls hoops. Season-ending No. 1 News large school team ascended to the top spot by taking down previous Nos. 1 and 2 teams, Amherst and Williamsville South, in championship games to capture the Section VI Class A title for first time since 2016.
Cardinal O'Hara girls basketball. The only other large school with a case to be chosen No. 1 (they didn't play Lake Shore), especially after beating St. Mary's (which beat Lake Shore) twice in three meetings. The Hawks beat St. Mary's in the final to win a sixth consecutive Monsignor Martin Class AA championship.
East Aurora boys swimming. Great regular season included 50th straight division title, third straight Section VI Class B team title and another ECIC small schools crown. Officials need to add this team sport to its roster of state championship events.
Grand Island boys hockey. Not only did the Vikings reach their first Section VI Division II final, they captured the championship by defeating last year's winner, West Seneca West.
Orchard Park boys hockey. The best varsity season in Quakers history includes their first Section VI Division I title and run to state semifinals.
Maple Grove girls basketball. The Red Dragons lost last year's leading scorer to season-ending injury in an exhibition game but didn't let that stop them from making history by reaching their first state Final Four.
Middle Early College boys basketball: The Kats rode defense and teamwork to the Yale Cup title and an appearance in the state Class C final.
Olean boys basketball. The Huskies send the area's all-time leader in coaching wins and state basketball hall of famer Jeff Anastasia into retirement with another sectional championship and milestone (career win No. 600).
•••
Honor roll
Albion swimming, Allegany-Limestone boys basketball, Amherst boys basketball, Amherst girls basketball, Canisius bowling, Canisius squash, Canisius swimming, Clarence wrestling, Chautauqua Lake girls basketball, Cheektowaga track and field, City Honors boys basketball, City Honors girls basketball, East Aurora girls basketball, Forestville girls bowling, Falconer wrestling, Frewsburg swimming, Frontier girls basketball, Frontier/Lake Shore/Orchard Park hockey, Hamburg track and field, Holland/East Aurora track and field, Iroquois wrestling, JFK boys bowling, Lake Shore cheerleading, Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew girls hockey, Lancaster cheerleading, Lancaster track and field, Niagara Wheatfield wrestling, Nichols boys hockey, Nichols girls hockey, North Tonawanda girls bowling, Olean wrestling, Olmsted girls basketball, Orchard Park boys bowling, Orchard Park girls bowling, Orchard Park cheerleading, Orchard Park swimming, Orchard Park track and field, Panama boys basketball, Panama girls basketball, Randolph boys basketball, St. Francis wrestling, St. Joe's bowling, St. Joe's wrestling, Southwestern girls basketball, Starpoint bowling, Starpoint cheerleading, Sweet Home track and field, Tonawanda boys bowling, West Seneca West boys basketball, West Seneca West boys hockey, Williamsville North boys basketball, Williamsville South girls basketball.
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