Randolph's Kyra Pence lays up a shot during Tuesday's CCAA Division 1 West game against Fredonia. Pence and the Cardinals moved up to No. 2 in Class C of the state rankings. Photo by Mike Frame

The Randolph girls basketball team jumped two spots to reach its highest point in the state rankings by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

The Cardinals are now the No. 2 team in Class C after a 53-46 victory over Frewsburg last week and they added another 63-29 win over Fredonia on Tuesday.

The Clymer boys dropped to No. 10 in Class D, but still remain the top ranked local boys team. The Pirates had a loss to Class B’s Salamanca last week and then picked up a narrow win over Chautauqua Lake.

The next ranked team in Class D boys is Panama moving up two spots to No. 17 despite a 66-56 loss to Frewsburg last Friday. The Panthers posted a 70-29 win over Maple Grove on Monday and will have a chance to climb higher with a big game at Clymer on Thursday.

The largest drop was the Westfield boys falling from No. 12 to honorable mention in Class D after a narrow loss to Sherman which is now a honorable mention in Class D. Ellicottville is no longer a honorable mention in Class D after losing to Silver Creek 40-23 and beating Franklinville 44-30 on Friday. The Eagles beat Pine Valley 80-39 on Monday and will play Forestville on Thursday.

For the girls, Panama stayed put at No. 3 in Class D and Sherman remained at No. 8., but Clymer moved back up to No. 10. Those positions could change as Sherman topped Clymer 53-47 on Tuesday and Panama beat Maple Grove 68-46. Sherman plays again at Chautauqua Lake this Friday, while Clymer will get a shot at redemption on the road at Panama.

The Southwestern girls fell another four spots into No. 20 for Class B with a loss to Panama and win over Allegany-Limestone last week. The Trojans put together a 80-30 win over Dunkirk on Tuesday and will travel to Olean on Friday.

After knocking on the door for weeks, Fredonia finally joined the Class B boys ranking in a tie at No. 30 with James O’Neill of Section IX. The Hillbillies extended their win streak to six games last week with wins over Springville-Griffith and Olean. Fredonia’s streak came to an end on Monday as No. 16 Salamanca won 70-61, but the ‘Billies can get back on track this Thursday at rival Dunkirk.

Salamanca moved up one spot from last week and with Monday’s win it could go higher. The Warriors will host Allegany-Limestone on Thursday. Southwestern was also named an honorable mention in Class B.

Randolph dropped to No. 15 in Class C following a loss to Southwestern and a big win over honorable mention Silver Creek. Frewsburg remains an honorable mention and is coming off a significant 53-34 win over Silver Creek and will play against Cassadaga Valley on Thursday.

Jamestown moved back to No. 16 and jumped by Health Sciences slotting into No. 15 and Niagara Falls is No. 14 and the top Section VI school in Class AA. The Red Raiders dropped a contest to Canisius last week before earning wins against West Seneca West and The Park School. Jamestown added another big win on Tuesday against Frontier 60-40 and travels to Clarence on Thursday.

Other Western New York boys teams in the rankings include: Class AA Lockport (HM); Class A Amherst (No. 10), Canisius (No. 12), Niagara Wheatfield (HM), North Tonawanda (HM), St. Joseph (HM), Williamsville South (HM); Class B Bishop Timon (No. 4), Lewiston-Porter (No. 12), Allegany-Limestone (HM), Depew (HM), St. Mary’s (HM); Class C Holland (HM).

Western New York girls teams mentioned in the rankings include: Class AA Cardinal O’Hara (No. 9), Lancaster (No. 12); Class A Williamsville South (No. 4), Nichols (No. 8), Sweet Home (No. 17), St. Mary’s Lancaster (No. 19), Sacred Heart Academy (No. 22), Hamburg (No. 25); Class B Depew (No. 2), Lewiston-Porter (No. 10), Eden (No. 23); Class C Portville (No. 11).

Top-ranked boys teams are: AIS Long Island Lutheran (Class AA), CHS Nazareth (Class A), AIS Poly Prep (Class B), Section IV Delhi (Class C), Section V Avoca/Prattsburgh (Class D).

Girls teams ranked No. 1 include: AIS Long Island Lutheran (Class AA), CHSAA St. Joseph by the Sea (Class A), AIS Dalton School (Class B), Section IV Union Springs (Class C), Section III West Canada Valley (Class D).