Despite one loss, the Frewsburg girls basketball team holds the top spot in Class C as voted on by the New York State Sportswriters Association and announced Tuesday.

The Bears (2-1) began the year with a 61-55 victory over Class AA honorable mention North Tonawanda, then fell to the state’s top-ranked Class B team, Section V’s Hornell 62-55. Last week the Bears defeated Southwestern 53-33 and are next in action Friday against the Trojans in the Frewsburg Holiday Classic.

The Bears are currently the only Section VI team in the Class C rankings, with both undefeated Westfield and Wilson listed as honorable mentions.

The Trojans (4-2) join Hornell in the Class B rankings at No. 12, and have only dropped games against Frewsburg and Class AA No. 6 Orchard Park. Otherwise, Southwestern has posted victories over Class D-ranked Panama, Dunkirk, Allegany-Limestone and Falconer.

Sherman joins Panama in the Class D rankings, taking the No. 11 spot while starting the season with a tough nonleague schedule.

The Wildcats (2-4) have dropped games against Lancaster, Amherst, Westfield and Salamanca, but posted victories over Clymer and Franklinville.

Panama (3-3) is a few spots back at No. 15 coming off three straight victories to get to .500, beating Maple Grove, Cassadaga Valley and Pine Valley.

Class A is topped by Section III’s Utica Notre Dame (8-0), while Section VI is represented by Depew (3-2) at No. 13 and honorable mentions Lake Shore (6-0) and Lewiston-Porter (4-2).

Section V takes the top spot in Class AA with Pittsford Sutherland (4-0), while Monsignor Scanlan (10-2) is the best team in Class AAA. Section VI has Orchard Park (8-0) at No. 6 in AA and North Tonawanda (3-2) is an honorable mention, then St. Mary’s of Lancaster (3-5) is No. 11 in AAA and West Seneca (6-0) is No. 19.

BOYS

The Fredonia boys basketball team has started the season with seven straight victories to earn a spot in the New York State Sportswriters Association Class A rankings at No. 26.

The Hillbillies (8-0) put their record on the line Tuesday evening against Harbor Creek (Pa.) and prevailed in overtime 73-67. They are back in action next Monday against rival Dunkirk.

Class A is topped by Section III’s Westhill (9-0), while Section VI has Grand Island (5-0) at No. 9 and honorable mentions Lewiston-Porter (3-2), South Park (3-3) and Williamsville South (3-3).

Several local teams earned recognition in Class D with Clymer (4-3) at No. 11 and Panama (3-2) right behind at No. 12. The Pirates have yet to drop a game to a New York team with only losses coming south of the border and Panama has just lost to Clymer and Class B honorable mention Randolph.

Earning Class D honorable mentions are Forestville (3-1) and Sherman (1-1).

Randolph (3-1) is joined in the Class B honorable mentions with Salamanca (4-4), while Section VI has Medina (7-0) at No. 15, Tapestry (4-0) at No. 9 and Akron (7-0) at No. 2. The top-ranked team in Class B is Section I’s Woodlands (5-0).

Section VI is also well represented in Class C with Wilson (9-0) at No. 3, Global Concepts (4-0) at No. 13 and honorable mentions Ellicottville (3-2) and Westfield (3-1). Section II’s Berne-Knox-Westerlo takes the top spot with a 6-1 record.

Jamestown (2-2) is an honorable mention in Class AAA with Niagara Falls (2-4), while newcomer Health Sciences (5-1) is No. 18 and Archbishop Stepinac (6-4) of the Catholic High Schools takes the top spot.

Top Class AA teams from the area are Canisius (5-1) at No. 15, Nichols (5-2) at No. 29 and honorable mentions North Tonawanda (4-2), Orchard Park (6-0), St. Francis (6-2) and St. Joe’s (5-3). The top team in the state is Section V’s Penfield (5-0).