Date Posted : 01-26-2012 Written by: Dave Haley Share  Tweet

Curtis Arsenault & Berlin look to get back to the Final Four

 Our mid-season snapshots continue today as we take a look at Division III. Divisions I & II will follow next week along with our updated statewide power rankings.

 Also look for Game of the Week coverage from Pete Tarrier and if you haven't become a regular listener already then check out Pete's ‘NH High School Sports show' he co-hosts with Marc Thaler on Saturday morning on WGIR. You can listen on AM (610), FM (96.7 on the seacoast) or online at http://www.wgiram.com/ . I listen in every Saturday morning as I enter stats from around the state, it's a great show and really does a nice job of re-capping the Friday night games.

 So to re-cap:  two columns today & a whopping six more articles next week that will include two game of the week stories. I'm making sure you get your money's worth.

 On to Division III;

 If forced today to pick the two teams that will meet in the final:

 Conant vs. Berlin

 This one is a no-brainer. Now does that mean there won't be a tournament upset that prevents this match-up from happening? Of course not, everyone overlooked Somersworth a year ago and it could easily happen again with a team like Stevens, Hopkinton or Campbell.

 To be clear though; these are the two best teams in the division and any circumstance that arises to keep these two from meeting for the Division III title will be an upset of the highest level. These two teams are that good.

Date Posted : 01-26-2012 Written by: Dave Haley Share  Tweet

Eric Gendron & Merrimack take on Salem

 Before we get to our games of the week we want to introduce the newest member of our Players' Lounge; Campbell point guard Max Gouveia reached out to us and had his parents set him up as our newest member. We are excited to have Max on board and thank his parents for their support of our website. Max's one on one interview, video clips, stats and pictures all are being updated now.

 Max Gouveia's profile:

 http://null/basketball/player.php?player_id=5123&team_id=12&team_type=hs_bb&sport=¤tyear=2011-2012

 On to the games;

 Division I

 Salem (6-2) at Merrimack (6-1)

 When a 37-34 win over Londonderry that opened the season was followed by a 53-35 loss to Nashua South we all said the same thing about the Salem Blue Devils; another season of grind it out 41-37 games. Effective coaching yes but the people who tell you they love those games are the same people who will tell you how exciting those two Alabama/LSU field goal festivals were. And those aren't people I really want to watch sports with..

 A funny thing happened over the Holiday break though; Salem found their offense. Since averaging 36 points in those first two games the Blue Devils have put up 62 points a game since. I mean they're not wearing out the guy operating the scoreboard but what they've shown is that in addition to being a very good defensive team (currently ranked 4^th in the division) they can score points when they need to. A year ago that was this team's biggest question mark; could they keep up with elite teams who were going to get to 60 points no matter what. The answer in 2012 is yes they can.

Date Posted : 01-24-2012 Written by: Dave Haley Share  Tweet

Marcus Swedberg of Moultonborough is a First Team pick

 We start with Division IV as we will take a mid-season look at all four divisions in New Hampshire high school basketball. Look for the Division III mid-season snapshot on Friday with Division I & II to follow next week.

 If forced today to pick the two teams that will meet in the final:

 Newmarket vs. Littleton

 These were two of the favorites going into the season and nothing has happened so far changes that outlook. You could even argue both teams look better than expected.

 With Trevor Howard's Littleton Crusaders you can press them at your own peril. Littleton has gotten all-state play from point guard Nick Whipple (14 ppg and having recently shook off a shooting slump) and Lounge member Sam Brammer (19.1, 8 reb. & 2 ast) and are a unit that can slice through pressure defense by moving the ball up the floor to finishers like Josh Bogardus (14 ppg) and Jesse Ledoux (9 ppg).

 The Crusaders rank fourth in the division in points allowed (45 ppg) and that defense, with its ability to cause turnovers, has made up for their lack of size on the low block. This isn't a big team but it's not a small team either; they have good size (for Division IV) at the guard spots and Brammer has spent enough time in the weight room to ensure he isn't going to get pushed around down low too often.

Date Posted : 01-23-2012 Written by: Dave Haley Share  Tweet

Kmahl Walker of Portsmouth ranks 9th in NH

 1.       Patrick Welch of Pembroke Academy                           22.6  ppg

 2.       Chad Knighton of Lisbon                                                     22.1

 3.       Brandon Len of Souhegan                                                  21.3

 4.       Darren Doyon of Coe-Brown Academy                          20.3

 5.       Sam Brammer of Littleton                                                 19.1