As we do for each of our four semifinal previews we hand the preview over to the people who know these teams better than anyone; the coaches that faced them during the season.

 Using blind quotes we asked three coaches to break down the two semifinal games in Division III.

 

Division III

(3) Berlin vs (2) Somersworth

Berlin Team Page

Somersworth Team Page

 We asked our three coaches to break down the third meeting between the pre-season #1 and the pre-season #2.

 First, we asked the coaches what Berlin does well.

“ They take care of the basketball and they have senior leadership, which is so important this time of year. I think the most important position on your team during the tournament is the point guard and in Evan Arsenault they have a terrific one.”

 Another coach talked about the size of Berlin. “ They are very strong down low and they rebound particularly well. Even on out of bounds plays they use their strength as an asset. They are very good at screening and sealing you and against Gilford, their out of bounds plays may have been the difference in the game.”

 How would you break down the match-up?

“ The defenses will be interesting to watch. Berlin’s favorite defense is their man to man, but I’ve also seen them go 2-3 zone a few times this year. With Somersworth their favorite defense is a very active 2-3 zone, it reminds me of what (Oyster River coach) Lorne Lucas used to run when he was at Somersworth. Against Belmont, they went man to man so I think what both coaches (Dave Morissette of Berlin and Rob Fauci of Somersworth) are doing is having another defensive look in their back pocket if they need it.”

 One coach, we spoke to felt like the zone could be exploited. “ I think there are some pretty big gaps in that zone and if a player like (Seth) Balderrama is able to flash high post it will give Somersworth some trouble.”

 What about the players who will make the biggest impact?

 “ I think this comes to the team that defends and rebounds better. I honestly think coaching will have little to do with it, both coaches have done a great job getting their teams ready, it will come down to who makes plays.”

 “ What strikes me about both teams is they both have a 1 and 1a player…two big-time players on each side. Evan Arsenault & Seth Balderrama for Berlin and Bryton Early & Evan Gray for Somersworth. Those four players will show up, it’s going to come down to one other player who steps up. I remember when Pelham played Conant in the title game and before Keith Brown won it late it was Dylan Silvestri who scored the first 9 points of the game for Pelham. It will be a player like that.”

 Another tournament coach agreed. “ for Berlin, I look at Sinciere Davis, who I think is the best on the ball defender in our division, or Joey Foder really stepping up. For Somersworth, Tyler Clark is a difference maker. To me the best player on Somersworth is Evan Gray, he does everything on both ends of the floor.”

 So who wins?

“ Somersworth, I see Bryton Early being hard to contain on that big floor.”

“ Berlin but….it’s a coin toss.”

 “ Berlin,,,I just think they’re the more disciplined team.”

 

 

(9) Monadnock vs (5) Campbell

Campbell Team Page

Monadnock Team Page

 Monadnock beat Campbell 74-46 three weeks ago (Box Score) but all three coaches we spoke to were in agreement on how big of a factor that will play in the semifinal rematch; “ It won’t mean a thing.”

 We asked our coaches to break down both teams, starting with Campbell.

“ Campbell will pressure you for 32 minutes and they use their superior depth, they will play 10 players a night, to wear you down over the course of the game. Their guards are very quick and they can beat you off the dribble, opening up open shots for their shooters on the wing.”

 “They are the most talented team in our division,” said another Division III coach. “ Their bench players would start for most teams and they will bring pressure at you for the entire game. I think  Joaquin Heller is probably their best player but he’s not a true go-to guy. They’ll get scoring from a number of different players.”

What about the Monadnock Huskies?

“ They are physical and strong. They are not going to give you any easy drives to the basket, they will defend the rim and when you go in the paint you will feel it. Joe Minson has the best handle of any player in our division, he and Bryton Early, and you can’t guard him one on one. He has a step back move, a shot fake, a step & go and then he can also just break you down off the dribble.”

 Another coach echoed those strengths. “ They go offensively as Joe Minson goes because they have other players like (Jake) Kidney who can knock down shots but they have trouble creating their own looks. Minson creates a lot of those looks for them. “

 How do the two teams match up?

“ I think Tim Santaw could have a big night against Campbell because he’s so physical down low. Chad Martel will have to work to keep him off the boards but it is harder to rebound out of a zone and Santaw is a player in constant motion.”

“ If you run with Campbell they are very hard to beat,” said another tournament coach. “ But against a zone and if you control pace they will get frustrated on both ends. They will go for steals and reach, and with three officials I’m interested to see how much they can get away with. They’ll push you and grab guys, plays that two officials miss, I’m not sure three officials will miss that.”

“ They lost to Monadnock the first time because they didn’t shoot well, it all comes down to how they are shooting the ball. Monadnock will pack the paint and limit them to one shot. Campbell has to keep their emotions in check, they talk more than any team I’ve faced in all my years coaching and sometimes that feeds them and other times they get frustrated when other teams are controlling the game.”

 So who wins the game?

 “ Campbell…they are loaded with talent.”

“ Monadnock..in a close one.”

“ I want to say Monadnock but I think Campbell is too deep for them.”