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The White Mountains Community College Division IV Girls Preview

By Lance Legere, 12/04/19, 6:15AM EST

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Sage Smith and Colebrook are your preseason #1 (photo by Corey McKean)

 Our first-ever girls basketball preview begins with the division I played in, Division IV. Between the old school rivalries in the North Country and the emerging rivalries in the South, this is one of the most intriguing divisions in the state. 

 Traditionally, Division IV girls basketball has been dominated by the Northern teams. But, in recent years the Southern teams have started to make ground in that race. 

 Last year, the two best teams, Littleton and Hinsdale, faced off for the second consecutive year in the finals at Plymouth State University. After losing the title game in 2018 Littleton finally got over that hump, and won their first championship since 2012. 

 Littleton had always been at Plymouth but had never been able to capture that illustrious title until last year with their senior-led group.

 That group has since graduated, while other teams like Colebrook, Woodsville, and Groveton have brought back a good amount of their core that had them in contention last season. Even with their heavy graduation losses, Littleton is still amongst the top of the pack with an up and coming roster. 

 The southern part of the division has gotten deeper and stronger. Teams like Hinsdale and Farmington will still be in the mix even with the losses to graduation and transfers, and teams like Newmarket, Mascenic, Sunapee, and Derryfield are ready to make some noise as well.

 Throughout my conversations with coaches around Division IV, each had a select amount of teams that are in the race for Plymouth this year. With balance in both the northern and southern parts of the division, it is going to be all about who gets those two key games at home in the playoffs. Seeding is important, and that makes the regular season race as tight as it has been in some time. 

Today we take a look at Division IV in our first of our eight pre-season previews for Girls & Boys basketball.

 Our coverage is brought to you by our friends and partners at White Mountains Community College, with locations in Berlin, Littleton and North Conway.

Division IV Predicted Order: 

  1. Colebrook 

  2. Woodsville 

  3. Groveton

  4. Littleton 

  5. Mascenic 

  6. Newmarket

  7. Hinsdale

  8. Farmington 

  9. Sunapee 

  10. Derryfield

Teams just outside the Top Ten: Epping, Canaan-Pittsburg, Linwood, Mount Royal

 After going on the road and upsetting Farmington for the second consecutive year, this time in the quarterfinals, Colebrook and head coach Steve Cass returns the same starting five he had battling Hinsdale in the Final Four at Plymouth just a year ago. “We had a good summer,” said Cass. “We played a lot of basketball and got together quite frequently. The summer is when you work on your personal game, and we did our best to have our players do just that.” 

 A team that was the 7th seed in Division IV just a year ago, comes back more experienced and ready to make some noise this year. When talking about the Mohawks, you have to talk about the play of juniors Sage Smith and Samantha Howe. Cass describes Smith and Howe as “frick and frack.” “You look at them and you swear they are a married couple. They compliment each other well on the floor, but they also aren’t afraid to get on each other and say the things that people don’t want to hear.”

 Smith is one of, if not the most lethal shooters in all of the division. A playoff run which saw Smith score 30 points in round one, and 35 in round two, Smith solidified herself as one of the best players in all of Division IV. An all-state first-teamer last season, Smith will look to do even more in her junior year. “Although she is small, she is still one of our best rebounders,” said Cass. Smith is going to be atop the scoring column, but her defensive skills and playmaking will be key for Colebrook to find success.  

 Now onto “frack." Samantha Howe is in the words of Cass, “a rock solid all-around player.” “She may not score all the points every night, but she plays good solid defense, can shoot the ball well, and she rebounds.” Howe had a stellar sophomore campaign, earning all-state second team honors. She will continue to be that rock solid player for this Mohawks squad and look to do even more this season to elevate Colebrook to the next level.  

 The lone senior on this team is Mackenzie Scherer. “She is probably one of the toughest players in Division IV. She gets hit and snaps right back up and is never afraid to get after it and mix things up,” said Cass. “She has come quite a ways with her leadership and she sets the pace defensively.”  Scherer will be the defensive nucleus that holds this Colebrook team together, taking the toughest matchup night in and night out. 

 Ariana Lord and Sierra Riff are entering their freshmen seasons, but both come back with experience from their run with the team last year as 8th graders. Lord, a 6’2” center, has worked on her low post game. “Ariana is feeling more comfortable around the basket,” said Cass. She will be a key rebounder for Colebrook this year. Riff was a great defensive addition to the team last year. “Sierra has gotten more confident with her shooting ability and aggressiveness.” Another freshman who will be impactful this year is Emma McKeage. “Emma has come along well and did a lot over the summer. She gets the scheme defensively,” said Cass. If these three can continue to play well, Colebrook should have a solid young core even more developed come playoff time. 

 A team that returns the entire same group that made it to Plymouth last year will always be a tough out. If everything clicks, good things are coming for the Mohawks. 

 After a semifinal loss to eventual champion Littleton, Woodsville is ready to make it all the way to the final game this year. Head coach Russ Wilcox returns a team that knows what it takes to get back to the Final Four.. 

 “It has been an interesting start to the season,” said Wilcox. The weather has made it difficult to get practices in but from what he is seen the group looks ready to go, especially his two all-state performers Olivia Sarkis and Emily Prest. 

 Sarkis in the words of Wilcox is, “the best offensive rebounder I have coached in 20 years.” She is viewed as one of the top players in the division. A terrific low post presence who demands double teams and continuous efforts to box her out, Sarkis is a force to be reckoned with. She can generate second chances that will be key for the Engineers offense. 

 On the other hand, Emily Prest is a great guard with tremendous handle and vision. She can push it with both the left and the right hand, and put the ball in the basket with her great ability. “Both Sarkis and Prest are ready to go. They have been in the semis every year in all three sports for their entire high school careers, it’s eating at them to go further,” said Wilcox. This year presents Woodsville with a great opportunity to do just that. 

 Wilcox was very pleased to find out he would be getting a “super basketball player” from a town not so far over in Lisbon. Graci Kaiser, an all-state honorable mention recipient, will be joining the Engineers core this upcoming season and Wilcox sees her having an immediate impact. “It is going to take her time to get used to our playing style,” said Wilcox. “She is a naturally gifted athlete who can drive and play defense.” Kaiser will compliment Sarkis and Prest well, and could possibly be the final piece to the puzzle. 

 “Our goal is to peak in February and go 4-0 when it matters most,” said Wilcox. This could be the year Woodsville accomplishes their goal, it is all about winning when it matters for this team.  

 A town that is known for its basketball in the North Country, Groveton was hit with a few losses to graduation but still returns a team that head coach Tim Haskins thinks can be competitive in Division IV. “The girls have been working hard, a lot of returning players, a lot of experience,” said Haskins. The Eagles are coming off a 14-4  season in which saw them get knocked out against a tough Woodsville team in the quarterfinals. 

 The losses of all state first-teamer Brooke Routhier and guard Lauren St. Cyr will be tough to deal with, but Coach Haskins sees junior Nodia Davenport as a breakout player for the Eagles. “She needs to embrace her scoring guard role.” Davenport has been a developing player for some time. A players junior season is always an important year, and Haskins expects nothing less from his shooting guard who will be an offensive focal point for the Eagles. 

 Another returning player that will be key for Groveton is senior forward Kateyln Desilets. She earned all-state honorable mention honors due to her all-around play. Desilets brings scoring and leadership to the Eagles, as that will be key going down the stretch. Desilets can be viewed as the “glue” of the Groveton Eagles. As Desilets goes, the Eagles will go. 

 “It is going to be hard-pressed to find any other team with a tougher schedule,” said Haskins. Having to play teams like Colebrook and Littleton twice a year, and with tough crossover games in Farmington and Epping, the regular season will be full of tests. 

 The goal for the Eagles? “Get ourselves back to Plymouth.” Groveton is a team capable of getting onto the big stage. The regular season will be important for the Eagles to try and earn themselves home court advantage in the playoffs. “I think we have had a stretch where we were in Plymouth, and the last 4-5 years we have topped out at the quarterfinals. This group really wants to take that next step,” said Haskins. 

 Experience will fuel the Groveton roster, will that be enough for them to get over the quarterfinal hump this year?  

 “Littleton is the champ until someone knocks them off,” said a fellow Division IV coach. The Crusaders and head coach Dale Prior come into the year looking to defend their title, this time with a completely different roster. Littleton lost Division IV Player of the Year Laney Hadlock, playmaking point guard Lexi Walker, second team all-state center Madison Dumont, and three-point marksmen and championship hero Gabbie Leavitt to graduation. 

 That is a tough pill to swallow for Prior and the Crusaders, but expectations are still high with this new group coming in.

 What the Crusaders didn’t lose is the contributions of all-state second team guard Jasmine Brown. “I look for her to be our offensive leader, just because of her experience,” said Prior. Brown was the perfect fit with the four other seniors in the starting lineup last year. This year, Brown will be the main focus for opposing defenses, but Prior thinks she is ready for the challenge. “She is like a machine, she has conditioned herself to play as much as we need her to play.” 

 The Crusaders will need Brown out on the court as much as possible with her tremendous playmaking ability and improved jumpshot, which she worked on over the summer. 

 Another player who comes back with experience is Hannah Brown, Jasmine’s sister. Her and Jasmine are the only returners who played quality minutes during last season’s championship run. “Hannah had a great summer,” said Prior. She will look to carry momentum over from her great play during the offseason and look to translate that into regular season success.  

 A player Prior was looking forward to have on the floor this year was sophomore Nicoria Johnson. Due to an injury back in May, the Crusaders will be without Johnson for the year. “This is a completely different team that I’ve had in the last 10 years,” said Prior. Littleton comes into the year with a guard-oriented roster, something Prior is looking forward to working with.  

 “My expectation is that we still make it to Plymouth, and figure out what we can do to get there, anything can happen once we get there,” said Prior. Littleton has been a dominant force in the North, and this year the expectation is that they remain a contender all the way to March.

 After traveling to Colebrook for the playoffs the past two years, Mascenic is ready to change their narrative. Head coach Sean Young, who I had the pleasure of having a 48 minute conversation with, returns for his second season at the helm. “We are starting to get basketball players through the program,” said Young. Mascenic has been a dominant softball town for many years and basketball has been a much overlooked sport. “Last year, our 9-6 record was our best in the last 15-20 years,” said Young. 

 Young will use his “playground offense” to give all of his players the freedom to make the right decisions out on the court. “I watch kids at the playground, and see how smooth and fluent they are on the court.” He wants to see that system translate into victories. 

 One key player that will help the Vikings to more victories this year is Shelby Babin. “She faced box in ones and double teams all last year so we have been teaching her how to come off screens, recognize mismatches, get out in transition, get to the cup and finish, catch and shoot threes, how to attack off two dribbles and get to the line or sticking the jumpshot, we have worked on the whole arsenal,” said Young. 

 Babin is nearing her 1,000 points and is in store for a monster year. “She is the quietest but also the fiercest competitor I have coached in 21 years. She has the desire to be the one,” said Young. Babin will be leading the charge for Mascenic all year long. 

 Another piece for the Vikings will be guard Alannah Johnson. Young deemed Johnson as “one of the quickest guards in the state.” Johnson had a strong regular season last year but was held scoreless in their playoff matchup with Colebrook. “I have to do a better job of getting her those nice easy baskets, with her speed and athleticism,” said Young. With another year under her belt, Johnson will look to flourish in her junior season. 

 With players like 6’3” center Kylie Millea and Anica Martel returning, Mascenic has a roster that can propel them into the top of the standings. “We will know exactly where we are at Day 1,” said Young. The Vikings are ready to put a second consecutive winning season together and make a run for Plymouth.  

  Newmarket returns a core group that has head coach Meghan Averill excited to get the season started. “We have the experience now, the girls have been with us for four years, so we have been coming in and raising the bar on our expectations.” 

 Averill calls this team, “the deepest roster I have ever coached.” “This is going to be an ever evolving group this season. We have a lot of potential to be able to do different things so there is a lot of excitement to be able to match up against all of the different teams in different ways. Right now we are very deep. There is not a lot of drop off in talent.”  

 This deep roster all starts with returning juniors Briana Filion, an all-state honorable mention recipient last season, and Abigail Henry. Averill is looking for her two juniors to do some of the heavy lifting both offensively and especially defensively. “They both look to attack on offense and do a great job securing rebounds on both ends. Defensively they are very versatile. They can cover guards or forwards because of their size, length, and athletic abilities. They can match up with anyone at the Division IV level.”  

 Defense is going to key be for Newmarket, especially with the addition of two transfers from Dover. Sisters Lizzy and Lena Nicholson are new additions to a Newmarket team that is looking like it will be a defensive juggernaut in Division IV. Lizzy, a sophomore who is 6’0”, and Lena, a freshman who is 6’5”, could easily round out the largest frontcourt in the division. “They are very young and I am still getting to know them, but I see them being a matchup nightmare, “ said Averill. 

 With a core of juniors returning, and potential newcomers coming into fruition, the Newmarket Mules have the potential to be the most dominant team in the southern part of the state, and one of the top teams in all of the division. 

 When news broke that standout Hinsdale sophomore Angelina Nardolilo would be making the move to prep school, many rejoiced that they would not have to face off against the star forward. Even with her absence, head coach Terry Bonnette returns a young and upcoming roster that turned a lot of heads last year. 

 “We have some good outside shooting, but our key will be defense. Play solid defense and score off turnovers,” said Bonnette. Hinsdale returns a trio of guards in Delaney Wilcox, Meghan Roberts, and Olivia Pengalinnein who will look to fill up the box score. One Division IV coach said the trio will “exceed expectations” and “flourish in Nardolilo’s absence.” 

 The one flaw with this roster is the lack of a true point guard. “Delaney has to have a big year while playing the point as a two-guard. We need her to make good decisions, penetrating and kicking will be key,” said Bonnette. Both Roberts and Pengalinnein are tremendous outside shooters, but Bonnette believes, “We need more than two or three to play offense, keep the other teams honest.”  

 The Pacers will look to prove the doubters wrong with a roster that will be hounds on the defensive end every night. “I always have high expectations, it depends on how well everyone else is. I think we can compete with most anybody,” said Bonnette. Hinsdale will be an interesting team to follow throughout the year, as they have a team capable of shocking many of their opponents this year. 

 Farmington head coach Dawn Weeks is excited about her roster for the upcoming season. “Things look very promising, very excited about this group of girls.”  Losing a player like Katie Martineau is never easy, but Weeks and company are ready for the challenge ahead. 

 Farmington finished last season as the 2nd seed in Division IV at 17-1, but once again could not get over the quarterfinal hump. Weeks returns a group that is ready to get rolling this season. “They understand they all have to work together, everyone has to do their job for it to work,” said Weeks. 

 The Tigers are more of a forward filled team this year, something Week has not had the challenge of facing in quite some time. “This is the first time I have had to make adjustments. I have done everything exactly the same for the last six years. For the first time, we aren’t guard heavy, we are forward heavy this year. Two players are 5’7” and everyone else is 5”9 and above.” 

 The leader of this roster will be Chloe Weeks. An honorable mention all-state honoree as a sophomore last year, Coach Weeks is expecting a lot out of her returning junior. “Chloe Weeks is going to have to step up and play the level she is capable of.” She will be the ball handler for the Tigers, and will get a lot of attention from opposing defenses.  

 Weeks is expecting a lot from Jaclyn Peaslee and Joey Stevens this season. Both will be called upon to be consistent offensive threats. Weeks is ecstatic about what the trio of Weeks, Peaslee and Stevens can do this upcoming year. “I am having good visions with what those three can do together.” 

 “I still think we are a top team. I love that we have a tough schedule I would rather lose to tough teams, rather than going into the tournament playing a team we have never seen,” said Weeks. Farmington will look to use the regular season as a warmup for a deeper run into the playoffs this year. 

 Sunapee head coach Stephanie Larpenter is ready for the ‘19-20 season to get underway. “We have a great group of girls for this upcoming season,” said Larpenter. The Lakers capped off last season with a first round exit at the hands of Woodsville, 57-45. That was a game that Sunapee was in right until the end, and gave fans a sneak peek of what is to come this upcoming season. 

 Larpenter returns an experienced group that has high expectations for themselves. “My goal is Top 5, I do think that is achievable,” said Larpenter. “This year, we are a run and gun kind of team. We want to get up the floor quickly.” 

 Miah Hamm and Vanessa Pollari will be key players for Sunapee. Both pose great aggressiveness on the boards, and have a developed low post game with great touch around the basket. Newcomer Elizabeth Tschudin has shown great flashes of quickness early on, with a great mindset of attacking the basket. Due to injury, Abby Pollari won’t be quite ready when the regular season comes around. The hope is that she will be back soon to lead the team at the point guard position. 

 The Lakers are a team on the rise this upcoming season. Sunapee will rely on their experience to be in the mix throughout the year. 

 Derryfield returns the same starting five from last season. Head coach Natalie Wilson feels that she has a group coming back that is much deeper than last year. “The girls are interested in coming out to play,” said Wilson. 

 A key returner for this Derryfield squad is junior Shawna Lesmerises. “She sees the floor so well, and is an explosive point guard,” said Wilson. Lesmerises’s playmaking will be key for Derryfield to find success. 

 Coming off of an injury plagued season with a broken ankle last year, junior Emmy Plage returns to the lineup this year for the Cougars. “She is a game changer when she is on the floor,” said Wilson. Plage is a force when she attacks the rim and is one of the best all-around players that Wilson has. She could be the difference maker for Derryfield come playoff time. 

 Another piece for the Cougars is Erin Glosner. Glosner has done a great job developing her low post game. She can give the Cougars options on the offensive end, making them a tougher team to guard with a presence down low.  

 “The goal is to get out of regular season play, make it farther than last year,” said Wilson. The Cougars failed to make it out of the first round last year after falling to Newmarket at home. With Plage back in the mix, and Lesmerises leading the charge from the point, Derryfield has the potential to be a dangerous team come March. 

 First-year head coach Andrew Marden is ready to kick off his inaugural season at Epping. Marden was a four year assistant coach with UNH Women’s basketball, and spent last year as the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations. 

 Marden comes to Epping optimistic about the upcoming year.  “There has been a ton of energy, the girls are really excited. They want to do well and succeed,” said Marden. Coming down from the collegiate level, Marden has made an adjustment to Division IV during the first few practices. “It has been different, difficult adjusting to knowledge at times.”  

 Two standouts for the Blue Devils are Oakley Lustenberger and Hayley Pelletier. Both provide senior leadership and double figure scoring production. “Hayley is athletic and long. She does a great job using her body in the post,” said Marden. “Oakley has such a high IQ, she is like a second coach out on the court which is a great luxury to have.”  

 Lustenberger and Pelletier are joined by junior Erika MacLeod, who in the eyes of Marden is “the best pure scorer on the team.” MacLeod is a phenomenal athlete who will compliment the Blue Devils on the offensive end. 

 “I think we should be a .500 team,” said Marden. “Our goal, get into the top 8 and host a home playoff game. We want to bring playoff basketball back to Epping.” That is a great mentality to have for a first-year head coach, as he has Epping right on the cusp of the top ten. 

 Canaan-Pittsburg is a team that was a surprise a year ago. A 10-8 record with a north-heavy schedule was a great accomplishment for head coach Matt Jordan and company as it was the first winning basketball season the team has had since the schools combined. Groveton and Colebrook were the only teams to beat the Yellow Jackets twice last season. 

“There's plenty of depth and athleticism with this group,” said Jordan. Jordan returns 3 seniors and last year’s sixth man Sophie Grondin. Grondin will be moving into the starting lineup this season, and Jordan thinks she will make an even greater impact than last year. “Even as the sixth man, she still played starters minutes,” said Jordan. “She is a versatile athlete, she can do it all.” 

 Seniors Baylee DeWitt, Lelah Hailey, and Paige Hughes are looking to make their last season their best. “They had three wins as freshmen, six as sophomores, and ten as juniors. This will be the deepest team the seniors have played on, that being said the games need to be played and we need to execute,”  said Jordan. 

 The Yellow Jackets will look to turn heads once again this season. “I feel a realistic goal could be 12-14 wins,” said Jordan. Canaan-Pittsburgh will be a sneaky team in the North and could be the team no one wants to see round one come playoff time. 

 Head coach Tony Drapeau is entering his second year at Linwood and is looking to improve on what was a promising second half of the season last year. “Last year was a tough schedule, we played pretty well on the defensive end, it kept us competitive,” said Drapeau.  

 The Lumberjacks return 4 starters from last year, and Drapeau feels that the team is at a better starting point this year around. “I was the girls' 3rd coach in three years, so it was a tough transition and adjustment for both sides.”   

 Leading scorer and junior Alyvia Drapeau is back and looking to expand upon a solid year scoring wise last year. Drapeau averaged 12.5 points per game but averaged 14.5 after the holiday break. “A key for us is not relying on Alyvia to score, it will be harder for defenses to focus on her,” said Drapeau. 

 Delaney Pickering and Abbi Rich return and will look to solid options to help with the scoring load. “Both Delaney and Abbi do a little bit of everything well and come into this season a lot more confident than last,” said Drapeau. 

 Drapeau comes into the season “cautiously optimistic.” Right away the Lumberjacks will find out who they are with a tough game against Littleton to open the year. After that, Linwood should settle right in with a solid stretch of games before the holiday break. “The girls have a roadmap of what they need to work on,” said Drapeau. Improvement will be the key this year as the Lumberjacks eye a berth into the playoffs. 

 Mount Royal is still a new and upcoming program in Division IV, but faces the challenge of only having three returners from last years 14-4 team. Head coach Derek Tremblay comes into the season optimistic. “I think we will give a good go every night, the girls are super coachable.” 

 Tremblay views Sophie Larose as an immediate impact player. “She is a post player that can do a lot of different things,” said Tremblay. Joining LaRose will be Amy Alteriso and Rosie Trese. “The three of them are maturing with how they see the court. They know they are leaders together, they're going to end up taking us as far as we want to go,” said Tremblay. 

 Mount Royal will look to take it one game at a time this season. “I just want them to want to be better,” said Tremblay. That is the goal at the end of the day for Mount Royal. With a lot of new players to the program, it will be interesting to see how quickly they adapt. 

 

Pre-Season Player of the Year:

Sage Smith of Colebrook   

 

Pre-Season First Team All-State: 

Sage Smith of Colebrook 

Olivia Sarkis of Woodsville 

Jasmine Brown of Littleton  

Samantha Howe of Colebrook 

Shelby Babin of Mascenic  

 

Pre-Season Second Team All-State:

Emily Prest of Woodsville 

Delaney Wilcox of Hinsdale 

Chloe Weeks of Farmington 

Mackenzie Scherer of Colebrook 

Nodia Davenport of Groveton 
 

 Players to watch: Katelyn Desilets of Groveton, Gracie Kaiser of Woodsville, Sophie LaRose of Mount Royal, Shawna Lesmeries and Emmy Plage of Derryfield, Alannah Johnson of Mascenic, Briana Filion and Abigail Henry of Newmarket, Meghan Roberts and Olivia Pengalinnein of Hinsdale, Alyvia Drapeu of Linwood, Karly Cordwell of Gorham, Aiden Jesserman of Lisbon, Oakley Lustenberger and Hayley Pelletier Epping, Abby Pollari and Miah Hamm of Sunapee, and Sophie Grondin of Canaan-Pittsburg. 

 

Coming tomorrow: Division III


 

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