It’s back! America’s favorite listicle, The Top 10 – in the cold winter of our discontent, the Top 10 stands as a warm beacon. Or something. 

The Top 10 is brought to you by TJ’S in Portsmouth! My absolute favorite spot in Portsmouth to catch a game. Tell Bethany that McIsaac sent you.

10. COLEMAN BREWSTER HURT MY FEELINGS

Dropping 24 against Spaulding is not a good way to get on my Christmas card list, Coleman. Spaulding managed to slow Portsmouth down through 2 quarters but the Clippers blew up in the 3rd quarter shooting 83% in that quarter on their way to a 54-41 W, led by Brewster’s 24

9. DID ANY OF Y’ALL WATCH THE PRO BOWL? BECAUSE I DIDN’T

Ryan Tannehill threw two passes and one of them was a pick, which seems pretty on-brand for him. All I know is the O/U was 51.5 and I forgot to hammer the over, which was a big winner (71 was the total).

8. THE BG GIRLS HAD A PRETTY GOOD WEEK

A big win over Memorial (which was tighter than the final margin might indicate), a win over Pinkerton, and then a 68-46 W over Mercy High out of Middletown CT. At 9-0, the Cardinals are still the team to beat and have out of NH games coming up against Jamesville-Dewitt near Syracuse, and Franklin, which I’m guessing is NOT the Franklin in D3 of NH.

7. SPAULDING HOCKEY WITH A BIG UPSET

Red Raider hockey has had a rough couple of seasons, but a 3-2 win over Dover (who went to the Championship game last year in D2 Hockey) probably felt like a Stanley Cup victory –Senior GK Matt Lacey stood on his head, making 41 saves in the win, including 18 in the 3rd period.  HS hockey is a lot more fun when both Spaulding and Dove are in the mix, the 2015 title game between the two at the SNHU center drew about 6000 people.

6. ROCK ISN’T DEAD, AT LEAST IF NANDI BUSHELL HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT

 LOOK AT THIS GIRL ROCK OUT

Already better than anything that was at the Grammy’s last night

5. DON’T LOOK NOW BUT MERRIMACK IS 6-2, HMMMMMMM….

Their only two losses are to Windham and North by a combined 13 points, and after 3 straight wins they are right in the mix of things. You know who you don’t want to see on the opposing sideline if you’re a fan of any other team in D1 and it’s a playoff game in March? Tim Goodridge, that’s who. On that same note…

4. GROVETON HAS BOUNCED BACK NICELY AFTER THE LITTLETON LOSS

Losing a to your big rival with a tip in buzzer beater can go a few different ways – you can spiral into a few losses, or you can come together and regroup – and it sure looks like Groveton has regrouped. Mark Collins isn’t someone I’d want to bet against in the playoffs come March.  

3. MERRIMACK GIRLS HAD A BIG WIN OVER CONCORD

The Tomahawks held off the Tide despite 28 from Ava Woodman, and are now 9-0 on the season – the real meat of the schedule awaits with BG, Portsmouth, and Memorial on the horizon, so we will soon find out where Merrimack fits in with the D1 puzzle.

2. HANOVER BOYS AND GIRLS ARE A COMBINED 16-0

The Marauder Girls win over John Stark was a little more high profile than the Boys but nonetheless, the road to the D2 championships for both the boys and girls might send you to the Upper Valley. The games vs Lebanon on 2/10 will be quite the showdowns.

1. KOBE AND GIGI

There isn’t a lot more I can say that hasn’t already been said better. Rest in peace.

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Spaulding Girls still can’t be stopped, It’s not actually warm so stop saying that, KC -1.5 is my super bowl pick, My mailbox is about to burst from political mailers

Justin McIsaac writes the Top 10 every week (usually). He is the 2018 & 2019 NSMA NH Sportscaster of The Year.  He has 1,000 jobs, including radio color commentary for UNH Football, Producer of "NH Today with Jack Heath", HS play by play for MOSN, The McIsaac On Sports Network, college play by play for Dartmouth, St Anselm’s, UNE, Harvard, and whoever else will cut the check. Follow him on Twitter: @justin_mcisaac