We have arrived at Championship Friday. A packed house at Plymouth State University with two North Country foes going head-to-head for the Division IV title. What more could you ask for? 

 Jennifer-Chick Ruth and I will be here for this one to bring you all of the highlights and post-game interview with the winning team. We have an "Undefeated Dance" on the line and a chance for vengeance as well.  

 Our coverage is brought to you by our friends and partners at White Mountains Community College.

 Let's get into the matchup... 

#2 Woodsville vs #1 Colebrook  

Woodsville Team Page 

Colebrook Team Page

 All the way back in early November I placed Colebrook as my pre-season #1 and Woodsville as my pre-season #2. Funny how things work out like this. 

 It is no surprise that these two teams would finish in the top two and I am sure not many are surprised that these two are the last teams standing in Division IV. 

 In a matchup back in early February, it was looking like Colebrook was going to run away with the game, especially on their home floor, but the Mohawks go complacent and Woodsville stormed right back into the game. Colebrook ended up winning, but Woodsville proved to themselves and the division that there is not much of a gap between these two teams. 

 I thought both teams looked very comfortable on the big floor at Plymouth State. Woodsville did a tremendous job of forcing Hinsdale off of the three-point line and that is a credit to their wing defenders. 

 Colebrook had a big challenge with defending champion, Littleton. It felt like the Crusaders would never go away but Colebrook always had the answer to keep their lead in-tact. 

 Woodsville is technically your "underdog" here, even though they have just one loss and have been dominant all season. That one loss came to the hands of Colebrook, and I am sure that will be in the back of everyone's minds. 

 The Engineers must force Colebrook to beat you with everyone but Sage Smith and Sam Howe. Howe and Smith are the top two scorers in Division IV. They make up 90-95% of Colebrook's offense on a nightly basis. There have been times where halfway through the third quarter they are the only ones to have etched the scorebook as we saw in the quarterfinals against Groveton. The duo also combined for 37 of Colebrook's 52 points against Littleton on Wednesday. Force the others to beat you and go from there. 

 On the other side, Colebrook needs to create havoc at 3/4 court. Colebrook has generated many easy baskets with their patented 2-1-2 fullcourt press. I wasn't sure if Steve Cass would go to that right away on Wednesday night but now knowing Colebrook is comfortable putting pressure on at Plymouth I am sure we will see it at times on Friday to try and force turnovers and get in a rhythm in transition.  

 When times are getting tough, Emily Prest and Mackenzie Scherer are your game managers. Scherer's experience in these situations has been so valuable for the Mohawks. She is the vocal leader for this group, constantly talking through every play. She is a secondary coach out on the floor and late in the game, I trust her with the basketball. 

 Prest has been tremendous all season with her decision making. Her defense turns into offense and her ability to disrupt the passing lanes gets Woodsville a lot of easy transition looks. Prest looked comfortable on Wednesday and ran the offense to a tee in a very convincing win over Hinsdale. 

 Olvia Sarkis and Sam Howe is a matchup I am looking forward to on both ends of the floor. Both bring all-around games to the table and both will have an impact on the outcome of this game. Who outperforms the other? We shall see.  

 Sage Smith was the best player on the floor in Wednesday's semifinal game with Littleton. Her jumper was falling, her decisions were crisp, and she was confident. I expect that same player on the floor tonight.  

 Graci Kaiser is the third option for Woodsville but plays like she is a second or first. Her on-ball defense is what impresses me most, and she will need to keep with Smith and Scherer all night. Kaiser has a great pull-up jumpshot and can hit it from downtown as well. She has the ability to swing momentum in this one. 

 Freshmen Sierra Riff and Ariana Lord were key contributors as eighth-graders a season ago and are in similar situations a year later. Riff has struggled to stay in games with foul trouble and that can't be the case tonight. Colebrook isn't a team that goes very deep into their bench so Riff must be smart. 

 An aggressive Ariana Lord is a huge boost for Colebrook. She will be going down low with players like Sarkis and Mackenzie Dennis and she needs to at least go 50/50 with them in the rebound battle, especially Sarkis who gets lots of easy putbacks.  

 Mackenzie Kingsbury could be the X-factor in this one. She showed great ability to score the basketball late in the season and that confidence hasn't seemed to waiver away. Her 14 points in Wednesday's semifinal game against Hinsdale were second behind Sarkis who had 16. Her confidence is on the uprise, and she is someone Colebrook will have to worry about. 

 Morgan Wagstaff is another Engineer who will be important. Her rebounding and play on the defensive end will be vital for Woodsville to stay competitive.  

 These are the teams I predicted to be here at the beginning of the year, but only one walks away victorious out of this one. An undefeated season on the line for Colebrook and a chance for Woodsville to prove they are the best team in the division. It should be an instant classic.