We are coming down to the wire. Division I has been as tight as ever this season, and the amount of upsets we have seen over the past couple of weeks has proven that point even more. 

 The matchups are set with two Cinderella-like teams on one side and two of the best teams Division I has to offer on the other.  

 Today, we have two Division I coaches break down all four teams and both matchups that will be taking place on Thursday night.    

 Jennifer Chick-Ruth and I will bring you coverage of Londonderry and Goffstown and Nicole Marrero will join me for Game Two, to bring you all of the highlights of Bedford and Bishop Guertin.   

 Our coverage today is brought to you by our partners at Core Physicians, with over fifteen office locations conveniently located throughout the greater New Hampshire seacoast area! 

 Let’s get into the matchups… 
 

 #10 Londonderry vs #6 Goffstown  

Londonderry Team Page 

Goffstown Team Page

 It has been quite the month for the Londonderry Lancers. After upsets over Memorial and Salem in the regular season, many feared matching up with this group in the first round. They squeaked out a win over Pinkerton in the first round and pulled off their greatest win of the season over #2 Merrimack and here they are in the Final Four. 

 Goffstown took care of business in the first round against a pesky Portsmouth team and pulled off a hard-fought victory over #3 Memorial. 

 I don’t think anyone could have imagined a 6-10 matchup in the semifinals, but anything can happen in March.  

 The first team coaches wanted to talk about was the streaking Londonderry Lancers.   

 Londonderry was a middle of the pack team for most of the season, but then things started to click. “Londonderry started to peak at the right time and that is a big credit to head coach Nick Theos,” said one coach.

 “For Londonderry: Courtney Shay, Ashley Rourke, and Colleen Furlong need to continue to play the way they have been and all three of them need big nights,” said one Division I coach. “If they can rebound and get out and run before Goffstown can set their defense, they could have a big night.” 

 The key for Londonderry has been their ability to spread teams out and make them guard three reliable options in Shay, Rourke, and Furlong. “They will dribble-drive you and kick out to shooters, if their shot is on they will be tough to beat, they are balanced,” said one coach. The point that both coaches expressed to me was their play on the defensive end.  

 “The key is can Londonderry slow down Kelly Walsh?” said one coach we spoke too. Walsh is the leading scorer in Division I for a reason, she is a threat from anywhere on the floor. “The goal for Londonderry should be to close out hard on Goffstown’s secondary options and run them off the three-point line and force them to put the ball on the floor,” said one coach we spoke to. Walsh lights up the scoreboard, but if Londonderry can shut down Goffstown’s other options they should be in good shape.  

 Kelly Walsh has led the way for Goffstown all season. When you get on the big floor and into bigger games, it is the supporting cast that needs to step in clutch situations. “Goffstown had other girls make big shots in key moments against Memorial,” said a Division I coach. “Livi Brannen will need to have another big game and they will need Shannon Gifford to rebound and also provide scoring.” 

 Brannen and Gifford have had their fair share of moments, and Goffstown head coach Steve Largy will be counting on those two to have big performances. “Goffstown has tough kids, not a ton of production offensively, but they are physical and always playing hard,” said a Division I coach. 

 Walsh is one of the best players in the Division. We know what she can do as a scorer, but it is how she impacts other areas of the game that will be important on Thursday night. “She is relentless. She has been a facilitator when the team needs it,” said one coach we spoke with.  

 One coach feels that Goffstown must take control early on. “Goffstown will need to make Londonderry feel uncomfortable early. If Londonderry can find a rhythm early and if they are feeling good about how they are shooting the ball, Londonderry has proven during their win streak that this comfort will carry through for the entire game. Goffstown needs to make it an uphill battle for Londonderry.”  

 So, who wins this one? 

 “I’ll go with Londonderry in this one.” 

 “I think this time of year, you go with the guard, I’ll go with Goffstown because of the Kelly Walsh factor.”  

 

#4 Bedford vs #1 Bishop Guertin  

Bedford Team Page 

Bishop Guertin Team Page

 To many, this will be the best game of the tournament. Bedford competed with BG during the regular season, but no one in Division I was able to beat the four-time reigning champs.  

 These coaches first broke down fourth-seeded Bedford. 

 Isabella King was the main key for Bedford for both coaches. “15 feet and I don’t think I’ve seen King miss a shot, she's so efficient, so smooth, she’s got 25 and you don’t realize it.” King is the second-leading scorer in the division and has shown the ability to score in a variety of ways. How BG defends her is key.  

 Bedford has a tough task ahead of them, and it will take a lot of components to earn themselves a victory. “To beat BG, you need to be able to do two things, and both are much easier said than done. 1. You need to be able to handle the press and 2. You need to have the scoring to be able to go toe-to-toe with BG,” said one coach. 

 It is going to be a tall task, but Bedford has shown the ability to compete with the Cardinals during the regular season. “This season, only two teams have shown they had the offense to compete with BG and Bedford is one of those teams,” said a Division I coach.  

 The BG full-court pressure will be something Bedford will deal with all night. “Can Bedford beat the full-court pressure and then sustain and stay composed offensively when the man-to-man comes?” said an opposing coach. The Cardinals will pressure you for 32 minutes, both in zone pressure and tough man-to-man defense. 

 We know about the BG pressure, but it could be the Bedford pressure that makes a difference according to one coach. “ It’s been said that teams that press do not like to get pressed themselves. If Bedford can find a press that works, they might be able to turn BG over.”   

 "If they can convert 3 on 2’s or 2 on 1’s against BG’s press while being able to execute their half-court offense with BG’s heavy man to man pressure, Bedford has a chance to hang around," said another coach. 

 Now onto the reigning champs Bishop Guertin.  

 The Cardinals have been dominant this season, losing just one game by a single point to Franklin (MA). No one in Division I has been able to take them down, could Thursday change that? 

 Keeping Isabella King in check will be task number one. “Defensively for BG, they need to keep King off the offensive glass. King gets a bulk of her scoring off of offensive rebounds and if they can take that away, they should be able to hold King below her scoring average,” said a Division I coach. 

 You can’t forget about a player like Alli Morgan for Bedford, but one coach thinks BG has the game plan and depth to limit the Bulldogs. ““I think BG finds a way to negate the production from Morgan or King.”

 BG may be getting an extra boost to their already stacked rotation. “ Word is that Hannah Muchemore will return to action in this game, her effectiveness will be key. They’ve played a few games without her. How they play with her now will be interesting to watch,” said a coach we spoke with. 

 Muchemore back makes this lineup even more dangerous. Erin Carney has been one of the best players in the division and Bri Wilcox has been a great two-way player for this group. What will be key is the advantage BG holds on the inside. “You know that you will get scoring from Carney and Wilcox. If Smith also has a big scoring game, does Bedford have enough scoring to keep up?” said a Division I coach. 

 Even the size of freshman Meghan Stack gives BG even more of a height advantage over Bedford. “Stack and Smith give BG a huge interior advantage,” said one coach. 

 Alli Morgan is going to try and cause havoc upfront for Bedford. "Morgan is incredible on the ball, but BG has a lot of guards who can handle the basketball," said a Division I coach. This is where the experience of BG becomes so important. They have a number of players who can handle the basketball in key situations. 

 So who wins this much-anticpated matchup?  

 "I think BG has the speed advantage in this match up. Who dictates their pace in this game will likely decide the outcome. I'm going with the Cardinals." 

 "I think Bishop Guertin is going to try and prove a point this game, I'll stick with them."