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The Kevin Shaw of Roche Realty Division III Semifinal Scouting Report

By Dave Haley, 03/09/21, 6:15AM EST

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Riley Marsh and the Golden Eagles have a showdown with Kearsarge (photo by Steve Pouliot)

 Twelve years ago, in my second year of high school coverage, we started the tradition of handing over the semifinal previews to the people who know these teams better than anyone; the coaches who have faced them during the season.

 The Division III final four features three teams most followers would have expected; Kearsarge, Hopkinton and Gilford, along with a Raymond Rams team making their first appearance since 1986.

 We asked three head coaches to breakdown the two semifinal games using blind quotes.

  Our scouting report is brought to you by our Lakes Region partner, Kevin Shaw at Roche Realty.

  Kevin Shaw at Roche Realty Group is our partner for all of our Lakes Region coverage. Kevin has over 20 years of experience and sold the most properties in the state in 2019 with 83 sales, closing over 36 million dollars in sales!

 Watch ‘The Franchise’ Jennifer Chick-Ruth’s Golden Globe winning video above and reach out to Kevin today; he is not only the top realtor in the Lakes region but sells statewide as well.

 Here are the scouting reports from our coaches:

 

 Kearsarge Regional vs. Gilford

 Gilford Team Page

 Kearsarge Regional Team Page

  Kearsarge (our pre-season #1) and Gilford (the defending co-champions) have been two of the best teams in the division since opening night and seemed on a collision course to tomorrow nights meeting.

 We asked our head coaches to breakdown both teams, starting with Nate Camp’s Cougars.

 “ The first thing you notice about Kearsarge is how well they play together. They have played together for years and that comes across from watching them.”

 “They are a very unselfish team. Moments like the end of the Mascoma game, when Adrian McCarthy drove to the basket and dropped it off perfectly to George Jallah for a huge basket, show the chemistry this team has.”

 “ Their best asset is their depth. They have a good starting five and then they don’t drop off much when they go to the bench.”

 Another coach talked about Kearsarge’s size and physical style. “ They are very tough and they play a very physical style. Basically they play like a Division II team, which is where they were before this season.”

 “Gilford has really overwhelmed teams because of their size down low and rebounding. I thought that’s what won them the game against Winnisquam. They won’t have that advantage against Kearsarge, who is just as big.”

 Coaches talked about Kearsarge’s personnel. “ Sam Carl is really steady at the point and Chris Stanchfield is just terrific. He can score down low and step out and knockdown 3-pointers. They are really dangerous when they high ball screen with him & Carl because if you don’t communicate he is going to get an open three and knock it down.”

 “Nolan Grant is very underrated. He’s a guy I’d love to have on my team.”

 “ George Jallah is the best defensive player in our division. He is tough, you can’t knock him off of his spot, and he leaves his feet quickly to contest shots.”

 Another head coach agreed. “ (Jallah) is underrated off the dribble because he can square up on you and go by your big man. Connor Pillsbury gives them another big body off the bench and Camper seems to have a great feel for when to put guys in or take them out.”

 Our coaches talked about the Kearsarge head coach.

 “ Nate has been in championship games, he’s coached in numerous final fours and that experience is really valuable in March. You can see him understanding how to use his timeouts and when to switch up his defenses.”

 “ Defensively they will go 2-2-1 half court and mix up their looks. Against Gilford I think you’ll see them play a lot of man to be sure they don’t let Jalen or Malik Reese slip past you for offensive rebounds.”

 Another coach talked about Kearsarge’s defense against Mascoma.

“ I was surprised when they went zone in the second half because I thought that was when Mascoma got back into it. You’ll see Kearsarge play some zone against Gilford because Laconia showed you the blue-print of how to guard them. Clog the middle and make them shoot over you.”

 What about Rick Acquilano’s Gilford Golden Eagles?

 “They get out in transition exceptionally well. They are fast, big and unselfish when they are out on the fast break. When we played them their speed & intensity shocked us at first. We had to settle in after really being knocked back on our heels.”

 Another coach talked about Gilford’s strengths.

 “They are terrific on the glass. They have three or four guys going for offensive rebounds where a lot of teams take the jumper and start jogging back.”

 “How many times do you see a guy rebound it with no opposing player anywhere around him? Well you won’t with Gilford. They go after the rebound.”

 “Jalen Reese is a terrific player, he was easily on my first-team ballot. He makes a ton of plays defensively that other players don’t have the length and ability to get to.”

 Coaches talked about Gilford’s personnel.

 “ Curtis Nelson is very fast and he kills you in transition. Malik is someone we really tried to muscle down low when we played them while Riley Marsh is very good in transition but you’ll take your chances letting him shoot it. I think you can let Marsh and Isaiah (Reese) shoot it. Lay off them and limit Gilford to one shot.”

 “The strength of Gilford is in how they rebound and close out on shooters. They close out hard and high so you end up with your player altering or rushing his shot just a bit. That can be the difference between a make and a miss.”

 “Gilford has good depth with Isaiah, Sam Cheek, Jack McLean and Andrew Flanders off the bench but they are not as deep as Kearsarge. What you’ll see is both teams not pushed off their spot physically by the other. Kids like Alex Cheek and Stanchfield will bang down low and not be pushed around by one another.”

 How do you see the match-up going?

 “ I think it’s going to be a great game. No offense at all to Raymond but I think it’s down to these two teams and Hopkinton for the title. I think it will be a heck of a game and really close.”

 Another coach agreed. “ I think Kearsarge’s ability to shoot from the perimeter makes them the favorite but don’t discount Gilford playing near home in Laconia on a floor they played on three weeks ago.”

 So who wins the game?

 “Kearsarge but it will be very close.”

 “Kearsarge, I don’t think Gilford shoots it well enough to win.”

 “Kearsarge in a great game.”

 

 Raymond vs. Hopkinton

 Hopkinton Team Page

 Raymond Team Page

 A year ago the Raymond Rams, in their first-year under head coach Jaryd Piecuch, gave Hopkinton fits in the first-round until the Hawks eventually won and would advance to the Final four.

 One year later the Rams are officially the party-crashers and have their sites on the upset tomorrow night.

 We asked our coaches to breakdown both teams and the match-up, starting with Raymond.

 “ What Jaryd has done with that program is remarkable. They have transformed into a viable program in two short years and you can see the trust the players have in him. They play very hard for him and each other.”

 “Obviously with Raymond it starts with the Krafton brothers (Josh & Nate). They are big and very athletic. They have a real understanding of how to score and when to give the ball up. Josh is very skilled and does a great job driving to the basket.”

 “ Josh & Nate are so tough because when you put one of your big guys on them, they go around him. When you put a guard on them, they outmuscle him. They are a tough match-up because there isn’t a lot of better athletes in the division. Nate does a nice job handling the ball and they obviously have a great sense of how to work together.”

 Another coach talked about the Rams defense.

 “ They play man to man and they play it well. They rotate on the weak side and are well schooled by Jaryd. Gavin Santino isn’t that tall but he is a big rugged kid who will be valuable for them, especially against the size of Hopkinton.”

 “ Paul Goding will handle the ball for them. He does a solid job but you can pressure him. He’s right hand dominant and if you force him left he has trouble. They will play 8 or 9 guys but it’s the Krafton brothers who produce points for them.”

 “ I think it will come down to how much they can pressure the ball. Hopkinton is big and they have good shooters but they don’t handle the ball that well. If I’m Jaryd I dial up some extra pressure defensively. I think they need to create scoring opportunities with their defense.”

 What about Steve Signor’s Hopkinton Hawks?

 “ Size and strength are the first two words that come to mind,” said one coach we spoke to. “Brendan Elrick is 6’8 and obviously has had a very good season. He’s very fundamentally sound. He does a really good job anticipating the double team and passing out of it.”

 A fellow coach agreed. “ He has to be the most improved player in the division. He keeps the ball high and has a nice touch. He’s produced all season long and done it against a difficult schedule.”

 Another coach talked about the Hawks personnel. “ Mike Oberheim is a strong physical player and John Jacobson does a nice job defensively. The guy who killed us when we played them was Owen Milchick. He can really stroke it and when they kicked out of double teams to him he made us pay for it. We battled them the first time but the second time they were just much better.”

 A fellow coach added his analysis. “ Where they kill you is on second chance points; whether it is offensive rebounds or turnovers. They aren’t very deep, Steve will mainly go with his top six guys but they all know their role and fill it very well.”

 “Quinn Whitehead handles the ball for Hopkinton, I think you’ll see Raymond pressure him. It’s going to come down to the size of Hopkinton against the Krafton brothers. Can they hold them in check? I think they both have to have big games for them to win.”

 So who wins tomorrow night?

 “ I think it’s going to be Hopkinton, too much size for Raymond.”

 “ Hopkinton played a Division II schedule and I think that benefits them now.”

 “ Hopkinton by about 10.”

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