Division III's regions worked out to where the four best teams all season are the last four standing as we head to the semifinals on Thursday. 

 Newfound will face their toughest opponent of the season in Fall Mountain in Game 1 and features some of the best players in the division in Avery Stewart and Sophie Bardis of Fall Mountain and Paulina Huckins and Malina Bohlmann of Newfound. 

 Conant has yet to be stopped all season and has beaten a team in every single division this year. They are the reigning champs and will get a rematch of last year's quarterfinal game with Campbell, a group that has been eyeing the Final Four ever since this season started. 

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 We let four coaches share their thoughts on how they think each matchup will play out and give their picks on who they see advancing to Sunday's final.  

Newfound vs. Fall Mountain 

Newfound Team Page 

Fall Mountain Team Page 

 Both of these teams return their entire rotations from last season and both looked like they haven't missed a beat this season. 

 "Fall Mountain is the better team and has played a much tougher schedule," said one Division III coach. "Stewart would be a POY candidate except for Elizebeth Gonyea and is the best player on either team. Bardis is at her best on the big stage. Fall Mountain's experience and multiple weapons give them the edge." 

 Looking at Newfound, everything runs through Huckins in the high post and Malina Bohlmann is an impactful player on both ends of the floor. 

 "Newfound is good. You have to deal with Huckins and you have to get back on defense against them. They score in spurts so Matt Baird-Torney will need to use his time outs to stop any runs," said one coach. "Newfound has experience as well, and if you turn the ball over Bohlman becomes a factor in transition. Bailey Fairbanks is a solid guard for them as well."

 "Newfound has the interior covered with Huckins being the strength," said one coach. "They will need to have the other four players on the floor be able to make some outside shots to make Fall Mountain play them straight up."   

 Huckins will also need to force the issue in the paint offensively. "Huckins is the x-factor for Newfound as Fall Mountain is not big," said one coach. "However, she seems to hang outside a lot. If they can pound it inside she could get to the FT line and possibly get Fall Mountain in foul trouble." 

 "Fall Mountain likes to play defense with their hands which gets them in trouble," said another coach. "Their size as well is a weakness. If you can box out and rebound on both ends of the court you will have an advantage."

 This is where a player like Erin Brady could make a big difference for the Wildcats. Although she is undersized compared to other bigs, the lefty forward plays great defense on the interior and matches up with the best of the best for Fall Mountain. 

 Where Newfound has gotten teams this season is with their zone defense. Turnovers turn into easy baskets for Bohlmann in transition. The advantage Fall Mountain has is an experienced point guard in Bardis. 

 " Bardis' ability to handle the ball against pressure neutralizes Bohlman's impact on the game," said a Division III coach.  

 The shooting of Fall Mountain is what may force Newfound out of their patented zone defense. "Fall Mountain's ability to shoot outside and break the press is their biggest advantage in this game," said one coach. 

 "Fall Mountain's ability to shoot the three makes Newfound's zone a risky proposition," said a Division III coach. "If Fall Mountain does not shoot well, Newfound can hang around, but history has them shooting well most nights."  

 Bardis and Stewart attract a lot of defensive attention, which makes some teams forget about the scorer that Makenna Grillone is. She can hit the three-ball with consistency and has a great first step to the basket. 

 "I think finding a 3rd defender to cover Makenna is going to be tough," said one coach. 

 Morgan Beauregard and Bailey Fairbanks are the perfect glue players for both teams. Beauregard does all of the little things on the floor and can certainly score when she needs to. Fairbanks does a great job leading the offense and making all the right reads. 

 So, who wins this one? 

 "Fall Mountain. they have the best player on either team in Stewart and a great surrounding cast. They have positive big-game experience and played a good schedule to prepare. Newfound has big-game experience that has not been as positive and played a weaker schedule. Should it go down to the wire I see Fall Mountain handling late-game situations like a veteran team." 

 "Fall Mountain will win this game as they have the ability to play the game a few ways which makes them hard to defend." 

 "Fall Mountains tough Division II regular-season schedule, their ability to press and break the press, their ability to score inside out is going to be too much for Newfound to handle. Fall Mountain wins big." 

 

Campbell vs. Conant 

Campbell Team Page 

Conant Team Page 

 Conant looks even more dominant than they did after last year's undefeated championship run. They haven't played a close contest all-year and have cruised back to yet another Final Four. 

 They will face a Campbell team that has a good group of seniors leading the way and a head coach in Sean Hogan who has been ready for a rematch with Conant since last season. 

 "I think it is important to remember the closest any team has been to handing Conant a loss was Campbell in the playoffs last season," said a Division III coach. "They're back better and stronger." 

 Campbells mix of defenses caused Conant problems in the quarterfinals last season and almost sent them home packing earlier than expected. 

 "Campbell's only real advantage is that they played them tough once and probably believe they can do it again," said another coach. 

 What makes this year's Conant team so dangerous is just how much they improved from last season. "Conant's depth of impact players is an advantage for them. Tegan Kirby would be the best player on many teams and she's their fourth option," said one coach. 

"Conant is an outstanding defensive team. They have  great experience, the Player of the Year in Gonyea, and Emma Tenters and Brynn Rautiola are legit players as well. The guard play with Liz and Rautiola is excellent."

 For Campbell, the counter is the size they have with Tori Allen and the emergance of Karliegh Schultz has been a key to the Cougars sucess. 

 "I really like Schultz. She is a great athlete and kid," said one coach. "Allen tends to get in foul trouble against good bigs and Tenters is good."

 The Tenters-Allen matchup will be interesting. We saw Tenters flouish as a freshman last season and her insert into the starting lineup this season was seamless.  

 "I think Tenters could go to the free throw line 15+ times in this game," said a Division III coach. 

 If Allen can stay on the floor she can certainly hold Tenters in check. She is a rebounding machine and has her way down low, but fouls could be the deciding factor in this game. 

 A player who Campbell will rely on heavily is Riley Gamache. "Conant's on-ball pressure and the way they jump switch every screen makes running your offense a challenge," said one coach. "Gamache will have to create some plays for them, a tall order in this game." 

 The Cougars will have their work cut out for them, but this is a group that is up for the challenge. 

 "Campbell has a puncher's chance but Conant won't take them lightly," said a Division III coach. "Schultz and Allen need to score, rebound and stay out of foul trouble to have a chance. This Conant team is better than last year's version."  

 Conant was on a mission last year, and that same misson looks very obtainable again this season. 

 "34 straight wins and three beat downs on a good Monadnock team. Enough said," said one coach.

 So, who wins this one? 

 "Conant. They have a high basketball IQ and play great half-court defense." 

 "I think this game could be close but Brian Troy's experience and Conant's system will prove itself in this one. Conant's ability to make halftime adjustments and their ability to throw different looks will win them this game IF Conant can avoid foul trouble. Gonyea is the x-factor.".