This week we turn back to our usual format with power rankings for all four divisions. Expect a mid-season snapshot for Division III and IV with next week's Thursday article. 

 At the start of this week, Division I and II had 18 days with 9 games on the plate. Just like that, it will be playoff time. 

 The intensity and importance of these games are picking up as over the next week or so we will get a look at how the seedings while shakeup. 

 It's about to get crazy. 

 Today's column is brought to you by our partners at York County Community College.

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 Jennifer Chick-Ruth and I plan to have another podcast up tomorrow morning breaking down all of the action across the state.

 Be on the lookout for that on the site and social media, and make sure to follow our Spotify to get notified when episodes go live!

 

Division I

Division I Standings & Scoring Leaders

 Gold Level Coaches: Greg Cotreau of Manchester Memorial, Andrew Marden of Winnacunnet, Kevin Gibbs of Bedford, Scott Blake of Spaulding, Tim LaTorra of Concord, Ernie Clark of Dover, and Steve Largy of Goffstown

Power Rankings

1. Bishop Guertin

2. Pinkerton

3. Bedford

4. Portsmouth 

5. Goffstown

6. Concord

7. Salem

8. Alvirne

9. Windham

10. Exeter

Where we are today: Last Saturday's Bedford-Hanover games was one of the best displays of basketball I have seen in quite some time. There was never a second to rest or think in that game, it was all instinct and the girls feeling out each other throughout the afternoon. Kate Allard got some very timely and big baskets. She didn't shy away from the moment. While Bedford lost, they lost to one of the best teams in the state regardless of division in Hanover and the Mauraders could not miss. They played a near-perfect game. The Bulldogs are going to learn from that one and be just fine... It is good to see Alvirne finally healthy and starting to build momentum. They beat Winnacunett and a  pesky Londonderry team (watch out for the Lancers come playoff time) with all ten rotation players back with the team. We also have to shout out their great "post-game interview" on their Instagram. Let's hope we can do the real thing with them sometime soon... Concord is another team that is getting healthy at the right time. The Crimson Tide are winners of two straight with Elizabeth Blinn finding her form these last two games. Delaney Duford has been so good on both ends of the floor and having Blinn back along with Eli Cox and Aidah Smalley, the Crimson Tide are another group who could go on a run here late... Portsmouth is winners of their last ten and Margaret Montplaisir and Maddie MacCannell each put together a great week of basketball. The Clippers adding those two to their list of reliable scorers is certainly not something to look over. If they can keep up this high level of play that adds another dimension to this already well-established Portsmouth team... The biggest game of the week is one that Jen and I will be in attendance for tonight. BG @ Pinkerton can really tell us a lot about where these two teams stand with one another. They have been 1A and 1B most of the year, and tonight's contest could tell us who the top dog is heading into the playoffs. I've alluded to the last week or so this game could come down to how Pinkerton handles the defensive pressure from BG. From a talent standpoint, both sides are evenly matched, it will be about who steps up. I'm intrigued to see how Sydney Gerossie and Liz Lavoie handle this game as it is certainly the biggest of their high school careers up to this point. Jen and I should be in for a show.

 

Division II

Division II Standings and Scoring Leaders

 Gold Level Coaches: Dan O'Rourke of Hanover, Larry Meader of Kennett, and Bob Murphy of Hollis-Brookline

Power Rankings

1. Hanover

2. Pembroke

3. Laconia

4. Bow

5. Hollis-Brookline

6. Merrimack Valley

7. Lebanon

8. Kennett

9. John Stark

10. Pelham 

Where we are today: The Division II Power Rankings continue to be the toughest of the four divisions to put together. Besides Hanover and now Pembroke who has established themselves at this point as a solid number two, the field is really wide open... Hanover proved to themselves that they are for real. Yes, we know who this team is, but a win over Division I Bedford was impressive. Stella Galanes could not be stopped inside our out. She was finding shots within the flow of the offense and did a great job of getting out on the break and using her speed to her advantage. Hanover is head and shoulders above the rest and that win on Saturday solidified that even more... Bow makes the biggest jump this week as they have hit their stride, winning six in a row with good wins over Hollis-Brookline and John Stark. The Falcons have the pieces, it will be about putting it together come playoff time. They have two versatile forwards in Alex Larrabee and Jessica Chamberlin, a great backcourt filled with defensive intensity with Bella and Lyndsey LaPerle, and two wildcard scorers in Juliette Tarsa and Madison Speckman who each have the ability to get hot. There are still good tests left for this team, especially this Friday when Lebanon comes to town, but Bow should be happy with where they are right now... Laconia and Hollis-Brookline put on an offensive show last night with the Sachems picking up a 71-68 win on the road. These are two teams who can score 20-plus points a quarter and really just try and run you out of the gym. Laconia has a few more scoring options in Macy Swormstedt, Mekhia Burton, Sierra Halligan, and Ashlynn Deluca, but Elisabeth Stapelfeld certainly makes up for that with the way she can score the ball. I think for HB to make a deep run they will need a Cheyenne Colbert, Maggie Crooks, or Amanda Robbins to give you double-digit scoring production every night... Pembroke continues to roll and there aren't many signs of them slowing down. They have ripped off 11 wins in impressive fashion, especially with one of the tougher schedules you will see in Division II. This group doesn't have much playoff experience if any at all, but they are sharpening their iron with their dominant play.

 

Division III

Division III Standings & Scoring Leaders

 Gold Level Coaches: Matt Baird-Torney of Fall Mountain, Scott Currier of Gilford, and Pat Roye of Hopkinton 

Power Rankings

1. Conant

2. Fall Mountain

3. Stevens

4. Kearsarge

5. Hopkinton

6. Monadnock

7. Newfound

8. Prospect Mountain

9. White Mountains 

10. St Thomas Aquinas

Where we are today: We got another Conant-Fall Mountain showdown last night and the Orioles didn't miss a beat with a 61-20 win. That win puts Conant's current margin of victory at 41.4 points, 19.3 points better than the regular season mark they had last season when they were 10-0 (thanks to our anonymous statistician for providing these numbers to me). This is eye-opening. Conant has been dominant the past few years, but this season they have brought it to a whole new level. Emma Tenters is yet to face a defense that can slow her down. Brynn Rautiola has improved even more as a distributor and scorer. With all the attention those two get, that leaves a lot of looks for Teagan Kirby, who is a top option on most other teams around the division. There is a sizable gap between Conant and the rest of the division... Fall Mountain is stil a top team in Division III. It is hard to knock them for a loss to Conant, but Kearsarge and Stevens are both making a case for that number two spot. It is going to be interesting to see where teams fall seeding-wise as there is a number of combinations we could have for who makes the Final Four...  HUGE win for Stevens over Kearsarge last night, especially without Alyssa Paquette. Two Final Four capable teams in those two, very impressive performance from the Cardinals...

 

Division IV

Division IV Standings & Scoring Leaders

 Gold Level Coaches: Derek Tremblay of Mount Royal, and Courtney Cheetham, and Mark Gouveia of Derryfield

Power Rankings

1. Concord Christian

2. Derryfield 

3. Pittsburg-Canaan

4. Groveton

5. Sunapee

6. Littleton

7. Woodsville

8. Newmarket

9. Colebrook

10. Gorham

Where we are today: Concord Christian and Derryfield went back and forth on Tuesday night before an 11-7 CCA 4th quarter helped them escape with a 36-35 victory on their home floor. These are the top two teams and it doesn't seem like many are close to them. Both have dominated the southern part of the state for the most part and that shouldn't change as we get to the midway point of the year. It is hard to beat a team three times in a row, and I expect these teams will be getting a third meeting at some point this season... Littleton has started to figure things out. They have won six of their last seven, with their lone loss coming to Division III White Mountains 35-34. Holding Colebrook to just 20 points was telling, and following that up by holding Woodsville to just 25 showed that they can be in the mix in the North Country. Lauren McKee continues to light it up offensively and she has been able to maneuver through the different defensive looks she has faced. Dale Prior has done a great job with this team through 10 games... Pittsburg-Canaan squeaked out a much needed win over Groveton 36-35 to hand the Eagles their first loss of the year. This was important, as the Yellowjackets hope to secure home-court in the playoffs. We will see if Groveton can bounce back this Saturday for our annual Saturday afternoon trip up to Colebrook.