The Woodsville Engineers became the first team since Les Poore’s Lisbon Panthers to win back-to-back Division IV championships since 2007 after beating second-seed Concord Christian 58-49 at Keene State College.

 Pre-season #1 and #2 met for the title four months after they had battled in a pre-season scrimmage, almost like both head coaches could see what was ahead of them and wanted to get a look at one another.

 Both teams cruised through the regular season, finishing with a combined record of 35-1, and Concord Christian’s lone defeat came with all-state center Isaac Jarvis sidelined with an injury.

 In 2023 the forecast will be less clear.

 This is a deeper division than it was a year ago, and whereas everyone chased Jamie Walker’s Engineers from Day 1, even the champs replace three key starters.

 “ This is as deep as I remember the division being,” said Portsmouth Christian head coach Derek Summers. “ I look at our schedule, and there just aren’t going to be many easy nights.”

 “ Teams like Lin Wood and Profile are contenders now,” said Littleton head coach Trevor Howard. “ They might even be the two best teams in the North Country this season, so you will not have a division dominated by two teams at the top. There are too many quality teams.”

 Division IV will come down to who is playing their best basketball in March. That sounds like a cliche and may even qualify as one, but there will be lower seeds knocking off top seeds in the tournament. You can count on it.

 “ There seem to be legitimate strengths and weaknesses with every top team in the division,” said Epping head coach Nick Fiset. “ It’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out because once we get to the tournament, just about anyone can beat a higher seed.”

 Today in our second of eight basketball previews, we look at Division IV, where twenty-five teams open the season looking to get to where Woodsville has ended up the past two seasons.

 Our preview and all of our North Country coverage all season long is brought to you by our longtime friends and partners at White Mountains Community College!

 

Division IV Pre-Season Rankings

1. Concord Christian

2. Littleton

3. Holy Family

4. Profile

5. Woodsville

6. Lin Wood

7. Newmarket

8. Farmington

9. Mascenic Regional

10.  Groveton

Lurking outside the Top 10: Derryfield, Epping, Hinsdale, Pittsburg-Canaan, Portsmouth Christian, Gorham, Franklin, and Colebrook

 

 Concord Christian has been climbing the Division IV ladder ever since head coach Eric Heizer took over three years ago and the school re-dedicated itself to making athletics a priority.

 Two years ago the Kingsmen led eventual champion Woodsville for most of the first three quarters before the Engineers rallied and went on to not only win the game but the 2020 championship.

 Last season saw Concord Christian advance all the way to the championship game at Keene State College before the same Woodsville Engineers beat them 58-49.

 All-state center Isaac Jarvis has graduated along with two other rotation players. Still, with a player-of-the-year candidate to take his place, two new additions, and several returning players ready to step into more significant roles, Concord Christian may not be done climbing the ladder.

 “ We have seven seniors on the roster, and they understand it’s their last go around,” said Heizer. “ We also have the motivation of falling just short last season. We haven’t been able to get past Jamie’s (Walker) team. That makes you want to put the work in to get better every day.”

 Sophomore Brode Frink may be the best player in the division and steps into the alpha dog role with Jarvis now graduated and playing at Gordon College. “ He’s ready to go. He’s worked very hard at his game over the off-season,” said Heizer. “ He is going to have a big year and his ability to knock down shots and get to the rim makes him a difficult match-up for anyone.”

 6’4 Mason Kerr will take over at center after moving to the area over the off-season. “ He has played well in the pre-season and should provide a post presence for us this season,” said Heizer.

 Ethan Young returns at point guard and steps into a more prominent scoring role this season. “Ethan does a nice job of getting everyone involved in the offense. He sets the pace, can break pressure and get the ball up the floor for us and to the right players.”

 “ I want to see him more aggressive in looking for his offense this season,” said Heizer. “ We have a lot of confidence in what he can become as a scorer.”

 Mount Royal transfer Isaac Bowers will step in and contribute immediately, along with glue guy Owen Heizer. “ Isaac has a good motor and should help us on the glass,” said Heizer. “ Owen can shoot the ball for us, rebound, and makes good decisions with the ball.”

 Austin Spurr averaged seven points a game last season before a broken foot against Nute ended his season. His return gives Concord Christian enough depth to match any team in the division.

 “ Austin is a good defender, and we missed him, especially in our tournament run,” said Heizer. “When a player like Elijiah Flocke was scoring on us left and right in the finals, Austin is the player we would have put on him to try and slow him down. He is going to help us a lot this season.”

 Concord Christian starts the season as the team to beat in a wide-open and deep division.

“There are too many good teams on our schedule to ever look ahead,” said Heizer. “ We are focused on a new group coming together, but we also feel good about our potential as a team.”

  It says a lot about a head coach and his program when a 'rebuilding year' lands you in the final four, but that's exactly where Trevor Howard and the Littleton Crusaders ended up a year ago.

 The Crusaders won't skip a beat in 2023 as they'll again contend for a championship, even if their head coach would like to convince you otherwise.

 "We are small and how we are able to compete on the boards concerns me," said Howard. "We're not big, and we're not physical, and against some of the players like Jake Avery and Cam Davidson that we're going to see this season, that's a tough combination to overcome."

 Leading scorer Kayden Hoskins returns after averaging 15 points per game a year ago. "Kayden is a very good shooter, and he's improved his game from last season," said Howard. "He's going to have a lot more attention on him, so he's going to need to develop from being just a shooter to a true scorer the way Cam Tenney-Burt was able to develop over the course of his career."

 Dre Atkins returns at point guard, and his head coach has already seen a jump in ability from a year ago. "Dre really came up big for us in the playoffs last season, and he's carried some of that confidence over to this season," said Howard. "He's working to develop his left hand, and I've seen him making quicker decisions with the ball. He's going to help us in a number of ways."

 Carmichael Lopez gives the Crusaders an athletic forward to rebound and defend up front. "I'd like to see him step up and be a senior leader for this group. He's working to be more consistent and coming along well in the pre-season."

 Sophomore Landon Lord didn't see much playing time as a freshman a year ago but will step in and contribute right away at the guard spot.

 Joining him will be Grady Hadlock ("Grady had a very good soccer season, and I hope that carries over into basketball because he's a good athlete,' said Howard) and the duo of Cam Cook & Calef Maccini.

 "We have ten players who I can see having out there in crunch time, so right now, it's a competition for roles and playing time," said Howard.

 "We are very athletic, and it's a good group, but we have a lack of size and physicality down low that could prevent us from being a true title contender," said Howard. "That's something that has to be developed over the course of the season."

 Holy Family made it two for two in Division IV when they beat Newmarket in last year’s quarterfinals (in a game we covered) to advance to the final four for the second straight season.

 All-state forward Karl Yonkeau has graduated (now playing for my alma mater Bridgton Academy), but four starters return, including what might be the best backcourt in the division.

 Gabe Lacasse returns after averaging 18.2 points per game last season and is joined by fellow all-state guard Yves Mugrianeza. “ They play off each other very well,” said head coach Keith Lacasse.

 “ Yves has battled injuries in the pre-season so keeping him healthy is a priority,” said Lacasse. “He has a very good all-around game, and this season with Karl graduated, I expect to see him be much more aggressive as a scorer.”

 Lacasse will contend for the scoring title again and step into a leading role with Yonkeau graduating. “ He’s going to continue to play off the ball,” said his coach/father. “ He’s gotten stronger over the off-season and is working hard to round his game into form.”

 Sean Sullivan returns at forward along with Jack Vicinanzo, who were key contributors a year ago and will both step into more prominent roles as rebounders this season. “ Jack showed the ability to be a factor in the paint last season, and we’ll look for that on a consistent basis from him this season.”

 “ Sean also has shown the ability to produce for us in the paint, and as a team, everyone has to step up their game rebounding the ball.”

 Patrick Gillis will again contribute to a Griffin team with final-four aspirations. “ We have a pretty good nucleus returning,” said Lacasse. “ It’s really about players stepping into bigger roles and responsibilities.”

 Sophomore Jeremiah Guerrero, Joe DePuydt, and Chase Paquette are also expected to join the rotation and contribute immediately.

 “ The chemistry with this team is fantastic. It really starts with the school, the kids have a lot of fun together, and they bring a great attitude to the gym every day,” said Lacasse.

 “ This is a wide-open division. We’ve had some recent success, but it’s a brand new season, and we’ll have to prove ourselves all over again, just like everyone else.”

 If you wandered into a random gymnasium this summer, there was a solid chance you bumped into the Profile Patriots.

 Mitchell Roy's team was a traveling road show all summer and now hopes to reap the benefits after one of the youngest teams in Division IV finished 10-8 last season.

 "We were happy with the results last season but also understood we needed to learn how to win close games," said Roy. "We blew a lot of fourth-quarter leads last season, and this summer was about learning how to close. Learning how to finish those games."

 Josh Robie returns as maybe the best shooter in the division after averaging 19.5 points per game last season as a sophomore. "I believe he's one of the top five players in our division," said Roy of his all-state shooting guard. "He will not be outworked, and every opportunity he gets, he's in the gym putting up shots. I'm excited for the season he is about to have."

 Joining Robie will be 6'3 forward Alex Leslie, who also put up all-state numbers a season ago. "Alex is coming along and has improved over the off-season (after averaging 16.1 points per game last season). He's playing more under control and using his strength to get to the rim."

 "I've seen his defensive potential and want to see him become an elite player on both ends of the court."

 Cayden Wakeham returns to the lineup and will sometimes handle the ball for a team that does not list anyone as the point guard. His ability to handle the ball allows both Josh and (Karsten) Robie to play off the ball on the wings. "He's working on being more consistent, which comes with maturity and experience," said Roy.

 Riley Plante is one of the team's best defenders, while Jackson Clough will again play and contribute right away to a team Roy feels will be better and deeper in 2023.

 "We watched what Woodsville did the past two seasons. They were a great team with a great coach, and they won by sharing the ball and not caring about who scored the points or got the recognition," said Roy.

 "I don't care who shoots it, as long as it comes in rhythm and the flow of the offense. We lost a tough playoff game against a very good Holy Family team last season. Our goal this season is to take the next step and become a true contender in the division."

 If Jamie Walker's Woodsville Engineers will be the first Division IV team to win three straight titles since Lisbon in 2007 (the year before we started this website), they will have to do it with a lot of new faces.

 NHsportspage player of the year Cam Tenney-Burt, Final Four hero Elijah Flocke and two-year starting point guard Michael Maccini have all graduated, meaning several underclassmen now step into more significant roles.

 "When people spoke about our team, they spoke about how well we moved the basketball," said Walker. "That group found a chemistry that not many teams do, and over time we became an unselfish group. That's what we need to get back to if we want anywhere near the same level of success this season."

 Cam Davidson returns as power forward/center and will now be the focus of the opposition's attention. "Every team we faced last year focused on stopping Cam Burt and Elijah," said Walker. "Cam (Davidson) is a good player and more than capable of scoring against the other team's best defender, but we will find out quickly that it is a lot different without those two on the floor with us."

 Davidson has had a knack for coming up big in the most critical moments. The Engineers don’t win the title in 2020 without Davidson's performance against Portsmouth Christian.

 Davidson can be a force on the low block, even though he's only 6'1, by using his strength and experience. "He's a very tough match-up for teams in the low post. The ball also can't stick with him. If it's not there or there is a better option, we need to move the basketball."

 "Cam likes to leak out and shoot jumpers from the perimeter. He can knock some shots down, but he's a huge asset to us when he's down low in the paint."

 Landon Kingsbury could be the Engineers breakout player in 2023. The sophomore has grown to 6'3 and added to his game after averaging 7 points per game a year ago. "He's improved his game and played well in the pre-season," said Walker. “ He can score in a number of different ways for us and gives us size as well.”

 Jack Boudreault and Connor Newcomb will step into much more prominent roles, and their head coach feels they are ready. "It's going to take some time to adjust but they have played together enough as a group to work well off of one another."

 6'3 junior Mike Hogan gives the Engineeers some much-needed size, while Connor Houston and Austin Roy will all contribute immediately. "Austin can spread out the defense and shoot the ball against zones," said Walker.

 Walker's son Ryan joins the team as a freshman point guard after being one of the best middle school players in the North Country for the past two seasons.

 "He needs to adjust to the speed of the varsity game, and that will come," said Walker of his talented point guard. "We don't need Ryan to score with this group. He will be able to settle in and concentrate on taking care of the basketball and running the offense when he's in the game."

 After being the team to beat a year ago, Woodsville will come together as the season goes along and should again be a title contender in what should be a balanced Division IV race.

 "We have a long ways to go, but we have a lot of potential, and it's a fun group to coach," said Walker. "Make sure you pick someone else to win this time."

  In last year’s first round the Lin Wood Lumberjacks went to the half down twelve points to seventh-seeded Derryfield, hoping for a comeback and lacking a program-defining moment after more than a decade without a playoff win.

 Led by 'Wait…how many points did they combine for?' performances from Cam Clermont (40 points) and Jake Avery (36), the Lumberjacks outscored the Cougars by twenty-six in the second half on route to an 82-69 victory and their program-defining moment.

 "Winning that game was huge for us," said head coach Matt Manning. "We not only won a playoff game against a good team on the road, but we were able to play a tough game in the quarterfinals against (Concord Christian), the second-best team in the division."

 Manning hopes that momentum carries over as both Clermont and Avery return after finishing first and fourteenth in the division in scoring a year ago,

 "Cam has looked great in the pre-season," said Manning. "He's set for a big year, and there's no spot on the court he can't get to. He was more of a shooter but has developed his game going to the basket and finishing through contact."

 Avery gives Lin Wood rebounding and someone who can score in the post, step outside, and knock down shots. "He looks like a man amongst boys on the low block at times," said Manning. "We'd like to see him focused on getting to the rim because there aren't many players in our division who can stop him in the paint."

 "We saw a lot of box in ones and other defenses focused on stopping those two, so that gives us some experience against different defenses."

 Cam Manning will handle the ball, allowing Clermont to play on the wing. "Cam has good court vision and will play the point as times," said Manning. "We are better offensively when the ball isn't starting in Jake or Cam's (Clermont's) hands. That's where we want the ball to end up but not where it needs to begin."

 Guard Liam Manning should give the Lumberjacks shooting on the perimeter. "If he can give us eight to ten points a game from the perimeter, that will take some pressure off the other guys," said Manning.

 Depth will be the issue, but Manning doesn't see an issue with his big two playing significant minutes. "They were still fresh at the end of the Derryfield game, and that's actually where they turned it on for us. We have a lot of confidence in our ability to win close games because we feel like we have, on just about every night, the two best scorers on the floor."

 "We are focused on the final four and making a run in March," said Manning.

 Making the quarterfinals last season was a huge lift for a program that has been on the rise; now, it is about taking the next step. "We want to establish ourselves and get to the level where we compete with teams like Littleton, Colebrook, Groveton, and Woodsville. That's where we want to get to this season. Now it's about putting in the work and getting better every day."

 There was a lot of momentum behind the Newmarket Mules after a busy summer playing in several tournaments around the state. That momentum has been tempered by lower-than-expected numbers in the pre-season, as four players expected to be on the team will be on the sidelines this season.

 "I couldn't be happier with our ten players," said second-year head coach Brian Cronin. "But we lost a key player to injury during soccer season, and three players we expected to be on the team decided not to come out (for the team)."

 "That leaves us very thin, making practices a challenge, but we'll make the best of it."

 Forward Cooper Mills is out for the season after suffering a lower leg injury during soccer season; still, several key players return from a quarterfinal team last season, led by 6'4 forward Baris Fortier.

 "I'm so disappointed for Cooper because you only get one senior season," said Cronin. "He's a great kid, and we will miss him out on the floor."

 "Baris can do a bit of everything for us, and he has put in the work over the off-season to be an impact player this season," said Cronin. "He's still only a junior, so he is developing his game, but he can be special. He is already a team leader, and I'm excited for the season he's about to have."

 "We have seen it in flashes, and overall I thought he had a solid sophomore season," said Cronin. "We want to see that production every night, and he's working hard to make that happen."

 Jameson Senesombath is the lone senior on the roster with Mills out. He'll handle the ball at times, score from the wing, and provide leadership for one of the youngest teams in the division. "He leads by example and sets a great tone for us," said Cronin. "He's very tough, a skilled defender, and someone I want to have the ball in his hands with the game on the line."

 Sophomore Jaron LaBranche stepped up and contributed immediately as a freshman last season and will play an even more significant role this season. "Jaron gets to the rim very well and has proven he can score for us," said Cronin. "He played some big minutes in high-pressure situations as a freshman, and that's only sped up his development as a player. I expect him to take a big step up this season for us."

 6'3 forward Alex Henry might be the breakout player of the group after a strong off-season ("He's got a great touch around the basket and is one of the smartest players we have," said Cronin), while junior guard Parker Sweitzer brings a glue guy mentality to the floor and will contribute right away.

 "Upsetting Epping and getting to the quarterfinals a year ago gave a lot of young players some tournament experience, and we want to carry that over to this season," said Cronin. "The low numbers are a disappointment and will be a challenge, but I love the group we have. We're working hard, and if we can get better by the week, I expect us to be in the mix again at the end."

 The Farmington Tigers took a step forward as a program last season when they went to Groveton and beat the Eagles in the tournament's first round. Adam Thurston's team then battled top seed and eventual champion Woodsville for three quarters before falling 60-47 in front of a packed house.

 "We had a very successful season last year, and there's no doubt that the experience of playing that type of team in that kind of atmosphere will help us," said Thurston. "We have a good core back, and we've gone from being one of the youngest teams in the division a few years ago to one of the oldest and most experienced this season."

 6'6 center Jordan Berko returns after averaging ten points a game last season. "He's played a lot of basketball over the off-season and has embraced his role as a post player," said Thurston. "He understands that when he steps away from the basket, he's just another guy, but when he gets on the low block, he's a tough match-up for teams."

 Shawn Murphy, the team's third-leading scorer last season, also returns with a more consistent jump shot and a more prominent role to play with the graduation of forward Brian Weeks. "Shawn is going to be vital to what we are doing, and he's ready for that challenge. I think he will have a very good season for us."

 Point guard Brian Boisvert came on strong at the end of last season and will be handed the keys to the Tigers offense. "Brian can handle pressure defense and get us into our offense," said Thurston. "He's going to score for us as well.”

 “He has that ability, but as the point guard, his job is to get everyone involved, and that's where the focus needs to be."

 Aiden Place gives the Tigers a shooter to extend the defense, while Matt Savoy and 6'4 Luke Cardinal will step into more prominent roles this season.

 "There is a lot of potential with this group. It's going to come down to how we mesh on the court and our chemistry in moving the basketball and defending at a high level," said Thurston. "We made the quarterfinals a year ago, and this group wants to get to the next level."

  The Mascenic Vikings make the move to Division IV with a new head coach after being one of the most consistent Division III programs of the last ten years.

 Ryan Kelly takes over for Brandon Kear, who stepped down in the fall, and was still getting to know his team in the pre-season. "It's been good getting to know the players and coming together as a group," said Kelly.

"One thing I picked up on right away was that they know how to work and understand how to get the most out of practice time. It'll take us some time to gel, but I like what I've seen so far."

 The backcourt of Joe Cocozella and Adam Stauffeneker returns ready to make an impact as seniors.

 "Joe is at his best when he is going downhill and being aggressive," said Murphy. "That's exactly how we want him to play. He has a good release on his jumper, loves to compete, and will play a big role for us this season."

 Stauffeneker has improved over the off-season and now has the ability to beat teams off the dribble when they close out on him as a shooter. "He has a smooth handle and does a nice job of getting to where he wants on the floor. At his size, he's not going to be looking to finish at the rim very often, but he can evade the defender and set himself up for an open look."

 Wyatt Duval was a member of our all-glue guy team a year ago, and his new head coach raves about the 6'2 forward. "Wyatt is a key player for us. He sets a tone for us in the paint, can hit that elbow jumper, and has a calming presence on the rest of the team."

 "He's been a lot of fun to coach already," said Murphy. "Just a player you love to have on your side."

 Ryan O'Shea should step into a more prominent scoring role, while Dylan Barthel returns to the rotation ready to contribute in a number of ways. "Ryan might be the fastest player on our team," said Murphy. "He can score in a variety of ways."

 “ Dylan is a player who is going to play a big role in what we accomplish as a team,” said Murphy. “ He helps us in a lot of ways.”

 Tyler Lowe could emerge as another scoring threat. The senior forward has played well in the pre-season and has shot the ball well.

 If there are opinions about the move down a division, Murphy isn't hearing them from his players.

 "The kids are focused on the next practice and the season as a whole. I haven't heard them discussing moving to a new division. We know there are a lot of outstanding teams in Division IV, so the mission is to come together as a team and work to get better every day."

 Groveton returns every player from last year's roster, minus center Chris Corliss. In most seasons, that would put the Eagles and their Hall of Fame head coach inside the Top 5 in the pre-season, but Corliss' rebounding will not only be missed, it might not be replaced.

 If Groveton is going to contend in 2023, it won't be scoring that will be an issue. It will be controlling the boards and keeping opponents from getting multiple shots per possession. "Rebounding was our #1 issue coming into the pre-season, and I haven't seen anything that changes that opinion," said Mark Collins.

 "We will have to play faster and score in transition because our lack of size and physicality will be a big issue."

 Aidan Whiting (8.3 ppg), Luke Shannon (8.5), and Ben Wheelock (13.5) all return after leading Groveton to the 8-seed a year ago. The trio gives the Eagles enough scoring and experience to compete with any team in the North Country.

 "Ben came on strong last season and is a proven scorer," said Collins. "He works hard at his game and is someone we can depend on in late-game situations."

 "He's coming back from a shoulder injury, but once he's back to 100%, we feel like he's going to have a pretty good year for us."

 Aidan Whiting suffered a leg injury last season that caused him to miss the end of the season.

 Whiting missed the team's pre-season jamboree but is expected back soon and, when healthy, is another proven performer for the Eagles. "Aidan will give us a big lift when we get him back, no question."

 Luke Shannon showed flashes a year ago and now steps into a more prominent role with Corliss graduated. "Luke can help us in the paint, and he looks ready to step into a bigger role for us."

 Luke's brother Connor is expected to contribute immediately, along with junior returning starter Kaden Cloutier, who has been in the rotation since 8th grade. “ Kaden shoots the bal welll,” said Collins. "We need him making quicker decisions when he has the ball and defending for us as well."

 Groveton should also get production from several new players, including freshman Ashton Kenison. "Ashton is coming along," said Collins. "As the season goes along, he's going to help us."

 Groveton has the offensive talent to host another playoff game in 2023; the question is can they make up for the toughness and paint presence they lost when Corliss graduated?

 "We are going to run and speed up the pace. We have to at this point," said Collins. "If we are going to compete with bigger teams, we are going to have to rebound as a team. That's going to be the focus all season long."

 The Derryfield Cougars lost one of the top scorers in the division when Thomas Ferdinando opted to go to prep school, but Ed Meade's team returns three of their top four scorers from a 12-6 season and should be in the mix again.

 "We have some proven players back and new players to add to the rotation," said head coach Ed Meade. "What we need to do is change our identity. We became too reliant on the three-point shot last season; I'd like to see us more balanced as an offense because we have some players who are at their best when they are going to the basket."

 All-state forward Jack Krasnof returns after averaging 15.3 points per game a season ago as a sophomore. "He's worked hard at his game over the off-season," said Meade. "He's come into the season in great shape, and he knows he is the go-to guy on our team."

 John McDevitt is a player you win games with, someone able to make winning plays on both ends of the floor. McDevitt and Ethan Flanagan now step into more prominent roles with the graduation of point guard Janai Cruz and Ferdinando's departure.

 "John is the ultimate glue guy," said Meade. "He's a great defender, an excellent leader, and passes the ball as well as anyone on our team. He's special."

 "Ethan is going to be asked to do more. He can shoot the ball, he's proven that, but needs to improve on his ability to protect the basketball and make good decisions."

 Zack Martin gives Derryfield rebounding and physical play defensively, while 6'3 Alex Drake is expected to contribute right away. "Alex can help us off the bench. He slashes to the basket well and can add to our depth."

 "Right now, we are very unproven when we go to the bench," said Meade. "We will ask a lot of our starters early on and will need to develop depth as the season goes along."

 "Our focus this year will be more about getting stops when we need it and grinding out wins," said Meade. "In our playoff loss (to Lin Wood) last season, we didn't get a stop when we needed them. For us to take the next step this season and beyond, that has to change."

 The Epping Blue Devils will rely on two talented sophomores to lead the way as point guard Henry Hodgkins and center Jacob Purington ascend to lead-dog roles after the graduation of nine seniors from last year's 14-4 team.

 "They are our cornerstone guys," said head coach Nick Fiset. "The way I look at this group is we have a three-year run ahead of us, and it's about coming together this season and building that foundation."

 Hodgkins played off the ball at times last year when Mikey Picard ran the point. Fiset has handed him the keys to the offense from Day this season. "He was able to get pretty valuable experience a year ago," said Fiset. "He learned a lot from Mikey and understood how to run the team. I have a lot of confidence in Henry."

 The 6'8 Purington has come into the pre-season in better shape and looks poised for a breakout season at center. "He wants to be a very good player. He wants the accolades, wants to win a championship," said Fiset. "We have a very strong history at Epping, and there are players like Ryan Gatchell, Colby Wilson, Jimmy Stanley, and Hunter Bullock that everyone remembers. He wants to be one of those guys people talk about years down the line."

 The Blue Devils have the point guard and center to build around. The question is, will there be growing pains in Year 1?

 "We are primarily a sophomore and junior group, so it's a two-year journey," said Fiset. "We play as tough a schedule as anyone in the division, so it's going to be a challenge game to game, but I'm excited about this group."

 Jacob Twombly steps into a significant role and will be joined in the rotation by Logan Snyder and 6'2 Brady Dwyer & Dylan Cummings forwards and guard Cam Kavanaugh.

 "Jacob has a lot of speed. He's an excellent soccer player," said Fiset. "I think he will be a real asset in transition."

 "Brady and Dylan can both defend and hopefully give us rebounding as well. Logan and his brother Blake will have a chance to help us immediately," said Fiset. "The fact that so many positions are up for grabs has made for some competitive practices in the pre-season."

 "We will have to adjust to new roles against the best teams in our division, but we have a lot of confidence as a group and are looking forward to the challenge."

 Carl Anderson's Hinsdale Pacers have been on a slow build that could pay off this season.

 Two years ago, the Pacers faced the toughest schedule in the division when Covid forced teams into regional schedules. Last season, they qualified for the playoffs, only to end up as the first of Woodsville's four playoff victims.

 With five starters back, Hinsdale now expects to make the playoffs and hopes to hang around a little longer once they get there.

 "We played with the best team in the division for a half before they put us away," said Anderson of the first-round loss at Woodsville. "We don't want to be someone's stepping stone on the way to a playoff run. We want to win a playoff game and get to that next level."

 Anderson sees a balanced offense as the key to taking that next step. "We need to have three ten-plus points per game scorers to succeed. That's something we are stressing in the pre-season; moving the ball and taking the best shot regardless of what player has the ball."

 6'2 guard Brayden Eastman returns after averaging 16.8 points per game as a sophomore last season. "He's playing very well in the pre-season. Teams will focus on him more this season, so his passing will be a big part of our improvement."

 Aidan Davis gives the Pacers rebounding in the paint while Alex Shank leads by example. "He's a player who will go through a wall to make a play," said Anderson. "He plays the game the right way."

 Tanner Hammond had some good moments a year ago and will be asked to be an even more significant factor this season. "He scored the first six points of the game for us against Woodsville, and it was an example of what he's capable of," said Anderson. "Like many players on our team, he just needs to be more consistent with his production."

 Sophomore John Winter and 6'4 Connor Clement will also be able to contribute immediately. "We have been building towards this year, and the message from me in the pre-season has been, it's go time. Do we want to be a contender or just another team in the division?"

 "The kids are working hard, and I believe we can be a good team this season if we come together as a group."

 One of the reasons the division is so deep is because programs like Lin Wood, Gorham, and Profile, who have struggled in recent years, are all playoff contenders.

 You can add Pittsburg-Canaan to that list.

 Eric Hurlbert, who won a title at Stafford in 1993, has a young and athletic team ready to take another step forward after a tournament appearance a year ago.

 "We have a very good group of athletes and players that all bring something different to the table, as far as their strengths," said Hurlbert. "Rebounding and our lack of size is a concern, but there are a lot of teams here in the North Country in that same boat."

 All-state point guard Koal Hurlbert returns after finishing fourth in Division IV, scoring 19.7 points per game. "He's an extension of the coaches on the floor," said Hurlbert. "He can score, passes the ball well, and when teams throw pressure at us, the ball will be in his hands."

 Hurlbert gives the Yellow Jackets a go-to guy in crunch time and a leader on & off the floor. "We had a poor practice, a practice he had missed because he was away for Thanksgiving," said Hurlbert. "He came back on Monday and, on his own, took the guys aside and let everyone know we need to be better. As a coach, you can't ask for more than that from a player."

 His brother Griffin Hurlbert will step into a more prominent role this season. "Griffin can help us on the boards, and he has improved his game over the off-season."

 6'2 Caleb Umlah saw limited minutes as a freshman a year ago but will fill the glue guy role (you always need glue guys to win) and provide size in the paint alongside Caleb Hailey. "They are both tough kids," said Hurlbert. " Caleb Umlah is our defensive anchor and a very good athlete."

 Landon Haynes has shown an ability to knockdown shots from behind the three-point arc and will get an opportunity to contribute immediately. "He's had practices where he can't miss. It's about translating that into the game," said Hurlbert. "We have a lot of confidence in him as a shooter."

 In a wide-open North Country, Pittsburg-Canaan has a chance to fight for a Top-8 seed and make some other team take a very long bus trip in March.

"It's a good group, and we've had a good pre-season. We open with Littleton, so you are tested by one of the best teams in our division right off the bat, " said Hurlbert. " We'll have to be ready to compete."

  Derek Summers' Portsmouth Christian Eagles have been one of the best programs in Division IV over the past ten years, with finals appearances in both 2020 and 2016.

 Remaining a final-four contender in 2023 will be a challenge, though, as five of the team's top seven scorers from last season's quarterfinal team have graduated. Leaving PCA with two dependable starters back in the lineup and a lot of new faces in important roles.

 "It's an almost completely new group, and two weeks into pre-season, there are still a lot of roles to be defined and jobs to be won," said Summers. "There are going to be some nights where we might look pretty good and other nights when we look lost. It's all part of the process, but we do have a lot of potential."

 Gavin Nagy gives the Eagles a reliable performer and a senior leader. "Gavin is our vocal leader, and he is someone we know we can depend on," said Summers. "He's a player that you want to have the ball in his hands in big situations."

 Connor Hickey combined with Nagy to score 18 points a game last season, and both will step into more prominent roles this season with the graduation of Seth Huggard, Caleb Runey, and all-state guard Jason Stockbower.

 "Connor is extremely athletic and has improved over the off-season," said Summers. "He's going to be a tough match-up on a lot of nights for opposing teams."

 Yohan Koshy is the third member of last year's rotation players to return and will contribute immediately to the PCA backcourt. "Yohan is sneaky good," said Summers. "He's a combo guard and a very smart player for us. He has improved and shown an ability to get to where he needs to be on the court."

 Summers hopes to be eight players deep with his rotation and will need to be against one of the toughest schedules in the division.

 "There are not many easy nights in this division, especially this season. We're going to have to come together quickly because the division as a whole is deeper than it has been in years."

 The Gorham Huskies made the tournament a year ago with one of the youngest teams in the division.

 A little older, wiser and taller, the Huskies are hoping to take the next step in a deep division. “We are coming along,” said head coach Dave Morrissette. “We had a strong soccer season, and with a lot of players from that team on ours, you hope that carries over into basketball.”

 “ We have made more of a commitment to defend, and as that continues to evolve, we’ll take the next steps as a team.”

 Isaac Langlois looks poised for a breakout season after averaging 14 points per game a year ago as a freshman. “ I was surprised he didn’t get honorable mention all-state recognition from the coaches (Ed note: he did get that from us) because he had a strong season for us,” said Morrissette. “ I thought he was as good as any freshman player we saw last season, and he has come in ready to play well again here in the pre-season.”

 The Huskies were dealt a blow in the off-season when starter Kody Lemieux was injured during soccer season. An injury that will keep him out for the entire season. “ I was disappointed for Kody because he is a good kid, and he was going to play a big role for us,” said Morrissette.

 Senior Chase Carder will contribute immediately at the guard spot, and shooting guard Brendan Saladino. “ Chase is a great kid who understands the game well,” said Morrissette. “He’s a glue guy for us, and he helps us in a lot of different ways.”

 “ Brendan can shoot the ball and has been working hard here in the pre-season.”

 Abe Backler and Jack Saladino will step into more prominent roles this season and play immediately.

 “ We lost not only size when Nolan York and Chase Cardier graduated but toughness in the paint,” said Morrissette. “ We will struggle against some of the players Woodsville and Lin Wood have down low. We have to adjust and make an effort to be a better team defensively to compete with the top teams in the North Country and across the division.”

 Franklin just missed the playoffs a year ago but should contend for a spot behind the play of a familiar name at point guard and a brand-new one at forward.

 “ We have put a lot of effort into building the right kind of culture within the program, and the kids have been working hard to turn the corner as a team,” said head coach David Bedard.

“ We only have three rotation players back, so depth is an issue, but I’m excited about the potential of this group.”

 Point guard Zeke McCoy returns to the starting lineup a little taller, a year wiser, and ready to step into more of a scoring role this season. “ He’s improved his game and should have a very good season for us,” said Bedard. “ Last year, when he had big games, good things usually happened for us. When he struggled, we also did as a team. It will be the same this season. As he goes, we go.”

 Joining McCoy in the starting lineup will be Turkish exchange student Yagiz Sarmisak, who has shown flashes in the pre-season of being an impact player for the Golden Tornadoes. “ He has shown an ability to get to the rim, and at 6’3, we think he’s going to make an impact on both ends of the floor for us.”

 Alen Veletanlic returns to the rotation and will join Sarmisak at the forward spot. “ Alen scored 17 points for us in a road win at Pittsburg-Canaan. So we have seen the potential he has,” said Bedard. “ We are going to be asking more of him this season.”

 Jack Van Polen and Grayson McLaughlin will step in and contribute immediately. “ Jack is a strong kid and can help us in the paint,” said Bedard. “ Grayson is new to basketball, but he’s an excellent athlete, and you can see him getting better every day.”

 Sophomore Harrison Kaplan will also step into a more prominent role for a Franklin team with playoff aspirations after a five-year drought.

 “ This is a team capable of taking another step forward,” said Bedard. “ We felt like we could compete with almost every team on our schedule a year ago. Now it is about winning games and being in the playoff conversation all season long.”

 “ Having a point guard you can rely on, and a forward who can score in a variety of ways is a good place to start. We’re excited to see what we can become as a team.”

  The Colebrook Mohawks will have a new head coach on the sidelines for the first time since the Reagan administration when Ryan Call takes over for Hall of Famer Buddy Trask. "There’s no coach I look up to more than Buddy so we aren’t looking to change our philosophy as a program from what he built here," said Call.

 "We don't have the height or physicality to play teams in the half-court, so the emphasis is on pressure defense, getting up the floor, and working the ball to find good shots."

 "What we harp on every day in practice is passing up a decent shot for a good shot and a good shot for a great shot."

 The Dowse brothers Kaiden and Kolten return, with Kaiden again running the point and Kolten filling the wing at shooting guard.

"They both want to win badly, and they work hard at their games," said Call. "It's about playing the right way and taking care of the basketball. I've seen flashes of both sides in the pre-season. When we move the ball, we look like a very good team. When we play hero ball and don't move it, we can lose to any team on our schedule."

 Kaiden Dowse can get to the lane and finish at the rim, along with a good pull-up jumper.

 Kolten could be the breakout player of this year's team, as evidenced by his offensive explosion in a pre-season jamboree. "Kolten has really come along," said Call. "He's filled out and taken his game up a notch. He's an excellent shooter, and now he can go around defenders when they close out on him."

 "Both have the chance to have very good seasons for us."

 Keenan Hurlbert returns to the team and will provide scoring in transition and experience, while Jackson Weir can knock down shots and extend defenses from behind the arc.

 "We are at our best in translation, so we are going to apply constant pressure and look to get our players out in space," said Call. "We have the scorers to thrive at that pace."

 "It's about coming together, building trust, and becoming a difficult team to guard and go up against."

  Jay Darrah's Pittsfield Panthers missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2015 and will look to the middle school program as the rebuild continues.

 "We are investing a lot of time and energy into the middle school program," said Darrah. "We had good numbers at tryouts, but a lot of players came out that haven't played basketball in a long time. That's encouraging, but it's also not a recipe for success."

 The Panthers will feature a balanced scoring attack led by forward/guard Jared Beliveau, Mike Casey, and returning starter Abe Marcotte.

 "We won't have a go-to scorer like we did a year ago with Jordan Roode, so it will be about moving the basketball and finding the right shot," said Darrah. "It's going to be about execution and not trying to score off isolation plays."

 Marcotte should be the team's best rebounder and is a certainty on a team with a lot of questions to be answered in the preseason. "He's the hardest worker, and if he could focus solely on rebounding, he could put up some big numbers."

 The team was hit with a big injury even before the season when starter Brayden Pelletier went down with a collarbone injury. Darrah hopes the playmaker can return in six to eight weeks.

 Mike Casey is a promising freshman who will see time at the guard spot for a team with minutes to be earned. "We have a lot of new faces," said Darrah. "We have five seniors and four juniors on the roster, and four of those players didn't play a year ago. So there are minutes to be earned, which should make for some very competitive practices."

 The issue is numbers for one of the most consistent programs in Division IV basketball. The Sunapee Lakers begin the season with only ten players in the program, and with only four returning players amongst that group, the challenges are stacking up for Tim Putchler’s team.

 “ We have lost a lot of good athletes to the ski program. It’s been a growing issue for some time, and it finally caught up to us this year,” said Putchler. “ We will rely heavily on the players coming back from last season, and we will need to develop our bench as we go along.”

 6’3 center Nick Pollari returns after averaging 10.2 points per game last season. “ He is a big body in the middle for us, and when he is giving great effort, he can be a big factor for us,” said Putchler. “ We will ask a lot of him this season as he steps into a leadership role.”

 Nick Belisle and Sam Flint saw minutes off the bench a year ago but will be expected to produce right away as starters. “ Nick gives us some perimeter shooting as well as someone who can handle the basketball,” said Putchler. “ Sam is a good shooter and one of our better defenders.”

 Two players who have improved over the off-season could step into significant roles for the Lakers.

 Mike Seymore will see time at the guard spot and has played well in the preseason. “ He’s matured a lot from last season, and you can see he’s ready for more minutes.”

 In a scrimmage against Woodsville it was sophomore Brock Cangos who led the team in scoring, and Putchler hopes that is a preview of good things to come. “ He’s a quiet kid but very motivated. I like his attitude and look forward to what he brings to the table for us this season.”

 Most season’s in Sunapee begin as final four or bust, but Putchler realizes this is a program in transition. “ We are going to be putting a big emphasis on the youth programs. We need to build the numbers back up and get kids back in the gym again.”

 “ This season will come down to how the returning players step into significant roles and how the younger players develop over the course of the season.”

 After establishing itself as a playoff team for years, Mount Royal suffered a winless season in 2021-22. With a new head coach and several key players back, the rebuild begins for Tom Hogan’s team.

 “ We do not have a lot of experience, so the pre-season focus is on the basics,” said Hogan. “We have a full twelve-man roster, so that’s a real positive, and the kids have come in with a very good attitude as well.”

 J.P Treece and Garrett Bugbee return to the lineup and give Hogan a pair of team leaders for the underclassmen. “J.P is a slasher who gets a lot of his points and rebounds through his hustle,” said Hogan. “ He’s very active out on the floor.”

 “ Garrett Is such a fun kid to coach. He loves the game, and he’s not going to be outworked.”

 6’4 center Peter Hogan will step into a more prominent scoring role this season as he becomes the first player I have ever covered who will be playing for his brother. “ It’s definitely a unique situation,” says Hogan with a laugh. “ Whether it is coaching your son or a sibling, it’s a different dynamic, but it’s been great. I enjoy working with him every day.”

 “ Peter has a chance, along with J.P, to step into a bigger scoring role for us. We will have a balanced offensive attack with no real go-to guy, but I expect both of them to have good seasons for us.”

 Luke Moorehouse and Harrison Larose will both get an opportunity to play right away, and Hogan sees both as scorers who will step into more significant roles this season.

 “ We are going to focus on our defense and rebounding,” said Hogan. “ We’re not a team that will walk into the gym and scores 75 points, so we have to build an identity as a defensive unit who can control the boards.”

 “The players have been working hard and are excited to get started.”

 

 Pre-Season First Team All-State

 Brode Frink of Concord Christian

 Gabe Lacasse of Holy Family

 Cam Clermont of Lin Wood

 Jake Avery of Lin Wood

 Josh Robie of Profile
 

 Second Team

 Cam Davidson of Woodsville

 Yves Mugiraneza of Holy Family

 Baris Fortier of Newmarket

 Kayden Hoskins of Littleton

 Koal Hurlbert of Pittsburg-Canaan

 

 With apologies to: Jack Krasnof & John McDevitt of Derryfield, Isaac Langlois of Gorham, Alex Leslie of Profile, Henry Hodgkins & Jacob Purington of Epping, Jordan Berko of Farmington, Brayden Eastman of Hinsdale, Kaiden & Kolten Dowse of Colebrook, Dylan Barthel & Adam Stauffeneker of Mascenic, Ben Wheelock & Aidan Whiting of Groveton, Zeke McCoy &  Yagiz Sarmisak of Franklin, Landon Kingsbury of Woodsville and Dre Atkins of Littleton.