We saw a historic run come to a close last season with Monadnock dethroning Conant as champions and winning their first title since 2019.

 They were the only team to play Conant relatively close for the first time in nearly three years. 

 The Huskies got hot at the perfect time and hit their stride for one of the more dominant playoff runs we have seen on the defensive side of the floor. 

 Both teams come back strong and could be battling it out once again on the big floor, but teams like Stevens and Concord Christian could have a few things to say about that. 

 While this division remains top-heavy, the competition we will see in the middle of this division could be the best we have seen in quite some time.  

 Teams like Hopkinton, Kearsarge, and Gilford will be right in the thick of things and could pull out a few wins we don't see coming. 

 The favorites will be back, but a lot of new teams could have a say in how things play out in Division III this winter. 

 Today in our third of four basketball previews, we will take a deep dive look at Division III.

 Today's preview and all of our Lakes Region coverage are brought to you by our friend and partner Kevin Shaw at Roche Realty!

 

Division III Pre-Season Rankings

1. Conant 

2. Monadnock

3. Stevens

4. Concord Christian 

5. Hopkinton 

6. Kearsarge 

7. Gilford

8. St Thomas Aquinas 

9. Winnisquam

10. White Mountains

Outside of the Top 10: Fall Mountain, Newport, Mascoma Valley, Newfound, Berlin, Belmont, Inter-Lakes, Hillsboro-Deering

 

  Conant suffered something they hadn’t experienced in nearly three years, a loss. “That loss was probably the best thing for this year’s group,” said head coach Brian Troy. “We learned more about ourselves that game than in any of the wins.” 

 The seniors this year had never experienced a loss in their entire careers. With that under their belt, they are ready for a new season and ready to compete for another title. 

 The graduation losses of Mylie Aho and Teagan Kirby won’t go unnoticed. The stability and leadership they provided will be something the Orioles will miss this season. “We may go through challenges in the beginning,” said Troy. “Once we gel though we could be a scary team.” 

 It helps when you return two of the best players in the division in Emma Tenters and Brynn Rautiola. 

 Tenters, the Division III Player of the Year last season and Emmanuel College commit, should pick up right where she left off last year. 

 “You’re going to see a different player in terms of the level of intensity,” said Troy. “She improved her game drastically. One of those kids who is dedicated throughout the whole year. You never question her commitment.” 

 Tenters’ height is unmatched for most in Division III, and the ball skills and shooting touch she has developed over the last three years have turned her into a complete player. 

 It is hard to take shots away from her with the ability she has to stretch the floor. Facilitating offense is even a possibility with Tenters, forcing teams to give up open shots to her or her teammates. 

 Rautiola returns as one of the best floor generals in the state. “She has been hungry ever since the year ended,” said Troy. “Brynn is always in the gym. She carries her passion on her sleeve. You will see a much more mature version of her.” 

 The range has been there for Rautiola since day one. The playmaking and defense have improved greatly in the last three seasons. “I think she is a complete player,” said Troy. 

 There are not many players you want with the ball in their hands more than Rautiola. The way she can create offense will fuel Conant all season long.

 Defensively she is a tough out and makes you work for most possessions. Rautiola will have her fingertips all over the success Conant has this year. 

 Bella Hart started to come on a bit for the Orioles last season. “She kind of flies under the radar,” said Troy. “She is one of the smartest players I’ve been around. She understands spacing and when to cut and when to shoot. Her IQ helps this team.” 

 Hannah Manley, or “The Hannamal” as Troy calls her, will play a big role for Conant. “She is all over the court,” said Troy. “She brings that uplifting enthusiasm to the team. She will be in key situations this year and she will come through.” 

 Amriel Lucier will provide good depth at the forward spot. “Getting that physicality from her will help this team,” said Troy. 

 Adrienne Kennedy had a really good offseason, and the results show should this year. “She will give us shooting and all-out energy and hustle,” said Troy. 

 Conant will be in contention once again, but they know it will not come easy. “There is no game where we say,  ‘will win this one,’ every game will be good competition,” said Troy. “If you’re a competitor that is exactly what you want. We are hungry and we are excited.”

 The reigning champion Monadnock Huskies turned a lot of heads last season with the historic upset they pulled off in the championship over Conant. “We were a very good six-seed,” said head coach Bobby Fortes. 

 While the graduation of Grace Leclair and Grace Furze will be a big loss, Fortes feels his team is ready to lock back in. “This is a confident group,” said Fortes. “As a group, I would say that we have several people that have worked hard to get better.” 

 Just like last year, defense is the main focus for this group. “We want to be the best defensive team,” said Fortes. “If we can do that we can be in games with a chance.” 

 The switchability and toughness we saw this team possess throughout the season, especially on the big floor at Keene State, is what made them a matchup nightmare. This team has a combination of size and IQ, which makes them one of the best defensive teams in the state. 

 Their defense held the top three seeds in the division to just 34 ppg in the playoffs, a mark that pushed them over the top. “Defense is what won us the championship last year,” said Fortes. “If we grind on the defensive end we will make it hard for people.”

 Breann Lawrence will take on more of a scoring role after playing a defensive-first role for Monadnock last season. “She is one that is going to have to play a bigger role,” said Fortes. “Last year she was a shutdown defender who would shoot open threes. She will have to step up a little more on the offensive end.” 

 Mea Carroll-Clough has shown flashes of offensive flare the past few seasons and will need to be more of a consistent threat going forward. “She is a very skilled offensive player,” said Fortes. “She will need to be more aggressive this year.” 

 Bailee Soucia stepped in as the starting point guard as a freshman but certainly didn’t play like one. “She is one of the best point guards in the division,” said Fortes. “As a freshman, she started and did a great job. I expect her to continue to grow and get more experience.” 

 As usual, Monadnock’s schedule won’t do them any favors. “It is by far the toughest schedule, but it will be fun,” said Fortes. This is the same schedule that benefited them in the long run last year, so they aren’t shying away from it. 

 Although there are key losses for this group, the expectations remain the same. “Our expectation last year was to win a state championship, that will always be the goal, and that is what we will strive for,” said Fortes. “At the end of the day, you just want to be in the mix. You get into that Final Four, it is anyone’s game at that point. We are looking forward to the challenge.”

 The time for Stevens to aim high in Division III is now. The Cardinals have been on the cusp of the Final Four the past few years, but have yet to get over the quarterfinal hump. 

 "We've been itching to get back on the floor," said head coach Steve Condon. "Last year was a great experience for all of them, but we're trying to make sure we erase that bitter taste in our mouths." 

 Alyssa Paquette returns as an integral part to what Stevens is hoping to accomplish. 

 The versatile forward can hurt you inside and can clean up the glass for the Cardinals on a nightly basis. 

 Pairing here alongside Tara Sullivan provides Stevens one of the better tandems on the block. 

 "They can both play inside-out," said Condon. "We've been working on their play away from the basket to get the most out of each other." 

 Kiley Bundy and Isabella Bovell will control the backcourt. Bundy proved to be one of the best guards in the division last season with her ability to play make and get to her spots on the floor. 

 Bovell brings stability and consistent play, and pairs nicely alongside Bundy. "We are fortunate to have two girls who are getting stronger with their handles, working on their ability to get to the basket, and always trying to make the best play." 

 Stella Lavertue is the glue that holds this group together on both ends of the floor. "She is our glue kid," said Condon. "She is one that doesn’t need to score points. She is happier getting those steals and creating opportunities for others." 

 Sara Faro brings a good veteran presence and calmness to the team and Mya Rice is excited about the opportunity to compete at the varsity level this season.  

 We know this team can score the basketball with the best of them, the emphasis will be on the other end of the floor. "All of them making sure we are making more of a dedicated effort to the defensive end of the ball," said Condon.

 This team has the pieces to make a deep run this season. This core has been building for this moment, and now it is time o execute. 

 "We are going to take it one game at a time," said Condon. "We have five really competitive games early, it will be a process. We need to take every opponent as serious as the next. This group feels that we can get somewhere this year, but we will go far if we are able to stay connected as a group."

 The reigning D4 champs Concord Christian make the move to Division III and should be competitive right away. 

 “We’re excited to have some new challenges,” said head coach Rebecca Carlile. “I am not sure what Division III will hold for us. We don’t have any basis, we don’t know what we are facing. That is exciting for the girls, they are competitors, and they love to win.” 

 The roster will consist of only seven this season, four freshmen, one sophomore, and two juniors, which could prove to be a challenge with the better competition they will see on a nightly basis. “Will have to be strategic to get through this season,” said Carlile. “It will be even minutes to keep everyone with fresh legs.”

 The young core that returns to the Kingsmen has championship experience and plenty of skill to compete in this division. “We’re a small and quick team, nothing has really changed in that regard,” said Carlile. “As much as we can we want to continue to push and hopefully control the tempo of the game.”

 Kayden Rioux returns to run the point for Concord Christian. “She controls the ball really well,” said Carlile. “She is intense defensively and has a nice outside shot as well.” 

 Emma Smith is all out hustle for this group. “You will see her all over the floor,” said Carlile. “She is long and fast and can shoot the deep three and get to the rim as well.” 

 Her twin sister Kate Smith, while not the tallest, will play at the forward spot. “She is not our biggest height wise but she plays the biggest for us,” said Carlile. “Kate will do a great job on the boards for us as well as being a tough defender.”

 The Muir sisters, Sarah and Megan, bring a lot to the table for Concord Christian. “They are both lighting fast,” said Carlile. “Sarah can get to the rim at will and shut anyone down defensively. She is the best defender in the state in her class in my opinion. Megan has a beautiful outside shot and can knock them down.” 

 Lilli Carlile can do it all for the Kingsmen. “She can shoot the three, and I don’t know how she does it but she always finds a way to the rim,” said Carlile. 

 Taylor Rioux will do a lot of the dirty work that goes unnoticed. “She is another one who plays way bigger than she is,” said Carlile. “Defensively she likes to bang and one offense she can get to the hole.” 

 While they lack size, this group finds a way to be physical and compete on defense. Offensively they can hurt you from the outside and use their speed to turn any game into a track meet, something most opponents won’t want to do with this group. 

 Division III is unknown for this group, but they should be a known name as the season progresses. 

 The Hopkinton Hawks, as always, will be right in the thick of things in Division III. The past few years Pat Roye’s squad has been filled with players who were gritty and a bit inexperienced. The grit and grind still remains, but experience should not be something to worry about for this group. 

 “We are a year older and a year wiser,” said Roye. “I really like our depth. They are a nice group that works really hard.” 

 The defensive catalyst Kally Murdough has graduated, but besides that everyone else is back, and now Hopkinton turns to eight seniors to be leaders. That will all start with Maddie Carmichael. “I am hoping Maddie has a big year for us,” said Roye.

 Carmichael is a one-of-a-kind athlete, who had a great fall on the soccer field, and is heading to St. Anselm next year to play softball. 

 What she provides on the basketball court is size, rebounding, and great versatility. Her scoring ability is known throughout the division and the hope is Carmichael can continue to rack up double-doubles. 

 She will be a captain for the Hawks alongside Elise Miner and Hannah Pecce. Both are guards and starters that should impact the game on a nightly basis. 

 Sophomore Shaylee Murdough has grown immensely since her freshman campaign. The sophomore had a great fall running cross country. That speed and stamina should translate onto the court this winter. “She will run the ball a lot for us,” said Roye. 

 Re-joining the team this season is guard Ava Lambert. “Adding her back really helps,” said Roye. “Aca is going to be an impact kid in the backcourt. She sees the floor extremely well and can deliver the ball to her teammates.” 

 Sierra Stone had a few scoring outbursts last season, and the hope is that she can add a few more to her resume this season. “She gives us some offensive punch and a lot of versatility,” said Roye. 

 Lizz Holmes is another player who returns and provides great depth in the frontcourt. “She gives us a good defender and is a really good athlete,” said Roye. 

 A player to watch for the Hawks is sophomore Sydney Westover. The 5’11” forward is a strong rebounder that can play alongside Carmichael. “She is getting better every day and is very coachable,” said Roye. “She will make a lot of contributions for us.” 

 The depth will come in handy for a Hopkinton team that will play a very tough schedule as they always do. “Our schedule will tell us where we fit,” said Roye. “Especially early on, we should have a nice idea of where we fit.” 

 With all of these pieces, it will be a matter of mixing and matching lineups and seeing what works best early on. “Can we play as a unit is the question,” said Roye. “I am hoping we can use that depth to wear people down and use our size for a change. We can play at a faster pace than we have in the past. I am hopeful with this group.” 

 Ed Tenney returns to a familiar place to take over as head coach of Kearsarge this season. “It is good to be back,” said Tenney. “Wherever I coached, I always said I was the coach of Kearsarge. I love being back here.” 

 Tenney joins a program that has been successful since coming to Division III two years ago, and once again should be a name you see near the top of the standings with eight seniors returning to lead the Cougars. 

 The scoring loss of Caroline Camp and the playmaking of Rayna Tucker will take time to adjust to, but this group should be able to fill those roles and add more depth. 

 Addison Whitty will take over as the starting point guard. “She earned that position off of leadership and toughness,” said Tenney. “She is still learning the mechanics but she is coming along well. She is tremendous on and off the floor for us.” 

 Hannah Goen will step into the lead-scoring role for Kearsarge, a role she should flourish into. “Hannah will step out of the shadow this year,” said Tenney. “She will show what she can do offensively.” 

 Goen was more of a spark plug scorer when need be and now will see plenty more shots and opportunities to impact the game on that end of the floor. 

 Ella Stocker will be a dominant on-ball defender for Kearsarge this season. “She is our best defensive player,” said Tenney. 

 All three have been instrumental pieces to the success Kearsarge has seen in the last few years and will look to continue that trend as seniors. “Those three are certainly leading the way for us,” said Tenney. 

 The Cougar JV team was one of the most successful in the state last season at 17-1, and three players from that team make the jump to varsity this season. 

 Ava Shapiro and Tessa Maranelo will be thrust into the starting lineup and Jada Kendragen should see plenty of minutes in the rotation. “Those kids are going to be impact players,” said Tenney. 

 The focus early on will be on the defensive end. “We are going to live off defense,” said Tenney. “This team will win on defense.” 

 Tenney brings a run-and-gun type style from his Sunapee days and will implement that with the Cougars this year. 

 “You’re going to see the running game,” said Tenney. “We will try and gameplan and get the best out of what we can give defensively. We have the athleticism to do that. Offensively we have more work to do. We are trying to have them gain confidence in that area. I think it will be a fun team to watch.” 

 The Gilford Golden Eagles are hoping to build off where they left off last year. Year one under Scott Currier could not have gone better, and the hope is year two can be even better. 

 Two seniors that will be focal points of the team is Vanessa Flanders and newcomer Margaret Cummings. 

 Flanders led the team in scoring as a junior (13.8 ppg) and took the leap that many do in their third season. While there was a breakout for the all-state wing last year, the hope is that Flanders can bring even more to the table.

 “Vanessa has grown so much from the beginning of last year to now,” said Currier. “She can be very powerful in how she leads the group. She is a tone-setter.” 

 Cummings is new to the area but played a huge part in Gilford winning the Division III soccer title as the goalie. “Margaret will provide leadership for sure,” said Currier. “We are still learning what she can provide basketball-wise, but she is a communicator that brings a great rapport for our group.” 

 The backcourt will consist of Millie Caldron and Ryan Guyer. “They are both athletic guards who work hard and set the tone for us,” said Currier. 

 Currier sees Flanders, Caldron, and Guyer being the leaders of this team from day one. “How well those three can lead will make or break how far we go,” said Currier. 

 Olivia Keenan showed real promise as a freshman, bringing a much-needed scoring punch (7.3 ppg) to the Golden Eagle attack. “She goes from a freshman trying to figure out high school basketball to now being a sophomore who can take that jump,” said Currier. 

 After a successful season at the JV level, Leah Davignon could be a difference-maker for Gilford this year. “We are looking for her to bump up and play meaningful minutes for us,” said Currier. 

 What changed for Gilford last season was when they started to dictate the speed each game would be played at. “We hit a stride when we started playing with more pace and applying pressure,” said Currier. “We want to push the ball and lean on that, our group is built for that. The girls are excited we have an identity.”

 The strength of their schedule will be much tougher than in seasons past. “That is something I am really excited about,” said Currier. Picking up Conant and Kearsarge on the schedule twice and taking trips to Hopkinton and Stevens will test this team early. 

 Being back in the top eight is certainly a goal for Gilford. “We need to work hard every day and continue to grow,” said Currier. “If you don’t do that in our division, you won’t be there. The girls had a lot of success in the fall and they want to continue that.” 

 St Thomas is looking to go another step in the right direction with 12 players returning from last year's varsity squad. 

 A team filled with underclassmen got 12 wins last year, and are now a year more experienced. 

 "When we played the better teams in the division it seemed we were always one step behind," said head coach Kevin Giannino. "Hopefully this year we'll be able to close that gap." 

 Abby Radyer transferred to St Thomas last year and made an instant impact, leading the team at 13.5 ppg as the Saints' starting point guard. 

 Rayder is a craft guard who can find shots within the flow of the offense. A lot was on her shoulders offensively last season, and certainly, there will be some this year, but the experience this group has coming back should take some pressure off of her. 

 "The superb coaches in the division did a great job game planning against her last year, but she should once again be among the top scorers in the division," said Giannino. 

 5'10" Genna Bolduc is coming off a very good summer and should take a big jump this season. "She will be called upon to provide much-needed scoring in the paint," said Giannino. "She has been impressive on both ends of the court."  

 Maddy McMahon and Elizabeth Flynn return as juniors more mature and ready to take a leap on both ends of the court. Both scored nearly seven points per game and will be called upon to take more responsibility on that end of the floor. 

 Freshman Emma Torriello should find minutes right away. "She possesses the talent to step in immediately and contribute," said Giannino. 

 Two 6'0" centers Maddy Karsonovich and Emilie von der Linden will cause havoc for many opponents in the paint. 

 "Maddy is a superb athlete and the consummate team player," said Giannino. Karsonovich led the team in rebounds, pulling down 10 per game. 

 "von der Linden is a real presence on the defensive end with her shot-blocking ability and worked hard all summer on her offensive game," said Giannino. 

 Amelia Anderson and Audry Verde should add shooting from the outside and add to the depth the Saints will lean on this season. 

 St Thomas will be a team that will lead in the field goal attempt department nearly every game, outshooting their opponents by over 200 shots last season.  

 If things click, this team can be in the mix come playoff time. "The goal every year is to reach double-digit regular season wins," said Giannino. "We want to be playing the best basketball by the end of the year and become a legitimate tournament threat. I think with the talent we have we are very capable of doing that." 

 It has been a good few years of building the program up for Mark Dawalga at Winnisquam, and this season should be another step in the right direction.

 “We have a good core coming back,” said Dawalga. “We lost four seniors, including two of our bigs, so we will play a different game than we have in the past.”

 Mackenzie Philippy and Lauren MacDonald return a significant amount of the Bear’s offensive production from a season ago. Phillippy, a senior, and Macdonald, a junior, will lead the charge once again this season. 

 “I expect Mackenzie’s senior season to be a great one,” said Dawalga. “Lauren will move around a lot with our lack of size. I expect her to take that next step.” 

 Freshman Caidyn Carter will be a welcomed addition to the team and will find herself in the rotation from the start. “She will be good for us and help us depth-wise,” said Dawalga, something the Bears are lacking with only 12 on the roster. Mackenzie Bassett should help in that aspect as well.

 The core of this team remains intact, and the expectations they have for themselves have not wavered. “I expect our team to take it up one more notch,” said Dawalga. “They know what it takes to win.” 

 The schedule has been trimmed to just 16 games and the quality of opponents they will see has increased. “Every game for us is going to be like a playoff game,” said Dawalga. 

 Winnisquam hopes to be right in the middle of things in Division III, and prove they belong. “Our goal every year is to make the tournament,” said Dawalga. “I really believe in this group.”  

 White Mountains is fully healthy and ready to compete this winter. “The emphasis this preseason was strength and conditioning to stay as healthy as possible for the entire season,” said head coach Chris Foss. 

 After a strong start, things quickly took a turn when the injury and sickness bug hit the Spartans. “We look like we hit a brick wall in January,” said Foss. “We hit that bump in the road and couldn’t fully recover.” 

 This season things could not start any better with a healthy Ava Simpson hitting the court. “We are looking forward to getting her back into form,” said Foss. Her skills on the perimeter open up a lot for the Spartans and is a scoring punch that they missed for most of the season.

 Simpson had a breakout freshman season before dealing with injury all of her sophomore campaign. It will be her first action at the varsity level in quite some time, but she shouldn’t miss a beat with how hard she has worked to get back to full strength. 

 Center Ainsley Savage carved out a role for herself last season and is primed for a jump as a junior. Savage’s big moment came when she scored 17 points in the preliminary round against Kearsarge. 

 “We are looking for her to do more of that consistently,” said Foss. “She put a lot of time in during the offseason.” 

 With a more confident Savage and healthy Ava Simpson, the Spartans could have a great 1-2 punch to throw at opponents. 

 Senior captain Jaylin Bennett has been a great leader for the Spartans. “She has been a key instrument trying to rally the girls in the preseason,” said Foss. “She is a good team leader.” 

 Ciera Challinor and Emma Simpson will round out what should be a strong starting five for White Mountains. 

 Challinor is tall and lanky and should fill into the top of the zone defense the Spartans will play and Simpson will handle the ball and create offense as a sophomore. “I like the talent we can put on the floor,” said Foss. 

 The schedule consists of games with Lakes Region foes and North Country rivals. It will be a no-nights-off mentality for the Spartans. “We have to show up every night,” said Foss. “We have to perform night in and night out to get the results we want.”

 White Mountains has found themselves in the playoffs the last few years, but they want to take things a step further this year. “A lofty goal for us is to make a good run in the playoffs,” said Foss. “We want to secure a home playoff game. We’ve been on the road, we’ve made the rounds, the girls want one at home.

 The core of Fall Mountain that we have come to know over the last few years have all graduated. Now the Wildcats will feature a young group that is ready to write their own chapter in the great Wildcat program. 

 “Young may even be an understatement,” said head coach Matt Baird-Torney. “We are young for a JV team.”

 The schedule won’t do this group any favors, as it is the toughest Baird-Torney has had in his four years with Fall Mountain. 

 The team will feature eight freshmen on varsity along with four sophomores. Baird-Torney has one goal to start the season: “Can I get this group that was primarily playing middle school last year to be comfortable and confident playing at this speed?” 

 It will be an adjustment period, but there isn’t a coach better suited to get this group up to speed as quickly as possible. 

 Sophomore Clara Stewart saw big minutes in the Final Four run the Wildcats went on last season. Her defensive ability was there from the start and will be again this year, but becoming a focal point offensively will be her new task. 

 “She was the third priority for teams last season,” said Baird-Torney. “She is being thrust into the role of ‘hey you have to do more on the offensive end now.’ We could run her ragged on defense, but now we need her on the other end.” 

 Stewart will be up for the challenge and should be a game-changer and a vital piece to Fall Mountain’s success. 

 Freshman Sophie Grillone will run the point for the Wildcats. “I am extremely excited about her,” said Baird-Torney. “She reminds me a lot of Sophie Bardis, but she is still a freshman.” 

 The court vision and creation offensively she has shown early on are a bright spot. “You’re putting an awful lot on a freshman,” said Baird-Torney. “We’re going to make sure she is comfortable and go with the ebbs and flows of a 9th grader running our offense.”

 Although Stewart and Grillone are only underclassmen, it feels like they have been on the team for much longer. 

 “It is neat,” said Baird-Torney. "Obviously, their sisters played, but they have been at the games, and they have observed our practices. They both played JV as 8th graders. Had to take a step back and say, we just went 16-2, lost to the eventual champion, and were in the Final Four, we didn’t overlook that. They got to see all that.” 

 Mariella Tsitsonis got some run last year and will get a lot more of it this season. She is still recovering from an ankle injury and is just getting back into the swing of things. 

 There will be three to four freshmen starting for Fall Mountain most games. “It is kind of exciting,” said Baird-Torney. “Just about everything we are putting in is different.” 

 Early on, it will be about controlling what they can control. “This year, I have to worry about us,” said Baird-Torney. “They have to understand what is expected of them. Eventually,  once we feel comfortable with what we are doing, we can start to take a look at counters and matchups and show different looks.” 

 Defensively is where this team can thrive and the athletes they have on the roster, but offensively things may take time. “We need to figure out who will step up in those situations,” said Baird-Torney. “Hopefully we can create offense on the other end. Other things will fall into place, we are being patient.”

 Fall Mountain may be a team that can sneak up on others in the second half of the season. “We will take our lumps, but the second time we see a team we will be that much better,” said Baird-Torney. “ We are still Fall Mountain basketball. We are going to be prepared and work hard. Something with this young group is that they have confidence and a chip on their shoulder. I think we’ll be fine.”

 Newport may be an under-the-radar team that sneaks up on people this year. The roster has just one junior and the rest are underclassmen. While this was mostly the case last year as well, the underclassmen that did see time are coming back more seasoned and mature. 

 Head coach Ross Dole does pinpoint that the loss of Riely Skarin to graduation will be a big one. “We don’t get to where we were last year without her,” said Dole. “She was a big piece to us as far as leadership and leaves a big void to fill.” 

 Things started to click for this team towards the end of last year, and Dole feels his group can build on that even more. “Where we can build is on us,” said Dole. 

 Sophomores Taylor Fellows, Maddox Lovely, and Skylar Nelson took on a lot of responsibility as starters last season. “I expect leadership from that group,” said Dole. “They saw what Riely did. They are the core of this group.” 

 Fellows specifically, who scored the ball at a good rate last season, has taken a lot of responsibility of the team. “With a young team when things start going bad who do you look for to lead you? I expect Taylor to be that one,” said Dole. 

 Junior Tanya Sanchez returns to the starting lineup as well and has more confidence coming into this season. 

 Torrence Williams and Cassie Sanborn will have more expanded roles this season along with a few promising incoming freshmen. “We are still trying to piece that all together,” said Dole. “We are learning how to play together still.” 

 The confidence is high with Dole on how his team can perform this season. “I think we are going to be a scary team to play against,” said Dole. “We are quick, we space the floor, can shoot and drive and are picking up on our defense.” 

 With the Tigers still being young, there are bound to be growing pains. If they can overcome those, good things will happen. “It will be a matter of can you put those 32 minutes together. If you only put 24 together, that changes the game,” said Dole. “That to me is where the good teams fall in. We are looking forward to the challenge.”

 Head coach Tonya Young is excited about what’s to come in year two at Mascoma Valley. “I am very excited to come back for a second year,” said Young. “We have a good group of girls returning. I feel like we have that solid foundation.” 

 With only four new players on the roster, many of the key players from a season ago are up to speed and ready to run things back. “They know my expectations,” said Young. “They know the core group of plays we have and our defensive tactics and principles.” 

 Losing both Madisun and Liberti LaCasse will be an adjustment early on, especially offensively for the Royals. “Who is stepping up to fill those shoes?” said Young. “We need to know we will have scoring consistently, and who that is going to come from.” 

 Scoring could come from a variety of players, both in the post and on the perimeter. The bigs for Mascoma were effective last season and should be again this year. 

 Gabby Pierce, Leah Larocque, and Anna Sullivan will be a “core group of posts that will do damage,” according to Young. 

 Offensively is where the group can thrive, it is on defense that Young is asking them to step up. “I want them to hone in on defense,” said Young. “How are you going to be able to help the guards if they get beat? How will you defend the post, get all the rebounds, and keep your hands up? These are things we have worked on.” 

 Guard play for the Royals should be much improved this season. Emily Seiler, Kayli Stapelfeld, and Kylie Rogers will see the bulk of the minutes in the backcourt.

 “They worked really hard this summer,” said Young. “My main goal for them has been to become offensive threats. We will need a third and fourth answer when our posts get double-teamed. They need to be confident when they get the pass out.” 

 The Royals want to build on the good that came from last season. “I am trying to instill in them that we really came together towards the end of last year,” said Young. “If we do that towards the beginning of this year we could have a double-digit win season and possibly a home playoff game. We want to get Mascoma Basketball back on the map.” 

 Kammi Williams returns to lead Newfound this winter, but it will be a lot of roster turnover for the Bears, only returning three varsity players.  

 Malina Bohlmann will be the leader on both ends of the court for Newfound. "She has worked her tail off her entire career," said Williams. "She has been coaching the girls on the floor. I can't say enough about her." 

 Bohlmann brings great intensity to the game. She wears her heart on her sleeve and competes on a nightly basis. 

 Williams hopes she can get Bohlmann to find her old groove on the offensive end of the court and find a more consistent rhythm. "We will lean on her a lot," said Williams. "She is a player to watch for sure."

 Matti Douville will step into a much bigger role this season. "She has been a role player for us, and now we need her to be more of a non-role player for the first time." 

 Douville brings good outside shooting and will be asked to produce a lot more on that end. 

 Rylee Barney will move back into the point guard role for Newfound. "This year will be about rebuilding her confidence so she can step back into that role," said Williams. "She can facilitate and early on has known what I am looking for."

 Adi Dolloff and Core Sanschagrin didn't see much time last year, but will step into the starting lineup this season. 

 Dolloff will see minutes at the center spot after losing both Paulina Huckins and Molly Lu McKellar. "The good thing with Adi is that she is super athletic," said Williams. "My hope is she can develop some understanding for the game." 

 Sanschagrin has missed some time early in the preseason but should hopefully be ready to go soon. 

 Bailey Dow will swing but see some time at the varsity level. "She has a good court sense, now it is about fundamentals.."

 It will be a lot of change for Newfound this season, but the hope is they can still compete. "We should be able to compete with a majority of teams still," said Williams. "Our focus is working on fundamentals and hoping we can develop by the end of the season." 

 The Berlin Mountaineers hope to put last season behind them and focus on what should be a much improved season with six seniors leading the way. 

 Head coach Don Picard is pleased with what he has seen from his group early on. “The energy is good,” said Picard. 

 Coming off an honorable mention all-state season, senior guard Makenna Peare will be the go-to option for the Mountaineers once again. “Our team generally looks to her for scoring,” said Picard. “She is the one most teams know about.” 

 Peare will be the lead guard and one orchestrating things for a Berlin team that hopes to have a better year offensively. “They have been working at shooting,” said Picard. 

 Besides the obvious talent Peare possess, the main goal Picard has set out for her is to stay on the floor. “Mak needs to stay out of foul trouble,” said Picard. “If she can take care of the basketball and limit the fouls, the rest of the things she does will benefit.” 

 Erin McCormick and Cienna Langlais had standout field hockey seasons for Berlin, and Picard is hoping that success can translate to the hardwood. “They’re both great athletes,” said Picard. “Early on, their shots look better and improved.” 

 A lot of the offense has fallen on Peare, but with improved shooting from more spots in the lineup, Picard is putting an emphasis on sharing the basketball. “We will hope to spread the scoring around so we aren’t so one-dimensional,” said Picard.

 Forwards Alexa Goulet and Ari Richard should be healthy and ready to go right off the bat this season. Health was the main issue for the troubles Berlin faced last season. “I am hoping we can stay healthy and get a full season out of everyone,” said Picard. 

 With a lot of senior leadership and a good up-and-coming underclassmen group, the Mountaineers want to get back to playing competitive basketball. “A goal would be to make the tournament,” said Picard. “We need to shift the mindset of going in believing we can win.” 

  Belmont will be young and inexperienced, but the buy-in has shown early for Mike Andriski’s team. “They are bought into getting better,” said Andriski. “This is a very enthusiastic group.” 

 Seniors Alyssa Edgern and Lena Rodrigues, along with junior Darci Stone will be asked to be leaders, especially on the offensive end after graduating Courtney Burke. “We will need them to step up,” said Andriski. “They need to be consistent scorers for us day in and day out.” 

 Senior Kim McWhinnie will make contributions at the forward spot and sophomore Madalyn Besagai will have more of an expanded role for the Red Raiders. “We are looking for Madalyn to take over as the point guard,” said Andriski. “She is very capable of doing that.” 

 Belmont does not possess much size, so the goal is to get out and run as much as possible for this team. Defensively a lot of schemes are being thrown at the group, but they are adapting well early on.  

 There will be ups and downs for a young team like Belmont, but it will be about baby steps. “Our goal is to get better every day,” said Andriski. “For us, everyone is a team to beat. We are looking to go one game at a time.” 

 Inter-Lakes is ready to put more W’s in the win column this season. Second-year head coach Luis Adorno has a good mix of seniors and underclassmen, which should make for a successful mix for the Lakers. “I am really excited about the potential of this team,” said Adorno. 

 Senior Molly Moynihan should have a big impact this season. “She is our heart and soul,” said Adorno. Moynihan will play the center position but has a versatile skill set. 

 “She can guard just about anybody on the court,” said Adorno. “On offense, she can pass and shoot really well. Hopefully, she can provide us a lot more offense.” 

 Sophomore Leana Keenan returns to run the point this winter. “She put in a lot of minutes last year,” said Adorno. “I can tell she has grown with her decision-making.” 

 Freshman Estelle Good should see the floor right away for Adorno’s squad. “She is going to be something special to watch I think,” said Adorno. “She has good touch, but her biggest asset is her defense. She gets in front of everyone and likes to compete.” 

 Seniors Hannah Pratt and Joscelyn Boucher will be impactful rotation players for the Lakers. “Hannah will play the three and will do a lot of shooting for us,” said Adorno. “Joscelyn is my defensive specialist. I could stick her on any player and say go shut them down. She has the ability to do that.”

 Last year was a feeling-out period for both the team and Adorno. “Last year I was implementing a new system,” said Adorno. “I look forward to all the returning players having a better understanding of what I would like them to run.” 

 Inter-Lakes should be able to start out a bit stronger and get down to playing their brand of basketball. “Athleticism is a plus on our team this year,” said Adorno. “I think we got the players this year to run the up-and-down game at a much faster pace. I expect us to do more of that.”

 Former John Stark coach Bruce Johnson takes over at Hillsboro-Deering this season. “There are a lot of adjustments going on,” said Johnson. “Like many places we are short on numbers.”

 The group is inexperienced, and still getting up to speed early on. “We’re doing a lot of fundamentals,” said Johnson. “They’re all working very hard.” 

 Two key returners for the Hillcats are senior Emily Howell and sophomore Morgan Dean. “Those are the two standing out here early,” said Johnson. 

 Howell will play the guard spot and run things offensively. “She has very good quickness and speed,” said Johnson. “She has been shooting the ball well. I foresee her playing a big role.” 

 Dean will provide size down low at the forward spot. “We won’t play with a center but she is the closest thing we have to one,” said Johnson. “She shoots it well and has some nice post moves. I see her contributing a lot as well.” 

 It may be a slow start, but once things are in place the hope is this group can start to compete. “I am looking for huge improvement after Christmas,” said Johnson. 

 

Pre-Season First Team All-State

Emma Tenters of Conant 

Brynn Rautiola of Conant 

Kiley Bundy of Stevens 

Alyssa Paquette of Stevens 

Bailee Soucia of Monadnock

 

Pre-Season Second Team All-State

Maddie Carmichael of Hopkinton

Breann Lawrence of Monadnock 

Sarah Muir of Concord Christian

Abby Rayder of St Thomas

Vanessa Flanders of Gilford

Players to watch: Mea Carrol-Clough of Monadnock, Malina Bohlmann of Newfound, Ella Stocker, Hannah Goen and Addi Whitty of Kearsarge, Ava Simpson of White Mountains, Makenna Peare of Berlin, Emma Smith and Lilli Carlile of Concord Christian, Mackenzie Philppy and Lauren MacDonald of Winnisquam, Taylor Fellows of Newport, Genna Bolduc of St Thomas, and Clara Stewart and Sophie Grillone of Fall Mountain