Hanover finally got over the hump last March and captured an elusive title that had been missing from their resume. 

 Knocking off Division I Bedford, and running the table in Division II, it could not have been a sweeter championship for the now Hanover Bears. 

 Hanover should be right back in that mix, but the outlook on their season took a complete 180 when Stella Galanes went down with a knee injury in our preseason jamboree.

 As unfortunate and unfair as that injury is especially for a great player and even better person that Galanes is, that has changed how this division may turn out this season. 

 The window has opened a bit more and the competition has heated up, as it seems like for the first time in quite a while, there is no presumptive "favorite" to take home the crown. 

 Today in our fifth of eight basketball previews, we take a look at a deep Division II. 

 Our preview today is brought to you by our great friends and partners at River Valley Community College!

 

Division II Pre-Season Rankings

1. Bow

2. Kennett 

3. Laconia 

4. Hanover 

5. John Stark 

6. Milford

7. Pelham

8. Hollis-Brookline

9. Pembroke  

10. Merrimack Valley

Outside of the Top 10: Derryfield, Lebanon, Coe-Brown, ConVal, Souhegan, Oyster River, Bishop Brady, Timberlane, Sanborn, Plymouth Kingswood

 

 The Division II runner-up Bow Falcons are motivated for another run. Nearly the entire roster returns, and this group is taking things up a level on both ends of the floor. 

 Head coach Phil Davis could not be more excited with how his team has looked and prepared early on. “The effort and attitude of this team is exceptional, said Davis. “Our expectations are the same as they were last year, we want to get to the end. Everyone understands a bit better what it takes.” 

 We know the defense this team will play on a nightly basis, it is the offense that was the hurdle for the Falcons last season. “It will be a different look this year,” said Davis. “We’ve added some more offense with this team. That is the fun with each season, we get to start over.” 

 Alex Larabee is the connector for everything Bow does on both ends of the floor. The all-around athlete has good size, length, and speed to disrupt opponents on defense, and offensively is one of the most consistent players for Bow, especially in the 10-12 foot shooting the jumper. 

 “Alex is the pillar of the group,” said Davis. “She is a consistent twelve to eight points a game and is a defensive powerhouse. “If things go the way I wish they go, she will be in that player of the year conversation.” 

 Larabee has great leadership qualities, along with a good mentality for the game, doing a lot of the little things for the Falcons. “She is always in the right place at the right time,” said Davis. “We will ebb and flow as she goes on a lot of levels. She will cause a lot of problems for teams this season.” 

 Juliette Tarsa was the spark plug scorer for the Falcons last season, and this year will become the primary scoring option for Bow. “Juliette has started to come into her own,” said Davis. “We have three excellent seniors who have given her the reigns to the team and are great supporters of her.” 

 The crafty combo guard can create off the dribble and get to the basket, but her knockdown shooting ability is what Bow wants to exploit this season. 

 “Her opportunities will be more catch-and-shoot jumpers and coming off of screens,” said Davis. “She can space the floor for us. Teams won’t be able to play zone with the shooting we have on the outside.” 

 Defensively the length and size Tarsa posses can make her a positive on that end. “If she plays defense like I know she can, she can be in the conversation with some of the best in our division.” 

 The LaPerle twins, Lyndsey and Bella, will lead one of the best defenses in the entire state. “They’re incredible,” said Davis. “It is hard to tell them apart, they are almost carbon copies. They hang their hats on their intensity level and defense.”

 When they get control of the tempo of a game with the havoc they create on defense, it is hard for most teams to get back into games. They can dictate a lot for Bow once again this year. 

 Offensively is where both have evolved and should flourish in their senior seasons. “Those are our two facilitators and shooters,” said Davis. “Bella has grabbed the role as our point guard. She can get into the paint fast and can kick to the outside, but has also been working on her floater. She does a good job of making the help defense come in and kicking the ball out to Lyndsey who has a good shooting percentage from the outside.” 

 Even with the size they lack, they are two of the top rebounders on the team. “It just goes to show their effort,” said Davis. 

 Davis feels he has three of the best defenders in the state, the LaPerle twins and junior Sidney Roberge, who was the go-to defensive stopper for the Falcons last season. 

 “She absolutely clamps people down, it doesn’t matter what size you are,” said Davis. “She is one of those players that has the ‘it’ factor. She is a great teammate and encourages everybody around her.” 

 Roberge will fight on the glass down low and also pick up more of an offensive role in the mid-range area. 

 Sophomore Bryanna Szepan saw some time as a freshman and has continued to develop as a sophomore for Bow.

 Juniors Kate Labrecque and Kendall Murray have been key parts of the program for the last few years. “They are consistent teammates who do the dirty work no one talks about,” said Daivs. “They have great basketball IQs. They will pick up minutes in a variety of positions.” 

 Freshman Ella Trepepan could find herself in the rotation this season. “She is a LaPerle,” said Davis. “She is an excellent ball handler and shoots it really well. She will add big minutes for us,”

 Bow is hoping to put the pieces to the puzzle together this season. “The intensity level is much higher,” said Davis. “We are going to pay attention and take it one day at a time. Our goal is to be there in the end. We are laying bricks and putting one brick over the other and moving forward.” 

 The Kennett Eagles return a strong core with a chance to be competitive all season long. “Basketball is their thing,” said head coach Larry Meader. “They have played a lot of basketball since last season.”

 This team went through the ups and downs last season, starting off taking tough loss after tough loss and finishing the year as a top eight team. 

 This season will be about finding consistency early on and executing every opportunity they get to grab wins this year. 

 The entire starting five returns and Sydnie Chin leads the way for the Eagles. “I am looking for this to be a break-out year for her,” said Meader. “If anything she is too unselfish at times. For us to be successful she is going to have to take charge and be the leader of the team.” 

 Chin always seems to be making the right play, passing a good shot up for a great shot, and helping make this Kennett offense run the way it does. The Eagles will need all they can get out of Chin this season to make a run. 

 Kennett returns good size in Sam Sidoti and Catherine Chick coming off the bench. Sidoti brings great energy and a post-presence to start games and Chick can be a great spark and change of pace for this group. 

 Kaley Goodhart led the Eagles in scoring last season and did so in a variety of ways, with a great outside shot and good touch around the basket. “She has one more year of experience,” said Meader. “I expect her to keep improving.”

 Kaylee McLellan has grown every year in the program and could make another jump this winter. “She is my swiss army knife,” said Meader. “When we go small she can play inside and is another guard that can handle the ball.”

  Marissa Caputo will be the first guard off the bench for the Eagles. “She will provide depth at that position,” said Meader. “Whether we go with three or four guards on the floor, she can match with anybody defensively.”

 Whenever you play Kennett you know the shooting they bring and the different ways they can attack you with their size and speed on the perimeter. With more experience under their belts and the same core returning, this season could be an even better product of that. 

 The team is ready to move on from the up-and-down season they had last year. “They didn’t like the taste of Hanover handing it to us in the playoffs,” said Meader. “They have been motivated to get back on the floor.”

 Kennett will be right in the thick of things and have a real chance to make a deep run. “I think if we stay healthy we can be there the whole way,” said Meader. “This group has good potential and wants to have a competitive season. If we get a few things to go our way, we can be there.”

 The Laconia Sachems got a great year of experience under their belts last season and should be in the mix to get back there again this winter. 

 Head coach Jeff Greeley returns three starters and just six players overall from last year's semifinalist. 

 “As a group, we are trying to define new roles,” said Greeley. “We are trying to see who our leaders will be and who will hold the other girls accountable.” 

 Sophomore Macy Swormstedt burst onto the scene as one of the best scorers Division II has to offer. The responsibility and expectations grew with each game, and now Swormstedt comes into the season as the clear number one option. 

 “Macy is taking over the role of the heart and hustle of our team,” said Greeley. “Last year she did it with her play on the court. She took the next step of understanding there are other opportunities to lead. She has proven to be a great leader in our program.”

 The range Swormstedt has continued to expand and is becoming one of the better players at getting to the rim and creating opportunities for herself and others. “We need her to lead us offensively and allow us to operate in the half-court,” said Greeley. 

 Although only a sophomore, Swormstedt could take a very big jump in year two. “Having Macy on your team allows you to compete every night,” said Greeley. “She never takes practice or a game off. That expectation of excellence is apparent every single day.”

 The lone senior Ashlynn Deluca returns as the most experienced varsity player on the roster. “She is working hard to become the brains of our team and lead the younger kids,” said Greeley. “She lives and sleeps basketball.” 

 Deluca is a good pairing with Swormstedt in the backcourt with the floor spacing and playmaking she can provide. “She is going to be the player that allows us to be successful,” said Greeley. “As Ashlynn goes we will go.”

 Mekhia Burton brings physicality and toughness to the court every night, and that energy fuels Laconia.  

 “Mekhia really came on at the end of last year,” said Greeley. “If you saw her the ladder parts of last season, she become our vocal leader on both ends of the court. We know when she gets going we get going.”

 Burton become a true defensive anchor for this team and was key in Laconia going as far as they did last season. “She communicates in what she sees on the backline,” said Greeley. “We need her to control the boards and limit other teams' possessions.” 

 Her low post threat opens a lot of shooting lanes for Swormstedt and Deluca and adds another layer to what Laconia can do offensively. 

 Maddy Mousseau gave a great spark for the Sachems of the bench last season and now will get consistent starter minutes. 

 Renee Bergeron is in line for a bigger role this season. “When she decides to excrete herself she can do good things,” said Greeley. 

 The bench will be young and inexperienced, and Layla Sanchez and Sydnee Hann could be great boosts as role players. “We are trying to incorporate them into our game plan,” said Greeley. 

 It was no easy road getting to the Final Four last season, and even with all that, they were one of the only teams in Division II to give Hanover a run for their money. 

 This year will be about building the depth back up, and competing on both ends of the floor. “If we don’t play well, we will need to rely on our energy and effort to win us games,” said Greeley. “We will appreciate the bumps we take along the way. We want to give ourselves the best opportunity to compete in the second season.” 

 Things took a very sudden and quick turn when one of the best players in the state and the preseason favorite for Player of the Year Stella Galanes went down with a season-ending injury in the preseason for Hanover. 

 “The kids are in shock and still trying to process,” said head coach Dan O’Rourke. “Everyone faces adversity in their lives. This is an opportunity to come together and bond and become stronger as a team.” 

 Gallanes will still have a great impact on this group from the sidelines and will be an integral part that goes into reshaping the game plan for this season with the great IQ she has for the game and the knowledge she has of the division. 

 “I think we are in a reprocessing stage,” said O’Rourke. “We are a program built on a team concept. We lost the best player in the state, but we have a lot of individual players that collectively can be stronger as a whole.” 

 It will be a change in roles for a lot of players, especially Sydney McLaughlin, who was a terrific complimentary scorer for this group last season, and now becomes the floor general for the Bears. 

 “She will need to have a stronger offensive mindset,” said O’Rourke. “She will not be able to make up everything Stella brought to the team, we will need to do it as a whole.” 

 McLaughlin is still primed for a breakout season, and will now have the ball in her hands a bit more and have the opportunity to create for herself and others. 

 Nina Sablan and Amina Ajwang have been strong role players for Hanover and get an opportunity for a bigger role this season. 

 “They have been working hard the last two to three years,” said O’Rourke. “Amina was in a supportive role last season. Nina was brought to varsity as a sophomore last season. She didn’t see a lot of minutes in our bigger games but still got a lot of floor time. A lot will be expected of them.” 

 Elena Mierke is viewed as a top defender for Hanover. “She is really quick and has been in that role for us,” said O’Rourke. “She can also run the floor and has a nice shot.” 

 Newcomers Sophia Costa and Dylan Simpkins had really good summers, especially during the games they played in upstate New York, and should be able to contribute this season. 

 Bella Hunt has a knack for scoring the basketball and Erin Kirkpatrick brings a lot of energy and life to the group. 

 The one to keep an eye on will be Claire Starosta. “We have high expectations for her coming into the season,” said O’’Rourke. “She could be a sleeper by year's end and could be a major contributor to this team.” 

 While things have changed in the blink of an eye for this team, this is still a group that can compete with the best in Division II and can still be there standing at the end when things are all said and done. 

 “The way I look at this team, we may have the opportunity to grow more than any team I have coached,” said O’Rourke. “We will struggle some over the next several weeks as kids adjust, but we have a strong nucleus and a lot of talented kids that over the course of the season will continue to improve.” 

John Stark came onto the scene as a real threat in Division II last season and should be in the same conversation this year as well. 

 Tiffany Lewis takes over as head coach for the Generals and returns the entire roster from last season’s 11-7 squad. “I am looking forward to building on the season we had last year,” said Lewis. 

 Junior Eleanor Giradet became an all-state level player as only a sophomore and is now a known name in the division. “She is very composed when she is on the floor,” said Lewis. “She is going to be a huge threat for us this year.” 

 Giradet has become a mismatch for many, with her ability to control the paint with her height but can also step back onto the perimeter and hurt you from deep. “You can’t step off her,” said Lewis. “She can drive it as well. I am looking forward to seeing how she can build off last year.” 

 Abby Duclos started to come into her own at the end of last season. “She really started to break out of her shell,” said Lewis. 

 Duclos was starting to score more in double digits over the last four to five games. Her shot has been coming along and her finishing skills are much improved. 

 Giradet and Duclos complement each other well and should be a great one-two punch for John Stark. “That duo will be big for us,” said Lewis. 

 Senior Meghan Mefford brings leadership and strong guard play to the Generals. “She is a huge defensive threat for us,” said Lewis. “We can rely on her to get stops and she can also shoot.” 

 Emma Dobbins gives this group another dimension of true size. “Emma is a really smart player,” said Lewis. “We should be able to box out a lot of teams with her size. She can also finish around the basketball well.”

 John Stark should be well-rounded with the depth they have on the perimeter and block, and the unselfishness of this team is what will make them stand out. 

 Milford was the surprise of Division II last season. With the talent they return this season, they shouldn't be sneaking up on anyone. 

 The opening night win the Spartans picked up over Plymouth last season snapped a 34-game losing streak. It has been a long road, but lots of progress has been made. 

 Everyone returns to head coach Michael Davidson's squad. sophomores LuLu Maguire and Avery Fuller led the team in scoring last season and should be yet again a great one-two punch for this group.

 Senior captains Bailey Johnson, Kate Hansen, and Addison Hopkins have been through the ups and downs with this program, and to see the success they had last year was much deserved. The leadership they can bring to this group will be meaningful. 

 Ellie Nassy saw productive minutes as a sophomore and rounding out this group is Claire Cote, Addyson Pare, Julianna DaLuz, and freshman Shea Hansen who will get some run as a freshman. 

 "There is a lot of promise and some high expectations for this year's team, but it won't be easy," said Davidson. "I think we surprised a few teams last year after going so long without a win, but we won't be surprising anyone this year." 

 Coming in as a known commodity will be a different feel for this group, especially still being so young, but they will be up for the challenge. "We don't want to focus on anything right now except our season opener," said Davidson. 

 “We ended up ninth but we hope we can get in the top eight this year,” said Lewis. “We want to make a deep run in the playoffs. As long as we play team basketball, we should be able to make a run.” 

 After a 10-8 finish and a first-round exit, Pelham is looking to get back into the top eight this season. 

 Head coach Bob Shepard is excited about the group he returns to and feels they can be competitive throughout the year. “I think we can be in the middle of the pack,” said Shepard. 

 Jasmine Becotte burst onto the scene as a sophomore, earning first-team all-state honors. The wing can do it all for the Pythons, and her junior year should be an even bigger site to see. 

 “I expect her to have an impact in Division II,” said Shepard. “I am not looking for her to just be a leader in scoring, but be a leader of the team.” 

 Becotte has a great first step and the decision-making she has at her age is advanced. The three-level scorer and versatile defender will make an impact on both ends of the floor. Her value to Pelham is as important as ever. 

 Senior captain Abby McFarland returns much improved to the starting lineup. “She brought her ball-handling skills together,” said Shepard. “Defensively she is terrific for us.” 

 Junior Sophia Joncas will be a force to be reckoned with defensively. “She is our defensive ace and a rebounding machine,” said Shepard. “She can also hit the three and is effective as anyone running the court.” 

 Lindsey Butler takes her skills from the soccer field onto the court this winter, joining the team for the first time in her high school career. “She is a very gifted passer and can play defense for us,” said Shepard.”She is a terrific athlete and brings that championship spirit from soccer.” 

 Freshman Grace Riley brings a great offensive arsenal to the Pelham lineup. “She will have a good impact on the team,” said Shepard. “She is a deep threat and a threat to drive to the hoop. Jasmine has taken her under wing.” 

 Pelham has the talent to compete in this division, but they will need to have more of a consistent showing this season. “The kids have really come along,” said Shepard. “I think we can challenge for a title.”

 Hollis-Brookline returns four seniors and a solid amount of their core from last season's quarterfinal team, which excites head coach Bob Murphy for the season ahead. 

 “What I am excited about most is we have the height I have never had before,” said Murphy. “I think we have a good rotation to have a lot of fun with this year. Any of our top five can bring the ball up the floor. That will help our ability to drive to the basket and break pressure.” 

 The biggest loss for the Cavaliers is graduating all-state guard Elisabeth Stapelfeld. “The first thing I said to the girls is we had a girl average 21.6 points per game, we have to work to divide that out,” said Murphy. “Everyone has to score this year. If you get more people scoring you’re more difficult to cover.” 

 Cheyenne Colbert, who is committed to Wheaton College for basketball, should be a focal point for Hollis-Brookline. 

 Colbert will play alongside Camryn Dunn on the block. “They will both have outstanding seasons on both ends of the court,” said Murphy. “They have good low post moves, both can handle, and they use their height to play solid defense and get a lot of rebounds.” 

 5’10” Makenna Dunn will be another player in the mix for HB this season, who is a guard-forward hybrid. “Anyone of these kids can handle the ball like a point guard,” said Murphy. 

 Eva Kelley and Daniella Allanach have both been on the varsity roster for three and four years respectively. “We have a good experienced crew coming back to our starting five,” said Murphy. “We have some depth behind them as well that can help us compete with the big guns.” 

 Freshman Brooke Bouchard will be the first guard off the bench this season and 5’11” sophomore Anika Carlson will “add to the picture backing up our height,” according to Murphy. Julia Robbins will be another player who can help this rotation throughout the season. 

 It will be a process from start to finish for the Cavaliers. “I am excited for what we have,” said Murphy. “I feel good about our depth. A small school like us, we don’t usually end up with this many basketball players. If we can get everyone on the same page we will be a contender this year.” 

 The Pembroke Spartans return just three of their top seven from last year’s semifinalist. The three who do return got meaningful minutes and should pick up right where they left off. 

 Annelise Dexter was an all-state forward a season ago and now becomes the primary option after being a one-two punch with Ashley Stephens last year.

 “She is really invested in this program,” said head coach Steve Langevin. “I named her captain over the summer, she wants this team to do well.” 

 Dexter really put things together last year. Her movement off the ball and good touch around the basket got her a lot of easy points. The junior still has room to develop and will do so in a bigger role for the Spartans. 

 “She understands teams will pay more attention to her this year,” said Langevin. “If she gets doubled she can swing the ball to open teammates. She will still get her points as well, but she might have to work a little bit harder for those points.”

 Taylor Renna found a role for herself off the bench last season for Pembroke, and will now step into the starting lineup. “Taylor came a long way last year,” said Langevin. “She was instant offense and energy off the bench. She is one of our better shooters and her other skills have evolved as well. She is ready to be a starter.”

 Kaitlin Arenella played her role to a tee last season, doing the little things and contributing in all areas, and that role should expand even more for the Spartans this winter. “Kaitlin can be a glue-type player,” said Langevin. “She can get rebounds, she can score, and she passes extremely well. She helps the unit go and gets easy baskets for others.” 

 Freshman Hailey Steinmetz and Kate Stephens will step into the starting lineup right away for Pembroke. “We put them with the group early on and they just clicked,” said Langevin. “The movement we had last year was 

 Bailey Gatchell didn’t see much time last season but has started to come into her own early on with her athleticism. Summer Pescinski is another guard who could make a good impact on this team as well. 

 Jackie Belanger should see some time as a big down low. “She has been progressing with the program the last few years,” said Langevin. “She will fight for a rotational role.” 

 In addition to the bench will be freshman Ava Strazeri. “As any freshman, she has been up and down, but she is starting to come on,” said Langevin. “She sees the court well and is getting used to the speed of the game. She has shown well in the preseason.” 

 While the core is different, there is still a lot of talent within this Pembroke group. “The cool part this year with our group is they can all do everything, they’re all scoring threats,” said Langevin. “We may even be a little bit better of a shooting team overall than we were last year. We are a little more diverse.” 

 The goal for this group is to be right back in playoff contention, and from there, anything can happen. “The goal is to make the playoffs and then try and get into that top eight,” said Langevin. “The playoffs are all about who you are matched up with. We are just trying to get there.” 

 After a top-four finish a season ago, Merrimack Valley returns just one starter and will need time to figure out what this group can do. 

 There is talent that returns, but a bit of inexperience as well. Head coach Bob McNutt is still getting a feel for the roster he returns. "As a coaching staff we are still figuring out how we want to play," said McNutt. "Do we want to be an uptempo team? Or should we slow it down and keep games in the 40s? We are still figuring that out." 

 Livie Lacasse was the glue piece fifth starter for the Pride's quarterfinal run and returns to lead MV on the defensive end. 

 "She is someone that has come a long way," said McNutt. "She is our defensive leader, very vocal. She has gotten better on and off the ball. We really need her to lead that defensive unit and rebound." 

 Kayla Smith and Hadliegh Sargeant were impact players off the bench last year who will step in as starters this season. 

 "Hadliegh could have started for us last year," said McNutt. "She is a great player and great point guard." 

 "Kayla developed well as a sophomore," said McNutt. "We are looking for her to give us a post presence." 

 Sargeant and Smith join Lacasse as the lone varsity contributors and will be asked to do a lot more this season. "Those three are the glue," said McNutt. "We are still looking to see who can provide us offense and defense on a regular basis. Those players that can do that will get the minutes." 

 It will be a good group to pick from for McNutt, who feels he has players who can compete right away. "I think we are deep," said McNutt. "But, can we get consistent scoring each and every night?"

 Annika Horne should give good minutes right away along with Kalee Keyser, Emily Kelly, Sarah Navoy, and Nora Navoy should all compete for rotation spots. 

 "I like this group," said McNutt. "It will take four to five games for us to figure this out. We have depth and size. We can go big or go small and quick. We want to base our game plan on what our strengths are and see what is best for this group." 

  Derryfield makes the jump to Division II after finishing as the runner-up in Division IV a season ago. 

 “It is a new year and a new challenge,” said head coach Courtney Cheetham. “Last year it was fun to be able to get to the final game. It was a cool experience for our kids and help them put Derryfield basketball back on the map.” 

 Division II will be a different style and brand of basketball for the Cougars and will be a bit harder without Elyse Ngenda, who transferred to New Hampton. 

 While her presence will be missed, Cheetham feels her team returns a solid core that can compete. “We had a great cast of characters around Elyse, now it will be very different,” said Cheetham. “We are well balanced. Any of our kids can be the leading scorer, have the most assist, rebounds, or steals on any given night.” 

 Seniors Christine Nadeau, Sarah Naje, and Ava Plage will bring a lot of experience that will be leaned upon early in the season. “I am really excited with the leadership they bring,” said Cheetham. “They bring an experience perspective and a passion and pride for Derryfield.” 

 Plage brings good scoring ability to the group and should so more opportunities on that end of the floor. “Ava has always been the quiet assassin,” said Cheetham. “What is so great about her is that she plays any position, she can guard any position, and she quietly fills the stat sheet in so many areas.”

 Sophomores Tia Ferdinando, Katie McCormick, and Chloe Bremberg all made strides as the season went along, and should be put into even bigger roles this year. “Now they are seasoned a little bit,” said Cheetham. “They are a year older and look physically stronger as well.”

 We saw glimpses of scoring outbursts from Ferdinando last season, lighting teams up from three-point range on many occasions. McCormick and Bremberg all saw key reps and should benefit from the year of experience they got in Divison IV. 

 Junior Jackie Connors has put in a lot of time over the offseason improving her game. “She has played a lot of high-level basketball,” said Cheetham. “She has worked on her physical strength as well. She is kind of bulldog-ish.” 

 Transfers Abby Fournier and Sam Chappell should both step into the rotation right away and make immediate impacts for Derryfield. 

 Kailyn Plage saw some time at the varsity level in Division IV as a seventh grader a few years back and now joins the team as a freshman. 

 Kenzie Miller has worked on her coordination and inside scoring ability while Brianna Sanchez Camilo should be a reliable rotation player for the Cougars. 

 “I am excited for our kids to experience Division II,” said Cheetham. “It will challenge us in a different way and I embrace that challenge.” 

 It will be a new-look Lebanon Raiders group this season, and head coach Chris Boucher is excited about the challenge that lies ahead. 

 “This is a chance for me to really start coaching,” said Boucher. “Last year we had a seasoned team, it was like turning a key. Last year we had Catherine Cole and Molly Smith and we could defer to them. We are young this year.”

 Now the team will be turned over to captains Keira Houdegbe, Sarah Belk, and Isabelle Hamilton. 

 Houdegbe is still recovering from a lower-body injury that has kept her off the floor early on. The hope when she returns is that she can make an immediate impact on the group. 

 Juniors Belk and Hamilton have both impressed in the preseason and should step into much bigger roles this season. 

 “Sarah had some time last year but played only five to six games before the injury bug hit,” said Boucher. “She has shown that she is a true leader. We need both Srah and Isabelle to be the stability of the whole program.” 

 Lucy Eshbaugh played varsity as a sophomore and will be the defensive specialist for the Raiders this season. “She is a tough nut,” said Boucher. “She is our anchor on the defensive side.”

 Nora Burns was an early Christmas gift for Boucher and Lebanon, transferring from Winchester, Massachusetts at the end of November. “She is a bit raw, but I see her being our point guard,” said Boucher. “She came at the right time, a great shot in the arm for us.” 

 Burns can be a good source of offense for the team, but also brings a lot to the table defensively and likes to get after things on that end. 

 There will be a bit of a learning curve early on, but the hope is this group can start to gel as the season progresses. “They have to learn to play Lebanon basketball,” said Boucher. “This is where the learning process starts for this team. We will need to fight through adversity and limit the mistakes of young basketball players and rejoice with the wins.”

 “I am excited for our kids to experience Division II,” said Cheetham. “It will challenge us in a different way and I embrace that challenge.” 

 Following a 6-12 season, Coe-Brown returns a large sophomore class and some experienced upperclassmen. 

 Early on it will be about getting on the same page for Joe Vachon’s squad. “We have to be able to play together,” said Vachon. 

 Sophomores Hannah Mechan and Jennifer Noni will be the starting backcourt for the Bears. 

“We are expecting a big year out of them,” said Vachon. “They are probably the best one and two guard we have had in a while. Inexperience will show itself early, but they are very talented. They will have a lot of responsibility right away.” 

 Junior Kalina Kasprzak made a big jump as a sophomore and started to garner a lot of attention from opposing defenses.  “She will be the player teams want to take away,” said Vachon.

 Kasprzak has good scoring ability and will keep you honest from most spots on the court. She will have to carry a lot of the offensive load for Coe-Brown again and should be ready for the challenge. 

 Seniors Emma Broadstone and Alexis Cowen have been great leaders for the young group. “The seniors have been fantastic,” said Vachon. “To me, it is about everyone accepting their roles, and the seniors have done a good job understanding where they fit into the team. They will be a big part of how successful we will be.” 

 Vachon wants this group to be aggressive in every game they play this year. “We will have to take chances,” said Vachon. “We need to be a more aggressive and disruptive team this year.” 

 Coe-Brown always finds a way to make some noise and will need to do so with a team effort this season. “Everyone will have to contribute here,” said Vachon. “We want to try and get a home playoff game and be a top-eight team. That will be the first step in getting where we want to go.”

 ConVal looks to build off a 9-9 season a year ago. First-year head coach Kyle Murray has been impressed with the group early on. "They are working hard and getting better," said Murray. 

 Senior captains Morgan Beamont and Jada Stevens will lead the charge for the Cougars. 

 "Jada is a junkyard dog," said Murray. "She takes charges, scraps for loose balls, and does all the good things a leader needs to do." 

 "Morgan is a leader and facilitator for us," said Murray. "She will be huge leading the team." 

 Sophomore Eva Lopez will see a lot of minutes in the post for ConVal and Savannah McCarthy should see some time as a freshman. "She is young but talented," said Murray. "We will see how she can develop." 

 The group is still figuring out how they mesh early on, but if and when things click the hope is to be a threat. "They all have big shoes to fill," said Murray. "We will play as gritty and physical as we can and we will try to be competitive if possible."

 Mike Vetack’s Souhegan Sabers return two starters and four total varsity players and the rest bring new and exciting energy to the team. 

 “We are young but have some experience,” said Vetack. “We are working on our future but can commit to this year as well.” 

 Kate Canavan will be the focal point for this group. “I am hoping she can be that number one option,” said Vetack. “Teams know about her now and will make her life tough. We have some kids around her who can knock down shots. We might see a few more wins if her points drop and assists go up.” 

 Canavan brings a wide offensive arsenal to the table, but as Vetack points out, her playmaking could be big with the number of different looks she will see from different teams. “Even if we can get just four to five points from everyone and then her scoring that would be good,” said Vetack. 

 Canavan made a jump last season and is primed for another in her fourth year with the program. 

 Hadley Coccoran is another four-year player who will be a good low-post threat. “She will be a good presence down low,” said Vetack. “She averaged three blocks a game towards the end of last year. She can rebound and score as well.” 

 Caitlin Cooper had a “good year out of nowhere” according to Vetack, and should play an even bigger role this season for the Sabers. 

 Mishka Tower is someone who does a lot of work in the shadows. “She would get a Tommy Point every single game,” said Vetack (you really thought I would miss the chance for a Celtics reference?). “Every play she is all over the place. She is a good compliment and is starting to score as well.”  

 Vetack hopes this is a Souhegan team that could be a bit deeper than in years past. “We have a lot of potential,” said Vetack. “We have eight to nine girls and any of them could be our fourth or fifth-best player.”

 Things have been starting to go in the right direction, and this year should be yet another step forward. “I like what we have been trying to get to the last couple of years,” said Vetack. “We want our last couple of games to be meaningful, trying to make it where our whole season is competitive. Whatever our best is we will get this year.”

 Timberlane hopes to improve on a 5-13 record from a season ago. "Wins and loses we should see a definite improvement," said head coach Julia Howe. 

 The core of the Owls returns and is ready to continue on the path of improvement they have been on the last few years. 

 Cassidy Powers should be a reliable scoring option for Timberlane. "Cassidy really came into her own as a shooter at the end of last season," said Howe. "I expect o see her giving us that long-range game." 

 Senior Lauren Genest brings back a great defensive mentality. "She is our defensive specialist," said Howe. "We have her guarding the other teams' best players. She is extremely quick as well."

 Leading scorer and rebounder Maia Parker returns and is primed for yet another good season.  

 "Maia will play a different position as she will be our point guard," said Howe. "I am hoping she can lead the team that way. She is good at scoring off the dribble, can defend the post, she can do a little bit of everything." 

 Sophomores Ella Lampron, Ava Stewart, and Elizabeth Trasatti got a year of valuable varsity experience under their belts last season and should make a jump in year two. "They all bring something a little different," said Howe.

 The Owls have a competitive schedule ahead, which should test this group and prepare them for a hopefully successful season ahead. "This will be our best yet," said Howe. 

 After a 3-14 season, Bishop Brady returns a year more experienced and hopeful to get back into playoff contention. “We are much more mature,” said head coach Sal Alosa. 

 Senior captain Megan Pellerin is the last member of the championship team from two years ago. The experience she brings will be valuable down the stretch for this group. 

 Sophomore point guard Payton Bryson will create a lot of offensively for the Giants and is in for a bigger role this season. “She is much stronger,” said Alosa. “Her technique on the floor has really improved.”

 Bryson will be one of the five guards on the floor at all times for Bishop Brady. “I like everyone to be able to dribble and handle,” said Alosa. 

 Hayley Cochran when healthy should add to that mix and will see a lot of time, along with Claire Jackson who steps into the starting lineup this season, and junior Mia Wagner and Morgan Casey will bring stability to the lineup on a nightly basis. 

 Isabelle Lamm will bring a lot of grit to the Bishop Brady lineup. “She loves to rebound and play aggressive defense,” said Alosa. 

 Megan Pellerin brings that same kind of mentality and will be another valuable rotation player. 

 Kimble Rose will get backup point guard minutes as a sophomore and freshman Abby Tyrell will play a variety of positions for the Giants. 

 “We are on the same page,” said Alosa. “The first goal is to make the tournament. They see that banner on the wall. Anyone can win once it becomes playoff time.” 

 Sanborn looks to continue building in the right direction with a young core returning under head coach Brian Gray. “The way the last two seasons have gone, it is nice to look forward to a season to have practices and build a team,” said Gray. “The girls are looking forward to the challenge.” 

 It will be a group effort night in and night out for Sanborn. “I think we will be a team that relies on everybody,” said Gray. “Everyone will have to play a role.” 

 Freshman Emma Gillis should play a role right away for the Indians, and sophomore Ashleyn Galant can bring shooting to the group after a lot of improvement over the offseason. 

 “We are looking for the kids that got a lot of time last year to make the jump this year,” said Gray. It was a season of growth for Sanborn, but a good amount of girls return with that valuable experience. 

 Sydney O’Toole and Allie Bezanson developed into lead guards for this group and will be confident players in the backcourt for Sanborn. 

 Ashley DiRienzio has shown a willingness to get to the basket and has put the time in over the offseason. The same can go for Brooke Hanson, who brings great energy on the defensive end. 

 Tessa Donigian brings a lot of grit to the Sanborn defense. “She will make you work,” said Gray. “She will play the other team's top player every night for us.” 

 Kylie Thompson brings good shooting on the outside and Maya Thompson has an IQ for the game, and Gray expects a good season out of her. 

 There is one main goal for Sanborn this season, establish an identity. “We aren’t the tallest, we aren’t the fastest, but we will not make it easy for anybody. We will make you work.” 

 With that mentality, Sanborn hopes to get back to playoff contention this season and make strides in all areas of their game. “We are looking at every possession and every game looking to get better,” said Gray. “We want to be that upset underdog type of team. We’re embracing that mentality.” 

 Plymouth has a talented underclassmen group competing for varsity minutes and an experienced group of juniors and seniors that will be ready from day one. 

 Head coach Brittany Lucas likes the group that returns and the familiarity they have with the system. “We are sticking to our defensive identity and pushing that,” said Lucas. “Our girls can click and work together as a unit through our team defense.” 

 Senior Maggie Boyd returned to the program last season and should have a big impact for the Bobcats. “She is a true floor general for our team,” said Lucas. “She holds our team where we need to be and keeps our energy and tempo up.” 

 Kerry Merryfield has been seeing varsity minutes since she was a freshman and has shown great maturity this season. 

 Sam Sanborn will step into a lead guard position after spending time on the low block, a role she should be able to flourish in. Kiara Brown will be a post that can have a big impact with her strength. 

 “The tempo of our game is shifting,” said Lucas. “Our goal is to be a team and come together. In the highs and lows, we want to grow as a Lady Bobcat family.” 

 Kingswood returns a young roster that looks to take a step in the right direction. “Working hard is an understatement,” said first-year head coach Elizabeth McLaughlin. “We’ve been working on developing confidence with this group.” 

 Senior Kayden Hobbs has stepped into a bigger role this season. “She has seamlessly filled a key leadership role for us,” said McLaughlin. 

 Sophomore Madison Eaton has become someone that “naturally the team trusts,” according to McLaughlin. “Her defensive grit and hustle is contagious throughout the team.”

 More Davey and Heidi Royer will contribute on both ends of the floor while freshmen Mackenzie Bozert and Kalyan Blastenburger will challenge for rotation minutes from the jump. 

 “I want these girls to show up and believe they can win,” said McLaughlin. “I know they can compete. We are all excited to play and hopefully get some wins this season.”

 

Pre-Season First Team All-State

Jasmine Becotte of Pelham

Alex Larabee of Bow 

Sydnie Chin of Kennett

Macy Swormstedt of Laconia 

Eleanor Giradet of John Stark

 

Pre-Season Second Team All-State

Annelise Dexter of Pembroke

Mekhia Burton of Laconia

Juliette Tarsa of Bow

Cheyenne Colbert of Hollis-Brooklin

Sydney McLaughlin of Hanover

Players to watch: Kate Canavan of Souhegan, Kaley Goodhart of Kennett, Lulu Maguire and Avery Fuller of Milford, Kalina Kasprzak of Coe-Brown, Kaitlin Arenella and Taylor Renna of Pembroke, Lyndsey and Bella LaPerle of Bow, Ashlyn Deluca of Laconia, Tia Ferdinando and Ava Plage of Derryfield, Abby McFarland and Sophia Joncas of Pelham, Morgan Beamont of ConVal, and Maia Parker of Timberlane