Thursday Thoughts is back and things are starting to come to form in all four divisions. 

 Next week we will have our mid-season snapshots for Division III and IV and the following week we will have snapshots for Division II and I. 

 While we still have a full season ahead, we have scheduled our practices and games for our senior and underclassmen teams. 

 Both teams will practice on Monday, March 13th, and Tuesday, March 14th.

 Our seniors and underclassmen will go head to head against one another on Wednesday, March 15th at Epping High School. 

 On Friday, March 17th both teams will take on Maine at a location to be determined.

 Goffstown head coach Steve Largy will lead the senior team and Pinkerton head coach Lani Buskey will be the head coach of the underclassmen. 

 Teams will be announced at the end of January.

 Today's column is brought to you by our friends and partners at River Valley Community College!

 

Division I

Division I Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Kevin Gibbs of Bedford, Greg Cotreau of Manchester Memorial, Scott Blake of Spaulding, Rick Oliver of Salem, and Rob Darrell and Freddy Rivera of Concord

1. Bishop Guertin: It is hard to see this team losing this top spot. Their average margin of victory is 38.25 points and no one has had an answer for their high-powered offense. They handled a Liz-Lavoie-less Pinkerton team quite easily last Friday and have shown no signs of slowing down. Meghan Stack (13.8 ppg) making as seamless a transition as she has back to the starting lineup has done wonders for this team on both ends. 

2. Bedford: Kate Allard (15.2 ppg) has started to take over games for the Bulldogs over the last week or so. It is pick your poison with this group, take away Lana McCarthy (16.0 ppg) on the inside and let Bedford beat you with jumpers (which they very much can do), or leave McCarthy one-on-one with a defender which many teams don't elect to do. The jumpers have been falling with ease lately.

3. Portsmouth: The Clippers picked up a gutsy win on Tuesday night over Pinkerton who stormed back to take the lead multiple times. Avery Romps (14.3 ppg) is letting the game come to her and she was working the Pinkerton defense to get any shot she wants, whether that be attacking the basket, shooting off the dribble, or even shooting off the catch, Romps' arsenal has increased a lot since last year. Maddie MacCannell (11.0 ppg) has become a force to be reckoned with, and her presence inside has opened up a lot for Portsmouth as of late. 

4. Pinkerton: There shouldn't be much panic for the Astros whose two losses are to two teams right above them in the rankings. Syd Gerossie (12.8 ppg) and Liz Lavoie (20.2 ppg) really know how to play off each other and each can pick the other up on the offensive end of the floor. No Kaylee Dupuis (7.8 ppg) on Tuesday night certainly hurt, as the Astros haven't had their full rotation the last few games. They have been getting good contributions out of Brooke Benz (7.7 ppg) and Emily Leonard (5.2 ppg) and when they are complete can compete with most teams on any given night.

5. Exeter: The Blue Hawks continue to be pesky. They competed with a Bedford team that has been dominant to start and always seems to be in every game they have played so far. They now are off for the next eight days as they prepare for a big second-half stretch. This will be a team that no one wants to see down the line. 

6. Goffstown: We started with her last week, and we start with her again today, Ava Winterburn (24.5 ppg) has simply been terrific for Goffstown, even willing them to a few victories as of late. The Grizzlies are winners of four straight, and as Winterburn goes, they go. A trip to Spaulding next week is a good chance for this group to keep building momentum.

7. Spaulding: The Red Raiders have done a full 180 from last season and look like a real playoff team early on. Back-to-back wins over Concord and Merrimack have shown what this team is capable of. It seems like it is a different player each night that steps up for Spaulding, which is exactly the mentality head coach Scott Blake wanted his team to have coming into the season. Whether it is Jade Trueman (10.5 ppg), Hannah Drew (10.0 ppg), Mackenzie Brochu (9.7 ppg), or Jenna Philbrook (9.5 ppg), this team continues to play at a competitive level every night. 

8. Dover: We get our first look at the Green Wave when they take on Winnacunnet on Friday night. They picked up a good come-from-behind win Tuesday night over a Londonderry team still searching for their identity but nonetheless was a win over a quality potential playoff team. We know this team can score, Lily Nossiff (16.7 ppg) and Abigail Kozlowski (7.3 ppg) have done just that, but their four wins have come down to how they defend. That is where players like Tory Vitko (5.8 ppg), and Payton Denning (2.8 ppg) come into play.

9. Manchester Memorial: Madison Pepra-Omani (15.2 ppg) avoided a scare with injury against Goffstown, and almost led a comeback with 19 points against Salem but the Crusaders fell just short and lost their last two. With Payton Moran (5.0 ppg) hopefully returning to the lineup soon, Memorial can get back to full strength and back on track. 

10. Concord: Concord finds themselves at 3-3 after two competitive losses to Spaulding and Goffstown back-to-back. The big games continue with Bedford on Friday and Dover on Tuesday. If anything, this group needs to find a way to stay afloat and try and come out of this stretch 1-1. 

 

Spotlight Team of the Week: Alvirne

A buzzer-beating floater by Paige McKinley (12.6 ppg) on Tuesday night lifted the Broncos to a 45-43 win over Winnacunnet. 

We saw this team last week make a statement against Merrimack, and have now won two straight games. They are getting healthier and the continuity of this group continues to build.

They have a big game with Memorial tonight and a chance to keep trending in the right direction. 

 

Division II

Division II Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Phil Davis of Bow, Dan O'Rourke of Hanover, Courtney Cheetham of Derryfield, Brian Gray of Sanborn, Larry Meader of Kennett, Bob McNutt of Merrimack Valley, and Bob Murphy of Hollis-Brookline

1. Bow: The Falcon defense is even better than it was last year, and gave Hanover a lot of trouble for most of Tuesday night's game. Juliette Tarsa (10.4 ppg) can heat up quickly and hurt you on offense and can do it quickly. Lyndsey (7.8 ppg) and Bella LaPerle (5.0 ppg) continue to fly around like usual and Sidney Roberge (2.8 ppg) has proven to be a tough on-ball defender. Alex Larabee (9.0 ppg) continues to be in the middle of everything for Bow. This team is very much motivated. 

2, Kennett: Kennett continues to take care of business. They had to come from behind to sneak out a 5-point win over Hollis-Brookline last Friday in what proved to be a great test for that group. Kaylee McLellan (13.5 ppg) and Kaley Goodhart (13.5 ppg) have taken that next step offensively and in turn have turned this team into a well-oiled machine on that end, averaging 58.2 ppg. Their defense has come through when they have needed it to, and now they get a streaking Oyster River team coming to town on Friday night.

3. Laconia: Mekhia Burton (14.6 ppg) erupted for 30 points against Plymouth on Tuesday and will need that type of performance on Friday night against a John Stark team with some of the most size in the division. The two-game stretch of the Generals and Bow next week will be quite the test for a team with big aspirations. The scoring and playmaking of Macy Swormstedt (18.2 ppg) will continue to be heavily relied upon.

4. Hanover: 23 points isn't a typical offensive night for a team like Hanover, but you also don't see a defense like Bow's very often either. Turnovers riddled them early, but after the first quarter, they started to settle in. This group is going to have found ways to win by doing the little things, hitting your free throws, and making your layups. It sounds simple, but those are the things they will need to harp in. Their defense started to figure things out on Tuesday and should be a staple for them going forward. 

5. John Stark: The Generals enter Friday night's showdown with Laconia winners of five straight. This will be their big chance to get a crack at a real top-four spot. How Eleanor Giradet (15.0 ppg) and Abby Duclos (11.2 ppg) match the play of Mekhia Burton and Macy Swormstedt could be the difference in a win or a loss.

6. Pelham: Pelham makes the biggest jump this week after a big win over Pembroke last Friday. Jasmine Becotte (19.4 ppg) continues to fill up the stat sheet and the Pythons remain unbeaten. This team can score, and they will need to continue to do so as the schedule beefs up over the second half of the season.

7. Hollis-Brookline: HB held a lead for much of their game against Kennett last Friday, but a 2-point 4th quarter saw them drop that contest by five. That game alone showed they can compete with the best in Division II, add in a win over Milford on Tuesday and this team is feeling good. A big tilt with Pembroke this Friday is another opportunity for this group to make another statement.

8. Pembroke: The Spartans had a tough first week back from the Christmas break but got back in the win column on Tuesday against Bishop Brady. A 30-point outburst from Annelise Dexter (17.8 ppg) was certainly needed and will be needed even more with Hollis-Brookline on Friday and John Stark on Monday.

9. Milford: The Spartans finally dropped their first game of the season and things won't ease up as they travel to Bow on Friday. They have the speed to run up and down with the Falcons, but that is a team you certainly don't want to get in a foot race with. How they handle pressure and take care of the basketball will be the deciding factor. That will be a score to keep an eye on.

10. Oyster River: The Bobcats couldn't stay out of the Top 10 any longer. Averaging 54.1 ppg, this team can spread you out and hurt you with a variety of weapons. Vivian O'Quiin (10.9 ppg), Gabrielle Deane (9.7 ppg), and Riley Drapeau (9.0 ppg) have all done their fair share in the scoring department and are a big reason why this team is 6-1. Friday at Kennett is a big chance for this team to see where they really are.

 

Spotlight Team of the Week: Bishop Brady 

While they are 1-5 they have really competed and lost a lot of close games over the last three weeks. They have a chance to get some wins under their belt, and if they do could be a sneaky team come playoff time if they can get there. 

Megan Pellerin (11.7 ppg) has really come on for Sal Alosa's team. They like to get up and down and beat you from the outside. I like the upside of this team if they figure out how to win some of these close ones.

 

Division III

Division III Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Scott Currier of Gilford 

1. Conant: The Orioles won a thriller with Concord Christian last Thursday and remain the lone undefeated team in the division. This group is seasoned, and Emma Tenters and Brynn Rautiola have done a terrific job leading this team on both ends of the floor. They passed the big test, and continue to look like the team to beat.

2. Concord Christian: Concord Christian stormed all the way back with great shooting from the outside against Conant but came up just short. Emma Tenters' size was the biggest problem for the Kingsmen going into last Tuesday's game, but they seem to have figured it out to the point of having a chance to win that one. Certainly, this group wants another crack at Conant this year.

3. Stevens: Alyssa Paquette (14.5 ppg) is back healthy and looking like the all-state player she was a season ago. Her presence changes a lot of things for this group, and they continue to trend in the right direction. They've won seven straight and have a big stretch coming up with Prospect Mountain and Kearsarge. 

4. Hopkinton: Hopkinton is rightfully in the conversation with the three teams ahead of them. Their defense alone can win them ball games. What impressed me most when seeing them last Thursday was their ball movement and the production their bench provided them. Shaylee Murdough (9.7 ppg) saw heavy pressure from the Kearsarge defense, but she found other ways to impact the game and get her team open looks. Maddie Carmichael (8.4 ppg) is a special athlete and can fly high for rebounds. A trip to Monadnock is never an easy one, especially playing a team desperate for a win.

5. Gilford: The get-out-and-run philosophy Scott Currier has implemented is working wonders. This team doesn't have many sizes, but they'll run up and down with you all night. Vanessa Flanders (13.9 ppg) has been on a tear her last two games, averaging 19.5 ppg over the stretch. They get Hopkinton next week on the road in what should be a fun one.

6. Winnisquam: The Bears can score the basketball, a lot. Winnisquam has won four straight, and with big wins over Newfound and getting revenge on Prospect Mountain, this team is feeling good about where they are at right now. Mackenzie Philippy (11.2 ppg) has come on a bit more as of late and Lauren MacDonald (19.0 ppg) has been very good for Mark Dawalga's squad. 

7. Prospect Mountain: The Timberwolves were rolling before their first loss to Winnisquam on Tuesday. They had to squeak out wins over Somersworth and Campbell, and not get a very good Concord Christian team on Friday. They'll need their offense to bring their A game, which it has for most of the season so far. Controlling pace will be key.

8. Kearsarge: Offense is the Cougar's kryptonite so far this season. They have good individual and team defenders, but getting the ball in the basket will be key the next few weeks. They will need continued production from Tessa Marinello (11.0 ppg), Ella Stocker (7.0 ppg), and Ava Shapiro (5.8 ppg).

9. Monadnock: The Huskies are in a slump, losing four straight. A game against a stingy Hopkinton defense is a big opportunity for this group to get back on the right track. Bailee Soucia (11.5 ppg) has found a good offensive rhythm, averaging 16.6 ppg over her last three contests. Monadnock will need a lot more of that going forward.

10. St Thomas: The Saints have won two straight and have a favorable part of their schedule coming up. Emma Torriello (12.1 ppg), Abby Rayder (11.7 ppg), and Genna Bolduc (7.1 ppg) continue to do a bulk of the scoring for this team. 

 

Spotlight Team of the Week: Newfound

Newfound has been a bit of an up-and-down team, but they have competed through seven games and have picked up good wins over White Mountains and Mascoma Valley. 

If Molina Bohlmann can get going on Friday night, they could pick up a big win over Kearsarge. 

 

 

Division IV 

Division IV Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Duane Call of Colebrook, Derek Tremblay of Mount Royal, Dawn Weeks of Farmington, Tim Haskins of Groveton, and Dale Prior of Littleton

1. Groveton: The Eagles are the lone unbeaten team left and have been dominant thus far averaging 53.8 ppg through six games. Newmarket comes to town on Friday and they will have to figure out a way to contain Lena Nicholson. Marissa Kenison (18.8 ppg) may see some time on her on the low block, but her scoring will be a must against one of the division's best defenses. 

2. Colebrook: The Mohawks might have read the column last week as they took care of business at home with a 47-14 win over Littleton. This group needs an aggressive Ariana Lord (9.9 ppg) and they got just that with a team-high 13-point performance in the win.

3. Littleton: The Crusaders looked like a team of underclassmen on Tuesday in Colebrook, but that small gym does you no favors. The North-South crossovers continue as they get an Epping team that has been competitive this year. When this group is getting offense from their defense that is when good things are happening. We will see if that continues on Friday.

4. Portsmouth Christian: PCA won a thrilling low-scoring contest against Newmarket last Thursday in what was one of their best wins of the season. They escaped a sneaky Mascenic team on Tuesday but fell last night to a Profile team that is playing some of their best basketball right now. They have had no answer for the North Country just yet. 

5. Newmarket: A long bus ride and a small gym await Newmarket on Friday. Their defense gets its toughest with Marissa Kenison being one of the better individual scorers they have seen this year. Much like last week, they need to keep this one in the high 30s if they want to walk away victorious. 

6. Sunapee: A good win against previously unbeaten Hinsdale is a good momentum boost for a big tilt with Colebrook on Friday night. Elizabeth Tschudin (20.7 ppg) has been a prolific scorer for the Lakers and is at the focal point of everything this team accomplishes on both ends of the floor. The key on Friday will be controlling pace and keeping the turnovers down, especially in a small gym like Colebrook's.

7. Epping: The key on Friday night in Littleton will be getting a strong 32-minute performance. Offensively the team we have seen over the last two needs to be on the bus up north. 

8. Hinsdale: The Pacers dropped a close contest to Sunapee, marking their first loss of the year, but that was a very good measuring stick game for a team who has cruised for most of the regular season.

9. Farmington: The Tigers got one of the best wins of the year over Colebrook with a buzzer-beating layup by Makayla LaPanne. That game should be a huge confidence boost for a team that has played its best basketball as of late. 

10. Profile: Hello Profile! The Patriots picked up a good win over Woodsville and did so with great defensive effort, and followed that up with their best win of the season over PCA. Profile finds themselves a game over .500 and certainly in the mix for a playoff spot in a competitive North Country. 

 

Spotlight Team of the Week: Gorham

The Huskies have won two straight and did so with one-point wins in both contests. A 15-minute trip to Berlin tonight is a chance for extra points and also an opportunity to keep the momentum going.