Today we take a look at Division II, which seems very crowded at the top right now, and where things stand currently at the mid-way point. 

 Today's column is brought to you by our friends and partners at NHTI!

 

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

 

If forced to pick Final Four teams today: Bow, Kennett, Laconia, Hanover

 Bow and Kennett to this point of the season have felt like locks to get to the semifinals.

 The Falcons have troubled every opponent they have faced with their fast pace style and electric defensive pressure. 

 Juliette Tarsa has emerged as the go-to scorer this group has needed the past few years and she is that player they can call upon late in games to create offense. 

 Alex Larabee is the connector for this group. Whether it be defensively or offensively, she seems to be in the middle of everything Bow is doing.

 You complete the lineup with three great defenders in Lyndsey LaPerle, Bella LaPerle, and Sidney Roberge, and that is why Bow remains unbeaten and is one of the favorites. 

 Roberge has done a great job taking good individual scorers out of games and the LaPerle twins really set the tempo. 

 Bry Szepan and Elle Trefethen have been a good boost off the bench for Bow as well. 

 This group has a sour taste in their mouths from how last year ended, and they certainly look like they can change that feeling this year. 

 Kennett has quietly gone about their business this year and is the other lone undefeated team in the division. 

 When you have three players averaging 10-plus points a game your offense becomes that much harder to stop. 

 We know this team likes to shoot it, and they have been doing so with ease early on. 

 Kaley Goodhart has taken that next step as a junior this year. She has taken on a heavy scoring load early on, and her ability to hit from the outside and get to the rim with ease makes her a very tough guard. 

 The same can go for Kaylee McLellan who is seeing more touches and more sets come her way. 

 Sydnie Chin remains her calm, cool, and collected self and has done a great job on both ends for Kennett so far this season. Her scoring ability remains top-notch and defensively she can impact the game as well. 

 The Eagles can also hurt you with their size. Samantha Sidoti and Catherine chick can attract a lot of attention and do damage on the boards. 

 This team can play a variety with those two on or off the floor. Their shooting already opens up so much, but they have a quality inside presence that not many teams have. 

 This group fell victim to a brutal schedule last year. It is no surprise to see them in the position they are this year. 

 

Despite the injury to Stella Galanes, it is hard to keep a group like Hanover out of this conversation. 

 The offense is still a work in progress, but there aren't many coaches better who can game plan like Dan O'Rourke can. Their win last night on the road at Laconia is evident of that

 The Bears have relied on their defense and it has come through for them so far. While they fell to Bow, I really thought they battled and found a way to hang around for most of the contest. 

 They will need Sydney McLaughlin to keep producing at the level she has, and maybe even then some, to have a chance at advancing. 

 Amina Ajwang will need more big-scoring nights as well and will need to stay out of foul trouble. She is even more valuable as a defender, rebounder, and ball mover. Her ability to connect things is key. 

 It will be a team effort for Hanover to get back to the semis. Claire Starosta has started to figure some things out as of late, and Nina Sablan has been really solid, they will need contributions from everyone.

 Laconia has fallen to all three of the teams ahead of them on this list, but they have the talent to be in this group. 

 Macy Swormstedt has elevated her game as a sophomore and is a true game manager for Jeff Greeley's squad. 

 She can take over her games with her scoring and her playmaking ability has improved greatly since year one in the program. 

 Mekhia Burton is as tough as they come, and her ability to control the paint against most teams is what gives Laconia a real advantage. 

 Madeline Mousseau has stepped in right away as a reliable third option for the Sachems and Ashlyn DeLuca and Renee Bergeron have been steady glue pieces for this team. 

 They made the semifinals last year as a bit of a surprise and gave one of the best teams in the state the best game they saw all year. They know what it takes and have the pieces to get back. 

 Hollis-Brookline has been through the wringer the past two weeks, yet still finds themselves at 7-2. They have held leads over teams like Kennett and picked up good wins over Milford, Pembroke, and John Stark in their last three games. 

 That shows you right there why they are a legitimate threat in Division II. 

 Camryn Dunn has picked up a bulk of the scoring Elisabeth Stapelfeld left behind and Cheyenne Colbert continues to be a difference maker down low. 

 Their resume speaks for itself. They have another opportunity on Friday against Pelham to avenge an early season loss and prove that they belong with the four teams ahead of them.

 Pelham has just one loss on the season so far and Jasmine Becotte is a big reason why. She has been arguably the best player in the division so far and one of the best in the state up to the midway point. 

 The one flaw you could say is that they are a bit one-dimensional offensively. Grace Riley, Abby McFarland, and Sophia Joncas have all done their fair share on that end of the floor, but Becotte has been the main focus. 

 That has gotten them to 7-1 so far, but in a playoff game where a team can throw everything at you, that could cause some problems down the line. 

 Nonetheless, this group has proven to be a real contender and will have the best player on the floor most nights. They have a chance for a top-four seed which would be crucial. 

 The playoff inexperience is the one glaring blemish for Milford, but they have the talent and poise to be a Final Four team. 

 A win over Pelham last week was the first signature win for a program that has done a complete 180 over the last two years. 

 The Spartans can hurt you with anybody, they have seven girls who have scored in double-figures at least once this season.

 They make up for their lack of size with their defensive pressure that can turn teams over early and often. 

 If they can get out in transition this team can put points on the board effectively. 

 LuLu Maguire has been at the forefront of a lot of things Milford likes to do offensively, and Bailey Johnson, Claire Cote, and Avery Fuller have all seen their name called and they have delivered so far this season. 

 The confidence continues to build for this group, and they will be one to watch for as we get closer to the playoffs. 

 Pembroke has gutted out some good wins over the last two weeks and finds themselves right around the eight seed with a crowd of teams with only two losses so far. 

 This is the kind of group that could go on the road in the quarterfinals and find a way to win. 

 Annelise Dexter has grown since last year not only on the floor but as a leader as well. 

 She does what it takes to win, whether it be scoring, facilitating, or rebounding, she makes an impact in a variety of ways for this group. 

 Taylor Renna has found her shooting touch over the last few games and so has Kate Stephens. Those two along with Hailey Steinmetz, who has had a great freshman campaign, present a scoring threat from everywhere on the court. 

 If this team gets hot at the right time, they can make a run here late in the season. 

 

The lower seed no one is going to want to face: John Stark

 John Stark has fallen victim to a brutal January schedule. They faced Pelham last night and get Bow next week, so they may trickle even further down the standings. 

 This group showed last year they can be a threat, and with nearly the same roster back they have a chance to be one once again. 

 Eleanor Giradet returned this season even more dominant than she was the last. Her inside scoring ability is tough to stop and she can really control a game on the boards.  

 Abby Duclos has been a great outside scoring threat for this team and Avery Geaumont continues to be reliable for the Generals. 

 No one in the top eight would want to draw John Stark in the quarterfinals. This team can play and should have an opportunity to showcase that in the postseason. 

 

Mid-Season Player of the Year: Jasmine Becotte of Pelham

Mid-Season Coach of the Year: Randy Kinzly of Oyster River

 

Mid-Season First Team All-State

Jasmine Becotte of Pelham 

Macy Swormstedt of Laconia

Eleanor Giradet of John Stark

Annelise Dexter of Pembroke

Kaley Goodhart of Kennett

 

 

Mid-Season Second Team All-State

Alex Larabee of Bow 

Juliette Tarsa of Bow

Mekhia Burton of Laconia 

Sydney McLaughlin of Hanover

Sydnie Chin of Kennett