With the Division III playoffs starting next week, this will be the last four-team Thursday Thoughts of the season. 

 For Divisions I and II we will do our normal format with Power Rankings for both divisions and for Divisions III and IV we will do our best guess at bracketology and quick-hitting playoff thoughts. 

 Today's column is brought to you by our friends and partners at York County 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: When you're getting games like the Cardinals had on Saturday where Brooke Paquette gets you 15, Catelyn Wheeler gets you 18, and Olivia Murray gets you 19, good things are bound to happen. This team has played some very impressive basketball and get a big trip to Bedford next Friday night in a game we will be at. 

2. Bedford: Ball movement has been the real highlight for this team the last week. 24 assists Tuesday night and 23 assists last Friday is a testament to how much this team trusts one another. Devlyn McDonald has started to come on for this team and adds yet another weapon to the offensive arsenal.

3. Portsmouth: The Clippers picked up another impressive win over Goffstown last night and Savannah Emery had her best performance of the season with 14 points. She is the x-factor for Portsmouth. If she can continue in the right direction she is another weapon on an already deep team.

4. Pinkerton: The Astros get one of their biggest tests with Bedford on Friday night and this group should be up for the challenge. Even when having players missing from the lineup Pinkerton just finds ways to win, and they're getting contributions up and down the roster. The key may be pushing the pace and limiting the number of times Bedford can set up in the half-court and feed Lana McCarthy.

5. Goffstown: Goffstown was neck and neck with Portsmouth up until the 4th quarter. The Grizzlies have had a lot of games like that against teams ahead of them. They're still looking for a complete 32-minute performance. They have been very close, and that complete game could be coming in the near future for this team.

6. Manchester Memorial: The Crusaders are trending upwards and Madison Pepra-Omani is a big reason why. The all-state guard has averaged 20.5 ppg over Memorial's four-game win streak and they will try and extend that to five when they travel to Keene tonight, which is a very tough place to play might I add.

7. Exeter: A 13-5 first quarter was the difference in the Blue Hawks 55-53 loss to Concord. Exeter has been a bit up and down the last few weeks and will need a consistent stretch to end the regular season. Wherever this team ends up, not many will want to see them come playoff time.

8. Dover: The Green Wave should have a good one with Windham tonight in a game we will cover. Lilly Nossiff has been dominant, but going into a game a denfsive-mindedminded Windham team, someone else may need to step up and get you double digits. 

9. Spaulding: The Red Raiders have dropped two straight but both games they had chances in. They battled with Portsmouth in the first half, and a 20-5 first quarter was the killer for them against Alvirne. Spaulding sometimes has spells where they shoot themselves in the foot, but they also have moments where they can dominate games with all five players on the floor. If they can have more of the good moments down the stretch they will be in good shape.

10. Windham: Slowly but surely the Jaguars have started to figure things out. Bree Amari erupted for a season-high 18 points in a win over Keene and that is exactly the type of production this group could use on a nightly basis. Hannah Smith (10.4 ppg), Chloe Weeks (8.3 ppg), and Meghan Husson (7.6 ppg) have all done their fair share on the offensive end, and when all three are clicking this team can be a tough out. 

 

Spotlight Team of the Week: Concord

HUGE win for Concord on the road at Exeter on Tuesday. The Crimson Tide sit at .500 and have a chance to make a move up the standings if they continue their winning ways down the stretch. 

Aidah Smalley and Delaney Duford have taken on a good chunk of the scoring load this season, but the Concord defense will be their greatest weapon the rest of the way. 

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 Falcons picked up a gritty statement win over Kennett 38-28 on Tuesday night on the road. Holding the Eagles to just seven field goals with the offensive production we have seen from them this season is eye-opening. The Falcon defense continues to impress.

2. Kennett: The Eagles will have to go back to the drawing board as it may not be the last time they see Bow this season. That will have to be a focus for later on as the big games keep coming with a trip to Pembroke. This could be a shootout if the pace is fast, and the Eagles have the offensive weapons in Kayley Goodhart, Sydnie Chin, and Kaylee McLellan to play that type of game. 

3. Pelham: The Pythons keep on scoring, and I mean SCORING. A 73 ppg mark over their last three games is something teams should be afraid of. Jasmine Becotte has put up video game numbers all season long, but her teammates have been stepping up to the challenge as well. Grace Riley, Sophia Joncas, and Sophia Guinazzo have all had their fair share of scoring outbursts over the last week. The offense continues to evolve at just the right time.

4. Milford: Milford keeps picking up impressive win after impressive win. A 34-32 win over Hanover is not only huge for this team but huge for the program as a whole. This group has worked hard to get to this point, and the work is finally paying off. Holding Syndey McLaughlin to just six points is a sign that this defense is legit. Anyone of Avery Fuller, LuLu McGuire, Bailey Johnson, Claire Cote, or Elianna Nassy can lead a game in scoring, it is a full team effort on that end of the floor. 

5. Hanover: The Bears have lost two straight to quality opponents in Londonderry and Milford. They have a chance to bounce back against a hungry Hollis-Brookline team on Friday night. I expect Amina Ajwang to have a big night after two scoreless games in a row.

6. Laconia: The Sachems have a big matchup with Pelham next Wednesday. They have played some tight games as of late and need a quality win over a potential Final Four threat. It will be about controlling pace for this group. When Macy Swormstedt is in control of a game, good things will happen for Laconia.

7. Pembroke: The Spartans exploded for a season-high 80 points on Tuesday against Oyster River. 25 points from Annelise Dexter, and 19 points each from Kaitlin Arenella and Taylor Renna is certainly encouraging for a team who will try and beat you with their offense every night.

8. Hollis-Brookline: Hanover on Friday night is a good test for a team with hopes of a deep playoff run. The Cavaliers have put the Oyster River game behind them and seem to be back on track. Dry spells on the offensive end have been the weakness for this team. They have the pieces to defend, but they will need one or two of Camryn Dunn, Cheyenne Colbert, Daniella Allanach, or McKenna Dunn to be clicking on that end on a nightly basis.

9. John Stark: The Generals have won three straight and will look to make it four against Derryfield tonight. Size is John Starks biggest strength and if they can exploit that they will be a tough out. Abby Duclos gives this group great scoring on the outside, and if that keeps up more looks will open up for Eleanor Giradet and vice versa. Avery Geaumont has really been coming on for this group as of late and adds another dimension to their offensive gameplan. 

10. Oyster River: The Bobcats have dropped two straight against Hanover and Pembroke and both were double-digit losses. Against top-tier defenses, this team has struggled to score. Their own defense will be the key down the stretch and in the playoffs if this group wants to make a run.

 

Spotlight Team of the Week: Merrimack Valley 

Bob McNutt is one of the best game planners in the division and that will be big come playoff time. 

The Pride still could move up or down the standings, but they are going to be an interesting matchup for whoever they get in the first round. 

If they can get a team into a defensive grudge match type of game they could be a team that may be a sleeper quarterfinal pick. 

Kayla Smith and Hadleigh Sargent do a lot of the scoring for this team and do so consistently. Livie Lacasse is a great glue piece for this team and does a lot of her work on the defensive end. 

Keeping games in the 30s-40s range will be the best way for Merrimack Valley to be successful down the stretch. 

 

Division III

Division III Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Scott Currier of Gilford

Bracketology: 1) Concord Christian 2) Conant 3) Stevens 4) Hopkinton 5) Winnisquam 6) St Thomas Aquinas 7) Prospect Mountian 8) Kearsarge 9) Gilford 10) Newfound 11) Monadnock 12) Newport 13) White Mountains 14) Berlin 15) Campbell

 

• St. Thomas-Hopkinton is one of the bigger games left in terms of seeding 
• Monadnock will be a scary lower seed that everyone will try and avoid once again 
• Sayin that, Winnisquam could potentially see the best defense they have seen all season in the first round if they get Monadnock. Offensive firepower against a seasoned defense could be very fun
• Concord Christian's 14-point win over Conant should lock them up the top seed
• I don't want a Kearsarge-Gilford 8-9 matchup, I NEED a Kearsarge-Gilford 8-9 matchup

 

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

Bracketology: 1) Groveton 2) Colebrook 3) Littleton 4) Epping 5) Newmarket 6) Moultonborough 7) Farmington 8) Sunapee  9) Hinsdale 10) Portsmouth Christian 11) Pittsburg-Canaan 12) Woodsville 13) Gorham 14) Wilton-Lyndeborough 15) Profile 

• Moultonborough getting two wins over Division III Inter-Lakes helped in the long run but this team has been rolling for a good month now
• PCA not getting a home playoff game is surprising, but this group could cause trouble in the first round if they're clicking. 
• Another sneaky team is Woodsville. Arguably playing as well as anyone in the division right now, this team will want to be avoided by most in the first round.
• This could be a much more interesting first round we have seen in Division IV than in years past with potential for a double-digit seed upset or two