Today we break down the eight games being played this weekend in Divisions I & II.

 Our preview is brought to you by our partners at Nashua Community College, who have an Open House on Wednesday from 5 to 7 pm. You can also find more options and information at their general information session on Monday from four to five o’clock.

 

Division I

Final Division I Standings, Scoring Leaders & Gold Level Coaches

Division I Tournament Bracket & Box Scores

 

(8) Trinity at (1) Bedford

Box score from the regular season meeting

 If Bedford wins, it will be because: They overwhelmed Trinity with their depth and the number of pure scorers they have on the roster.

 The question mark for Frank Moreno’s team is the health and availability of two all-state players; Luke Soden, the Division I scoring champ, and point guard Brady O’Connell.

 Soden hasn’t played since a win over Bishop Guertin on February 17th, and O’Connell hasn't played since a win over Pinkerton on February 10th.

 They’re going to need both to beat a Trinity team that handled Portsmouth easily on Wednesday night and closed the season winning six of their last eight games.

 If Trinity wins, it will be because: They spread the Bulldogs out, made it difficult to defend them on the perimeter, and slowed the Bedford offense by pressuring the ball and denying the wings at a high level.

 Keith Bike’s team only plays at one pace, and it happens to be the same pace Bedford and Nashua North play at. They’re not going to slow it down; as the saying goes, they’re going to dance with who brought them.

 If Trinity can keep it close, then manage the last three minutes with Tyler Bike dictating where the ball goes.

 That’s a scenario Moreno’s team wants to avoid.

 The Pick: Can you tell me who is and isn’t playing?

 Bedford by six.
 

(5) Bishop Guertin at (4) Nashua South

Box score of the regular season meeting

If Nashua South wins, it will be because: They protected the rim behind Dennis Wainaina and turned BG into a jump-shooting team. The Cardinals can knock down shots with Matt Santouosso and Luke Anderson on the perimeter. Still, you need to pick your poison, and Nate Mazerolle’s team has to win the paint to move on to the semifinals.

If Bishop Guertin wins, it will be because: They held Zac Castonguay and Josh Causo relatively in check. The all-state duo combined for 47 points in the first meeting and have to be the focus of John Fisher’s defense.

The Pick: Bishop Guertin wins it in the final minute with either a basket or a stop.

 

(7) Windham at (2) Pinkerton Academy

Box score of the first meeting

If Pinkerton Academy wins, it will be because: Dave Chase ordered up a steady diet of Anthony Chinn and Jackson Marshall in the paint. The Astros 6'8 all-state center went for 25 in the first meeting and could have gone for over thirty if he played four quarters.

If Windham wins, it will be because: They were able to order up a temporary case of amnesia. They also spread Pinkerton out across the perimeter, the Jacks were making shots, and in keeping the game close late, they flipped all the pressure on to the Astros.
 

The Pick: The Astros by double digits

 

(6) Exeter at (3) Nashua North

The two teams did not meet during the regular season

If Nashua North wins, it will be because: The Titans either won the battle on the glass (Jack Peters and Jack Sullivan were terrific on Wednesday against Londonderry) and were the better team in transition.

 Jayden Montgomery likely isn't winning player of the year, but if you want to buy me a beverage and listen to a strong case of why he should be considered, let me know where and when.

 He’s been outstanding, and North absolutely believes they can win it, even without all-state forward Trevor Labrecque.

 If Exeter wins, it will be because: Evan Pafford and Ryan Luper had big nights, and the Blue Hawks controlled the boards.

 Jeff Holmes’ team is at its best when their all-state duo is carrying the load and players like Dylan Whelan, Nate McNeff, Matthew Cromer, and Kooper Marier are stepping into open looks on the perimeter.

 Exeter shouldn’t get into a track meet with Steve Lane’s team.

 Work the ball in the half-court, feed off your two go-to guys, and try to steal one in Nashua.

 The Pick: The Titans knock out the Blue Hawks in the quarterfinals for the second straight season.

 

 Division II

 Final Division II Standings, Scoring leaders and Gold Level Coaches

 Division II Tournament Bracket and Box Scores

 

 (8) Merrimack Valley at (1) Laconia

 The two teams did not meet during the regular season

 If Laconia wins, it will be because: The Sachems got out to a lead and made Merrimack Valley extend that zone defense.

 Steve McDonough’s team wants to turn this into an up-tempo game, while Tim Mucher’s team wants a low-scoring grind-it-out affair like the one they won against Lebanon on Wednesday night.

 Kayden Roberts gets the Sachems out in front; MV has no answer for Keaton Beck, and with the lead, players like Carson & Caden Tucker, and Rowan Jones get good looks against an extended MV zone.

 If Merrimack Valley wins, it will be because: They held Laconia under fifty points.

 They know they can't win a shootout on the road against the Sachems, so they will milk the clock, clog the middle and make sure Roberts has a defender on his hip at all times.

 Easier said than done. Laconia has only been held to under fifty points in a game once all season, and it was in their lone defeat to Souhegan.

The Pick: The Sachems by twelve

 

(5) Pelham at (4) Manchester West

Box Score of the first meeting

Box Score of the second meeting

If Manchester West wins, it will be because: John Langlois’s defense slowed down Zach James (31 points against Kingswood) on the perimeter and Eliel Chavez & Aidan Scott Beaulac were able to control the glass against a tough and physical Pelham team that now has all-state forward Jake Cawthron back in the lineup.

If Pelham wins, it will be because: They have to dominate the glass, Jake Travis and Cawthron will be key.

 Cawthron will need to take out one of the big three with his defense (Scott-Beaulac?), and they need to use their championship experience in football to be calm in the face of what will be a crazy loud crowd.

 The key is keeping their composure on offense; expect Langlois to take away James’ looks, and so Joe Morin needs to find looks for Dom Herrling and Peter Hemmerdinger, who are more than capable of winning you the game.

The Pick: It's a complete toss up game....I'll go with West only because they're at home.

 

(14) Oyster River at (6) Coe Brown

Box Score of the first meeting

 If Coe-Brown wins, it will be because: David Smith’s team pushed the tempo, got Connor Bagnell & Hugh Hamilton open looks, and scored sixty-plus points. The Bears owned the glass behind Tommy Flanagan and got to the rim anytime they wanted in the first meeting.

 Coe Brown scored 65 points against Oyster River less than two weeks ago and only needed four three-pointers to get there.

 So they’ll attack the rim again until Oyster River stops them.

 Also, that crowd is going to be VERY LOUD.

 If Oyster River wins, it will be because: They packed the paint, made Coe Brown beat them from the outside, which is not their strength, and they shook off what should be a raucous crowd.

 Coe Brown, Pembroke Academy, and Manchester West all are known for their loud playoff atmospheres.

 We can talk Xs and O’s, but ‘The Big Smooth’ Lewis Atkins team has to hang in there in the first eight minutes and not be left in a hole they can’t dig out of.

 Mason Tarleton, Brady Luczek, Drew Dulac, Ben Kelley, and Matthew Jerrigan were all key contributors in the shocker over defending champion Souhegan. They’ll need to handle the first wave of the crowd, settle in, and control pace to beat their arch-rivals tonight.

The Pick: The Bears march on to the final four

 

(10) Kennett at (2) Pembroke Academy

Box score of the first meeting

If Pembroke wins, it will be because: Their big three of Mike Strazzeri, Joe Fitzgerald, and Josh Pilotte, who combine for 51 points a game, shoot Kennett out of their zone.

 Kennett isn’t winning a high-scoring game against the Spartans, so they will try to limit Pembroke to one shot, take care of the ball against traps, and slow the tempo.

 Pembroke needs a good game from forwards Shondell Hadley and Adam Heldman.

 If they can get offensive rebounds and find their shooters for open looks after the initial miss, they’re going to have Kennett chasing them all night, and that isn't the Eagles' style.

 If Kennett wins, it will be because: Kennett slowed the pace and frustrated the Spartans into bad shots and missed assignments.

 Kennett has really good size and has been led by Daven Bailey, Evan Koroski, Alex Clark, and Ben Dougherty. They play a zone designed to turn you into a one dimensional offense and that will again be the strategy tonight.

 Kennett wants to force Pembroke to become a strictly jump shooting team. That means closing off driving lanes for Strazzeri, Fitzgerald and Pilotte.

 They will try and win the battle of the glass, take an early lead, and force Pembroke to get out of their offensive rhythm because they are behind.

 The Pick: Pembroke pulls away in the fourth quarter and advances to the final four.