Today we will wrap up our girls' basketball coverage with a final look at the Power Rankings in all four divisions and a look ahead to the 2023-24 season. 

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

 

Division I 

Pre-Season Top 10 

1. Bishop Guertin

2. Bedford 

3. Pinkerton

4. Portsmouth 

5. Goffstown

6. Londonderry 

7. Windham

8. Manchester Memorial 

9. Alvirne

10. Dover 

 

Final Power Rankings 

1. Bishop Guertin 

2. Bedford 

3. Portsmouth 

4. Goffstown 

5. Pinkerton 

6. Londonderry

7. Concord

8. Manchester Memorial

9. Exeter

10. Dover

Notes: The top five shaped up pretty much how we thought it would. Exeter was the biggest surprise as they were at #12 in the pre-season and finished as the sixth seed heading into the playoffs. 

The early 2023-2024 favorites: Bedford (returns a strong core of Lana McCarthy, Kate Allard, and Lyla Stein returns, and as always they seem to have a good freshman class coming in every year), Portsmouth (the Clippers always find themselves in the mix and with Avery Romps, Margaret Montplaisir, Maddie MacCannell, and Mackenzie Lombardi returning, Portsmouth should be right back in this group), Pinkerton (Liz Lavoie and Syd Gerossie are a great one-two punch and a healthy Alex White returning will make a world of difference), Londonderry (Sammie Sullivan is only going to get better and with the roster coming back a year more experienced should have the Lancers in the mix), Concord (the late season surge showed what this team can do next season, and with Delaney Duford and Aidah Smalley returning that could mean big things) 

 

Note: After eight seasons at the helm, Brad Kreick has stepped down as the head coach at Bishop Guertin after a historic run with the Cardinals. This is a team that was going to look much different after the senior class they graduate this year, but now the sidelines will look a bit different as well.

 

Division II

Pre-Season Top 10 

1. Bow

2. Kennett 

3. Laconia 

4. Hanover 

5. John Stark 

6. Milford

7. Pelham

8. Hollis-Brookline

9. Pembroke  

10. Merrimack Valley

 

Final Power Rankings

1. Kennett 

2. Bow 

3. Laconia 

4. Pelham

5. Hanover 

6. Milford 

7. Hollis-Brookline 

8. Pembroke 

9. John Stark

10. Oyster River

Notes: Division II ended up almost exactly how we thought it would with Bow and Kennett meeting on the final Sunday at UNH. Oyster River was the real surprise cracking the top ten, and injuries down the stretch plagued John Stark.

The early 2023-2024 favorites: Laconia (Macy Swormstedt and Mekhia Burton will be on a mission next season), Pelham (returning arguably one of the best players in Jasmine Becotte is always a plus), Hanover (the experience this group got having to play without Stella Galanes is going to pay off next season. I expect a big year out of Sydney McLaughlin) Milford (the big games and success the Spartans found this year is going to pay dividends next winter), Pembroke (Annelise Dexter is primed for a breakout senior season), Kennett (the defending champs graduate some good talent, but Kaley Goodhart will be back to lead the way for the Eagles)

 

Division III

Pre-Season Top 10 

1. Conant 

2. Monadnock

3. Stevens

4. Concord Christian 

5. Hopkinton 

6. Kearsarge 

7. Gilford

8. St Thomas Aquinas 

9. Winnisquam

10. White Mountains

 

Final Power Rankings

1. Concord Christian 

2. Conant 

3. Stevens 

4. Hopkinton 

5. Prospect Mountain 

6. Kearsarge 

7. Winnisquam 

8. Gilford 

9. Monadnock 

10. St Thomas Aquinas

Notes: Prospect Mountain was the real deal and was the lone team not included in the pre-season Top 10. Other than that, all of these teams were in there, but the order certainly moved around a bit for some. Concord Christian had the talent coming in, but you just never know how a team will play against new competition. Safe to say the #4 ranking was a bit off on my part...

The early 2023-2024 favorites: Concord Christian (with the roster they return there is no question they are the favorites), Winnisquam (Lauren MacDonald is primed for a big senior season), Kearsarge (the defense this team played down the stretch should translate over with a roster that will be a year older), Prospect Mountain (Sophia Capsalis and Ella Smith return to lead a high powered Prospect Mountain offense), Newport (Taylor Fellows is primed for the sophomore to junior season leap), Monadnock (Bailee Soucia and Shaylee Branon should keep Monadnock in contention), Stevens (with Kiley Bundy and Bella Bovell returning to the backcourt the Cardinals should be able to stay competitive) 

 

Note: Besides a very talented Concord Christian team returning for the most part, Division III seems very wide open. Yes, that is a lot of teams listed, but I feel like even more could have a say in being amongst that group come November. Also, Pat Roye has called it a career and finishes his tenure at Hopkinton with yet another run to the Final Four. 

 

Division IV 

Pre-Season Top 10 

1. Colebrook

2. Sunapee 

3. Groveton

4. Newmarket 

5. Portsmouth Christian

6. Littleton 

7. Gorham

8. Moultonborough

9. Hinsdale

10. Woodsville

 

Final Power Rankings

1. Colebrook 

2. Groveton 

3. Woodsville 

4. Newmarket 

5. Littleton 

6. Moultonborough 

7. Sunapee 

8. Portsmouth Christian 

9. Farmington 

10. Epping 

Notes: Division IV had a lot of parity this year for the first time in a long time and made for a very competitive tournament, especially the quarterfinals. All four teams that made it to the semifinals felt they had a chance to win it all and all were right there until the very end. 

The early 2023-2024 favorites: Littleton (this young roster was one of the top teams all year long and should be back in the mix with Addison Hadlock and company returning), Groveton (Delaney Whiting led the team in scoring in the postseason as a freshman, and Aspen Clermont wasn't too far behind her. Both return and should have the Eagles back in contention), Woodsville (the Final Four run was not one bit surprising even as a 14-seed, and with the young pieces they return the Engineers could have a chance for another run next season), Colebrook (the senior class that graduates this year was special, but the Mohawks always find a way to be in the mix. Haley Rossitto will be relied upon heavily), Wilton-Lyndeborough (don't sleep on this group. They gave Newmarket all they could handle in the first round with their physical style of play. The first year back at the varsity level was a major success and year two could be even better), Farmington (A full season of Madison Ricker in the lineup could be a big factor in the Tigers being successful next winter) Epping (although they exited in the first round this season was a major success for the Blue Devils. The McAniff twins return to lead a very motivated Epping team)

 

 Thank you to everyone who continues to support our entire 12-person team here at NHSportspage. We continue to grow every year and that is thanks to everyone's support. 

 To all of our Gold Level Coaches, sponsors, and all the players and families who come to our website every day, thank you for another great season.