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 Let’s talk Final Four venues…

 I attended all eight boys' basketball semifinal games, and the number one topic of conversation was the gym we were standing in.

 Division IV held its final four at Merrimack Valley.

 Division III at Goffstown high school.

 Division II at Sanborn regional.

 Division I at Exeter high school.

 Only Exeter had what felt like a true final-four feel to it.

 So how do we get back to the days when the final four felt like a destination and not the most convenient gym available?

 The changes from college venues to high schools, which have been covered quite a few times on our podcasts, previews, and weekly columns, were brought about when Plymouth State and Southern New Hampshire declined to host the semifinal and championship games.

 Both schools had hosted for over a decade, and in the case of Plymouth State and Division IV, as long as anyone could remember.

 Divisions I & II held their (boys) semifinals at UNH for decades, but that, too, was condensed to just the two championship games.

 The reasons thrown about have varied from money to staffing to indifference.

 I contacted both Plymouth State and SNHU's athletic departments and received an immediate response from SNHU. PSU did not respond to my inquiry.

 They are the two perfect venues for the lower divisions, but you can't go to the prom with someone who doesn't want to dance with you.

 Both schools have repeatedly declined, so we are taking them at their word and out of the equation for the purposes of this column.

 Here is our hypothetical plan for all four divisions, and it is critical to highlight the word hypothetical.

 I did not clear this with the NHIAA or a dozen or so ADs, so please take this for what it is; a realistic proposal to improve the experience for the kids, the parents, the coaches, and the communities participating.

 So let’s lay out the plan…

 The first deal-breaker when it comes to hosting a semifinal doubleheader is if you need to clear out the gym between games, you shouldn't be hosting.

 Holy Family and Concord Christian played one of the great semifinal games in recent memory, with Griffins point guard Yves Mugiraneza hitting an astounding three buzzer-beaters to upset the Kingsmen in double overtime.

 Throughout the late-game timeouts and breaks between overtimes, the crowd was reminded over and over again that they needed to exit the gym as soon as the game was over.

 At the same time, hundreds of people from Woodsville and Littleton stood in line in the cold, waiting to get in and missing everything that was going on in the first semifinal.

 When the game ended, Woodsville and Littleton were told it would be forty-five minutes before they could begin their fifteen-minute warm-ups because they needed to clear people out of the gym and let their fans in.

 In comparison, Nashua South and Bedford took the court immediately after the first Division I semifinal at Exeter high school had concluded, and no one stood in line outside.

 This is not the fault of Merrimack Valley, who were great hosts; this is simply a school too small to host a final four.

 We have lost our sense of community with these changes.

 Because of the Division I gym sizes, we still have that at Exeter, but it’s been lost at Division II, III and IV levels.

 ‘ Mascoma, you just played your best game of the season. You beat an 18-1 St Thomas team to advance to your first championship game in thirty-four years! Great…now please exit the gym so we can let Gilford and Hopkinton in. They’re freezing outside.’

 ‘ This might be the best semifinal game I’ve ever seen! (a voice over the loudspeakers booms in the background) ‘ Please exit the building immediately after this game has ended. Please immediately exit the building so we can let people in for the next game.’

 This all became a running joke with the parents I was surrounded by. Nothing adds to the aura and intensity of a semifinal showdown like someone telling you to get out of the building immediately after it ends and dozens of your friends texting you from outside telling you they’re freezing and asking you who is winning.

 This is not working.

 Let’s find a permanent solution. In order for a better solution to happen, you would need the schools involved and the NHIAA to help staff the events.

 But speaking as someone who has run twelve jamborees and multiple senior/underclassman games, it doesn't take an army of people. If participating schools lent a hand, the kids would get the venues and atmosphere they deserve. It should not solely be on the host schools; it should be a group effort.

 So here is my proposal, and let’s start with Division IV;

 The most prominent topics of conversation amongst Division IV coaches and fans this season were;

1. The final four venues

  2. The unbalanced schedule

 Our proposal addresses both issues.

 Quarterfinals: The quarterfinals are held on a Saturday or Sunday at NHTI in Concord.

 You hold quarter-final games beginning at noon and take a 45-minute break to clear out the gym between the second and third games.

 You schedule the teams who will meet back to back in the next round so that fans can watch a future opponent.

 For example, this year, you would have had Farmington play Holy Family at noon, followed by Concord Christian vs. Derryfield.

 Then after clearing out the gym, Woodsville takes on Profile at 5 pm, followed by Littleton vs. Mascenic Regional at 7 pm.

 The neutral floor in the quarterfinals ends the unbalanced schedule argument that tends to linger over most Division IV seasons. You also allow fans from Woodsville to stick around and watch Littleton take on Mascenic after they beat Profile.

  Now you allow true fans to watch eight teams in one day if they like, and you have all eight contenders under one roof as you did ten years ago.

 NHTI has a terrific campus, plenty of parking, and a great gym with a lot of history. They can typically seat four hundred-plus fans, which is larger than any Division IV gym in the North Country.

 Hold the games at Concord or Bow high school if it is deemed too small, but Concord is the perfect location.

 Semifinals: Ideally, Colby Sawyer hosts both games, but if they are unable to, hold the semifinals at Manchester Memorial.

 Memorial has a great gym with a ton of history, enough seating, and plenty of parking. Fans could stay for both games, and it would have a true final-four feel.

 More and more people are choosing to stay home and pay to watch these games online. The bigger gym and Division IV players competing in New Hampshire's largest city give the games a cache the tournament needs to get back.

 Championship: Colby Sawyer was a terrific host of the girls' and boys' championship games. No reason or need to change it. 

 

 Division III

 Quarterfinals: Alvirne high school

 Great location, great gym, and enough seating to accommodate the Division III quarterfinals.

 Like Division IV, schedule a break between the second and third games but allow fans to have the option to see all eight contenders under the same roof.

 Semifinals: Bedford high school did a great job hosting two years ago, and there is enough seating for back-to-back games.

 Alternative locations: Pinkerton Academy and Bow high school.

 

 Championship: Manchester Memorial

 Bring the Division III championship back to Manchester.

 Centrally located with great parking and a ton of history.

 The issue with Keene State, which has hosted three of the past four seasons, is its location. The facilities are gorgeous, and their team does a first-rate job hosting. The issue is the drive.

 Let’s look at teams you should consider annual contenders in Division III boys basketball and their drive time to Keene State College;

 Gilford:  One hour and thirty-three minutes

 Mascoma: One hour and twenty-one minutes

 Campbell: One hour and twenty-three minutes

 Hopkinton: Fifty-one minutes

 St Thomas: One hour and fifty-four minutes

 Conant: Twenty-seven minutes

 By comparison, when Nashua North, Nashua South, Pinkerton, and Bedford traveled to Exeter for their final four their average drive time was thirty-six minutes.

  I can name a half dozen people from Gilford who told me they paid to watch the game live rather than drive three hours round trip to Keene on a Saturday night (the championship game tipped off at 8 pm). That’s not a trend, that’s the new norm.

 The kids deserve as many people in the stands as possible, and while Keene State is perfect for the Division III girls' final four, where Conant and Monadnock are annual contenders, it’s a bad fit on the boys' side.

 Every school above is closer to Manchester than Keene, except for Conant.

 

 Division II

 Quarterfinals: A Sunday afternoon at Londonderry high school

 Games could run all day beginning at noon. Perfect location and has great parking. The gym is terrific for hosting our pre-season jamborees. Great fit for a Division II quarterfinal.
 

 Semifinals: Pinkerton Academy,

 Another big gym conveniently located and with a ton of parking.

 Pinkerton’s field house allows for enough fans to stay for both games and already seems like a college campus the moment you drive onto it.

 Championship: UNH 

 

 Division I is fine the way it is.

 Larger gyms like Exeter, Portsmouth, Bedford, and Pinkerton are usually 80% full for big quarterfinal games. Leave the games to the higher seed.

 Semifinals: Exeter high school is not UNH, but it is a great alternative, and if the Blue Hawks are in the semifinals, Portsmouth high school is a good backup option.

 The championship game remains at UNH.

 Now by enlisting the larger schools, the lower divisions have a quarterfinal day just as we have in the past. No school is overtaxed by hosting more than two nights, and you give these towns an opportunity to converge on one location just as we did when SNHU, UNH, and PSU were hosting all-day quarterfinals.

 

Your 2023 Johnny Zavala All-Glue Guy Team (because you can’t win without Glue Guys)

Named after the legendary Colebrook Glue Guy

Connor Hermann of Trinity

Will Mollica of St Thomas

Wyatt Duvall of Mascenic Regional

Jake Travis of Pelham

Jack Peters of Nashua North

Tj Mardin of Mascoma

Karsten Lemire of Nashua South

Gavin Davies of Hopkinton

Cam Kruger of Alvirne

Jake Bilicki of Timberlane

Sean Toscano of Bedford

Austin Spurr of Concord Christian

Ayden Cushing of Winnisquam

Jack Boudreault of Woodsville

Jackson Clough of Profile

Rowan Jones of Laconia

Alex Comire of Derryfield

Spencer Matarazzo of Bishop Guertin

Brady Kouchokos of Coe Brown

Adam Heldman of Pembroke Academy

Evan Koroski of Kennett

 

Where we picked them and where they landed……..

Division I

Pre-season Top 10

1. Pinkerton Academy

2. Nashua North

3. Bedford

4. Trinity

5. Bishop Guertin

6. Exeter

7. Nashua South

8. Winnacunnet

9. Dover

10. Windham

 

  Final Power Rankings

1. Bedford

2. Pinkerton Academy

3. Nashua North

4. Nashua South

5. Bishop Guertin

6. Exeter

7. Trinity

8. Windham

9. Portsmouth

10. Winnacunnet

Notes: I was off on Dover, who did not make the tournament, but overall nine teams finished in the final Top 10.

Note for all forecasts: I’ve been doing this for long enough to know 20% of the kids you hear may go prep, actually go that route. We can confirm both Tyler Bike (Trinity) and Isaiah Reese (Gilford) will be attending Phillips Exeter next year. Other than that we are basing these picks on everyone returning.

The early 2023-24 favorites: Bedford (even if a top player leaves for prep, they’re in the mix again), Nashua South (that Castonguay/Caruso backcourt is only going to get better), Nashua North (Parth Miglani is ready for a starring role), Pinkerton Academy (Jackson Marshall and a lot of new faces), Alvirne (they’re going to make the biggest leap) and Trinity (they’ll be a handful again with Devohn Ellis now leading the way).

 

Division II

Pre-season Top 10

1. Souhegan

2. Manchester West

3. Pembroke Academy

4. Pelham

5. Laconia

6. Coe Brown

7. Lebanon

8. Con Val

9. Merrimack Valley

10. Kennett

 

Final Power Rankings

1. Pelham

2. Pembroke Academy

3. Laconia

4. Souhegan

5. Manchester West

6. Oyster River

7. Coe Brown

8. Merrimack Valley

9. Kennett

10. Con Val

Notes: Oyster River’s run was the only thing keeping me from going ten for ten. I’ll take that up with the Big Smooth.

The early 2023-24 favorites: Pelham (Dom Herrling & Zach James lead the way…how does Pelham vs Bedford in the jamboree sound?)....Bow (the pieces are in place for a final four run), Pembroke Academy (Joe Fitzgerald is the only returning starter but the JV team was a wagon. They’ll be back)....Laconia (They’ll run every single possession through Keaton Beck.. and that will get you a long way)...Manchester West (Max Shosa leads the way).

 

Division III

Pre-season Top 10

1. Gilford

2. Campbell

3. St Thomas

4. Mascoma

5. Belmont

6. Hopkinton

7. Conant

8. Somersworth

9. Stevens

10. Kearsarge

 

Final Power Rankings

1. Gilford

2. Mascoma

3. St Thomas

4. Hopkinton

5. Campbell

6. Conant

7. Stevens

8. Winnisquam

9. Belmont

10. Somersworth

Notes: Picked nine of the Top 10 again, Gilford was as good as advertised.

The early 2023-24 favorites: St Thomas (four starters return…your early favorite)..Conant (All five starters are back for Eric Saucier’s team to make a title run)...Hopkinton (Four starters return for Matt Miller’s Hawks)....Mascoma (Zach Thompson moves on to Castleton State, but the other four starters are all back)....Campbell (Austin McHugh leads the Cougars back into contention)...Gilford (No longer the team to beat but with Logan Grant, Brendan Baldi, and Henry Sleeper..they’ll battle for a Top 8 seed)

 

Division IV

Pre-season Top 10

1. Concord Christian

2. Littleton

3. Holy Family

4. Profile

5. Woodsville

6. Lin Wood

7. Newmarket

8. Farmington

9. Mascenic Regional

10. Groveton

 

Final Power Rankings

1. Woodsville

2. Holy Family

3. Concord Christian

4. Littleton

5. Profile

6. Derryfield

7. Farmington

8. Mascenic Regional

9. Groveton

10. Lin Wood

Notes: I missed on Derryfield (I had them at #11), but again…nine out of ten correct.

The early 2023-24 favorites: Woodsville (Four starters return for the three-time champs)...Littleton (With four returning starters the Crusaders are right back in it)..Profile (All five starters return for the Patriots)...Concord Christian (If Brode Frink returns…)...Portsmouth Christian (They’re back to being a final four contender)...Gorham (This is the year the Huskies make the leap)...Derryfield (Three starters return for Ed Meade’s Cougars).

 

 A huge thank you to everyone who supported the efforts of our 12-person team this season as a Gold Level family or coach, a game sponsor or just with a kind word at a game or over email.

 It is greatly appreciated by our entire team.