Concord Christian made the jump to Division III a season ago, ran the table, and won a championship, marking their second straight title overall. 

 The Kingsmen will be making a jump once again, moving to Division II, and leaving Division III without a clear-cut favorite for the first time in a long time. 

 A team like Conant, who had been to four straight title games, winning two in that span, loses two 1,000-point scorers and now features a new core that will look to compete with many others for the Division III crown. 

 "Parity will be the word of Division III," said one coach. Everyone will be on even playing ground. 

 "Good health and luck may be what wins someone a title this year," said another coach. 

 In years past you could pencil in one team or even two into the Final Four it felt like. 

 That is what will make this season so out of the ordinary and so fun is that no one truly knows who the clear-cut favorite is. 

 Today, in our third of eight pre-season basketball previews, we take a deep-dive look at Division III.

 Today's column is brought to you by NHTI!

 

Pre-Season Top 10 Rankings

1. Kearsarge 

2. Winnisquam 

3. St. Thomas Aquinas 

4. Stevens

5. Hopkinton 

6. Monadnock 

7. Fall Mountain 

8. Gilford 

9. White Mountains

10. Conant

Lurking outside of the Top 10: Mascoma Valley, Campbell

*Teams that are not mentioned were contacted but unable to respond in time for the posting of this preview

 

  The Kearsarge Cougars return a sound starting five that can compete with almost anyone in the division. 

 “This year for everyone is going to be about health,” said head coach Ed Tenney. “Our starters have been tested. We feel like we will be able to play with anybody.” 

 Junior Tessa Marinello burst onto the scene last year with her size, defensive presence, and advanced scoring ability.

 “I think she will be able to dominate,” said Tenney. “She got a lot of good looks last year. One-on-one she can’t be stopped. I think she is a first-team all-state and player-of-the-year candidate if she keeps improving.”

 A growth sport going into her sophomore year transitioned her into more of a big than a guard. “She is still learning the feel of the post,” said Tenney. “If she can progress there she can get even better.”

 With Marinello being an instant mismatch for opponents, that can open things up on the perimeter. 

  Ava Shapiro will be a knockdown three-point threat and can be an even bigger boost on the offensive end after being the third-leading scorer a season ago. 

 Adara Boucher will play a bit of an undersized four-role this season. “She plays bigger than she is,” said Tenney. “She has an improved offensive game and will continue to be a good defender and rebounder.” 

 Jada Kendrigan will fill the shoes that Adi Whitty leaves behind as the starting point guard. “Adi was upbeat, inspirational, and very vocal,” said Tenney. “It is a big role to fill from a leadership standpoint.” 

 Kendrigan will be a bit more savvy than physical, as she looks to keep this offense on a string. “Jada has very good instincts,” said Tenney.

 Ociee Ilg will be the fifth starter after swinging to start the year and then getting run at the varsity level. 

 “She is coming on,” said Tenney. “She is definitely an athlete with lots of potential. She could surprise people.” 

  Miranda Anderson is someone who could step into a prominent role within the rotation. “She is an exceptionally good defensive player,” said Tenney. “Offensively things are still coming along.”

 Depth is the biggest question mark early on, something that will hopefully develop as the year progresses. “We will have to develop the ability to go down the bench,” said Tenney. “That is the key to being a complete team.”

 While the starters have experience, these are mostly new roles for many of them. “We are still finding our identity,” said Tenney. “Who is going to be the clutch player or who will pick us up when we are down? Those are all things we are figuring out.” 

 After a run to the quarterfinals last season, the Cougars have aspirations of accomplishing much more this year. 

 “I think we are right there,” said Tenney. “We grew as a team last year and were playing differently at the end of the season.” 

 “Are you going to be satisfied? Can we keep pushing the envelope and get better? These are the challenges we are facing. We feel like we can play with anyone.”

 Winnisquam is coming off an 11-5 regular season and a quarterfinal appearance, marking one of their best seasons in recent years. 

 “We took so many steps last year,” said head coach Mark Dawalga. “We are hoping to take that one extra step this year.” 

 Lauren MacDonald returns after a 20-point-per-game junior season. “Everything revolves around her,” said Dawalga. “The attention she gets makes things easier for her teammates.” 

 MacDonald has one of the best offensive arsenals in the division. She has the shooting touch to hurt you from deep, the craftiness to beat you off the dribble and get to the basket, and the size to hurt you in the low post and on the offensive glass. 

 “She opened her potential last season,” said Dawalga. “If she can build off what she did, we can do good things.” 

 Mackenzie Philippy was a reliable second option, and with her graduating the Bears will need to fill that void. 

 “It won’t be one player that replaces her, it will have to be with our whole rotation,” said Dawalga. “Staying healthy is going to be key.” 

 Sophomore Caidyn Carter posted 8.5 points per game last season and is in line for more responsibility this season. 

 “We need her to take that next step,” said Dawalga. “Caidyn can be that big-time player. We are hoping her growth is similar to Lauren’s.” 

 Victoria Kelly provides good size down low and the ability to open up the paint for others. “She really got going halfway through last season averaging a near double-double and we are hoping that continues,” said Dawalga. 

 Much like Kelly, Isabella Sargent is in line for a big season. Triniti Carter has brought sound defensive ability to the Bear's lineup the last few seasons but now is tasked with putting the ball in the basket a bit more this year. 

 Carter will still lead the defensive charge along with Sargent and Vanessa Power. “That group will control that end of the floor for us,” said Dawalga. 

 This core had a strong run last year and has the pieces for a repeat performance. “When I walk in the gym, they know what my expectations are,” said Dawalga. “They hold themselves to a high standard. This is a special group that is very committed and wants to be in the gym. They have what it takes.”

  The St. Thomas Aquinas Saints were coming off one of their better seasons in recent years and is a group poised for another run to the postseason.

 A big win over Prospect Mountain set up a final showdown with Hopkinton to decide who would be guaranteed two-game playoff games as the fourth seed. The Saints would drop a tough one to the Hawks and would end the year as the seventh seed. That would match them up with a pesky Monadnock team that would upset them in the first round.

 “I think those three games demonstrated to the girls that they could compete with anyone in the division,” said head coach Kevin Giannino.

 The depth the Saints return is a great starting point for a team that has top-eight potential once again. 

 Junior Genna Bolduc is coming off a season in which she averaged 8.9 points per game. “With the ability to handle the ball, work off the low post, or knock down the three. Genna is a rare three-; eve; scorer in the division,” said Giannino. 

 Her 5’11” frame gives her an instant advantage over many teams they will face. “Her quickness and length make her a strong rebounder as well,” said Giannino. “She will man our press defenses.” 

 Joining Bolduc as a scoring threat is sophomore Emma Toriello. “Emma plays the game in overdrive,” said Giannino. “She possesses great three-point range and has an uncanny ability to finish at the hoop with either hand.” 

 Defensively she can be a strong point-of-attack defender with her ability to get steals, making Toriello and Bolduc a good one-two punch on both ends. 

 6’3” junior center Emile von der Linden will be one of the more improved players on the roster. “She was inserted into the starting lineup late last year and has the potential to be dominant on both ends of the court,” said Giannino. “She possesses outstanding shot-blocking ability and demonstrates good shooting touch down low and from the elbow.” 

 Megan Leahy returns to the program after missing the last two seasons with injuries. She will resume point guard duties when she hits the hardwood this season. 

 Senior Captains Maddie McMahon and Elizabeth Flynn will have prominent roles once again this season and fellow senior Maddie Karsonovich will be a real presence on defense. 

 “Maddie is our best rebounder and will be a spot starter depending on the matchup,” said Giannino. 

 Amelia Anderson will move into the starting lineup this season and provide great perimeter shooting alongside senior Audrey Verde.

 Transfer Lila Anthony will see some time at the point guard position and lead the bench unit with sophomore Mia Scanlon. “They both possess excellent quickness and will lead the charge for our bench unit.” 

 The first round has been the hump this group has been searching for answers on how to get over. 

 The roster that returns this year has as good a chance as any in the past to have true playoff success. 

 After a Final run a season ago, the Stevens Cardinals return some key depth and also some strong youth. 

 “It is going to be more of a process this year,” said head coach Steve Condon. “We are going to take things day by day.” 

 An emphasis early on will be the play of their backcourt. All-state guard Kylie Bundy and defensive specialist Isabella Bovell will look to lead this team. 

 Bundy averaged 16.3 points per game last season and her offensive arsenal continues to improve, making her one of the best guards the division has to offer. 

 “I think it will be a lot of getting the ball in her hands,” said Condon. “She can create or get shots for herself. The next big step is going to be continuing to learn how to make the right play. We need her to trust her teammates and continue to build their confidence up.” 

 As for Bovell, she is one of the best on-ball defenders and has the ability to take the best player out of games. 

 “Defensively we know what she is going to bring every night,” said Condon. “She has a motor like no one I have ever coached before. This year, we need her to look for her shot a bit more.” 

 Stretching the floor and providing another reliable option will be crucial, especially with opposing defenses focused on Bundy. 

 “This year will be about adding more range for her,” said Condon. “She reads the floor well and gets us to a good shot from a great shot. You can tell the experience has paid off.” 

 Lily Eagan excelled at the JV level last season and now has the opportunity to be a ball-handler at the varsity level.

 “She has worked on her game,” said Condon. “Lily is a great communicator and is stepping up to that next level.”

 Audrina Pelton filled big shoes in the postseason when forward Tara Sullivan went down with injury and now has the opportunity to be the primary big for the Cardinals. 

 “Down low she is tough to get around,” said Condon. “We need to get her in the right place at the right time offensively. She put in the work this summer to do just that.”

 With Sullivan and all-state forward Alyssa Paquette, the Cardinals could use their size to bog teams down and utilize an effective inside-out offensive game plan. This season won’t be the same story.

 “It will be more pace this year,” said Condon. “We want to get more shots rather than slow things down and run heavy sets.”

 While there will be new faces in new roles this year, this is a group that has valuable experience from a season ago and should be able to compete in a division that has no clear favorite. 

 “It will be about court time, chemistry, and continuing to build basketball IQ,” said Condon. “If we can get comfortable with one another good things can happen.”

 Mike Mahoney takes over for the legendary Pat Roye this season at Hopkinton and inherits a strong core that made a Final Four run a season ago.

 The Hawks graduated eight from last year’s squad with three returners coming back to go along with a solid core of freshmen and sophomores. 

 “We are starting fresh but that has been good,” said Mahoney. “As a new coach with a new system and new terminology, it is a good time to turn over where we are all starting on the same page.” 

 All-state guard Shaylee Murdough returns as the leader of this team in her junior season. From handling the ball, looking to score first while also being a playmaker, and guarding the opposing team’s best player, Murdough will be tasked with a lot.

 “We know teams are going to focus on her,” said Mahoney. “She will have to put in the work this year, and I know she will. She wants the ball and tends to deliver when she has it.”

 Lizz Holmes and Sydney Westover will step into larger roles as upperclassmen. “We expect them to do more on both ends of the floor this year,” said Mahoney. 

 Holmes was valuable off the bench last season and provided a spark when needed. “Lizz provides good versatility,” said Mahoney. “She has size, can handle, step out and hit shots, and is a good defender. She will see the floor a lot more this season.” 

 Westover is someone who started to figure things out a bit more as the season went along and could break out for the Hawks. 

 “The expectation is for her to take that next step,” said Mahoney. “She is great at asking questions and is always looking to get better. She is a strong rebounder and good at playing and defending the post on both ends.” 

 Both provide size and stability on the inside and should help Hopkinton control the glass on a nightly basis. 

 Seniors Keegan St. Cyr and Katie Brown have come back out to join the team and should contribute right away. 

 “They are two athletic kids that give 100 percent each time out there,” said Mahoney. “They take pride in the little things, especially with their defensive effort and hustle. Playing on that end of the floor and getting out in transition is where they can help us.” 

 The athleticism as a whole for this team is something they can rely on, on a nightly basis. “We want to press and play uptempo. We want to play to those strengths,” said Mahoney.

 While the depth of the senior class they had last year will be missed, the Hawks have good foundational pieces that return. The emergence of the underclassmen throughout the season could be a huge advantage if things pan out the way Mahoney hopes they do. 

 “I know the expectation at Hopkinton,” said Mahoney. “The one thing I will never question is this team’s work ethic. Everyone is buying into what we are doing. I expect us to get better as the season goes along and be a competitive team.”

 After a 9-9 regular season and yet another trip to the quarterfinals, the Monadnock Huskies will look to continue that success with head coach Rob Colbert taking over the team.

 A strong core returns, but the loss of all-state guard Bailee Soucia and forward Ella Santa, who are sidelined with ACL injuries, will be a hurdle they will look to get around quickly. 

 “For us, we are re-configuring who we are,” said Colbert. “It is going to be a race to the end this year. It will be about who can improve throughout the year the most.”

 Shaylee Branon was the second-leading scorer being Soucia last season and should take over as the primary option for the Huskies. 

 “She is a do-it-all type of player,” said Colbert. “She can shoot, guard, and play physically. We know she will be on the opposing team’s scouting reports.”

 Regan Kidney can provide reliability at the forward spot. “She has gotten better and better,” said Colbert. “We will need her to pick up the scoring load this season.”

 Marlee Carrol-Clough started to show flashes before getting injured during her freshman campaign. Now healthy, the sophomore guard could be a big boost to the Husky lineup.

 “We are looking for her to take Bailee’s spot as the point guard,” said Colbert. “She can provide some scoring juice from distance.”

 Cainen Avery was on the 2022 championship team as a freshman and took last season off. She now returns to a big role to fill within the rotation. 

 “She is still knocking the rust off a bit, but she is a really smart and tough player,” said Colbert. “She can score from at least two levels. We will need that spark from her.” 

 Defensively Monadnock is always atop the division, and that is something they will lean on even more this season. 

 “We will have to win on that end,” said Colbert. “We have to guard, turn people over, and get easy buckets in transition.” 

 Playing with pace and getting out in transition will be an area this team can thrive in. “We want to make teams uncomfortable,” said Colbert.

 This is never a team that can be slept on. They always seem to be playing their best basketball late in the season, and that is the goal once again this year. 

 “We want to be in the conversation come playoff time,” said Colbert. “If we can develop some of the younger players that will help. We have a great group. They have put in the work. You can tell this matters to them.”

  This season should be an even bigger step for a young and up-and-coming Fall Mountain Wildcats program. 

 “Last year was a total investment,” said head coach Matthew Baird-Torney. “That experience was invaluable to us. We created a lot of depth by having to play eight freshmen on a nightly basis.”

 While optimism fills the air for this team, two key losses have already taken place over the summer. All-state guard Clara Stewart and center Riley Beckwith will be out for the season with injuries. 

 Mariella Tsitsonis, who missed most of last season and was primed for a big year, will also be sidelined for the year with an ankle injury.

 “From a defensive standpoint, Clara was as good as it gets,” said Baird-Torney. “Riley started to put it together last season.”

 Despite the adversity, the Wildcats were able to win the Keene Summer League, which was a big boost of confidence. 

 “We started to look better and better as the summer went on,” said Baird-Torney. “We saw no drop off in our defense, which started to look like the Fall Mountain of old last season. We saw confident players showing up this summer.” 

 Sophie Grillone is primed for a breakout season at the point guard position. “It is near impossible as a freshman to come in and not have experience around you to run the show,” said Baird-Torney. “We saw a different player this summer.” 

 The crafty guard has the keys to the offense with her vision, IQ, and more confident offensive game coming into this season. 

 “She has a good grasp of where the ball needs to go,” said Baird-Torney. “She is a player that can take you off the dribble now and if you double she can find the open player. She was a beast going to the basket this summer.” 

 Without Stewart by her side things could be difficult at times, but the jump this group as a whole has taken gives Baird-Torney confidence heading into the season. 

 “Clara has a lot of confidence in the players around her as the point guard,” said Baird-Torney. “It was someone new leading us in scoring every game this summer. We want to be a team that finds the hot hand and doesn’t have to rely on the best player having their best game.” 

 Abby Jarvis is someone who could provide a scoring punch on a nightly basis. “When you see her shot you can see the potential,” said Baird-Torney. “It took her a while to get used to the speed she needed to get her shot off. Now it will be about knocking down shots in the flow of the offense.” 

 Madissyn Wilke missed most of the season due to illness last year and now as a senior will play a big role. 

 “Everything has started to fall into place for her,” said Baird-Torney. “She brings a shot-blocking presence and is a great passer out of the post, finding cutters or kicking it out. She will make it tough for teams to figure out where to put their defensive resources.” 

 Kelsey Fillion started every game last season and showed more of a knack for scoring the ball this summer. 

 “She was always showing up on film last year,” said Baird-Torney. “All of sudden she had this outburst-scoring wise in summer league. From three she was deadly and leaked out in transition very well. She has the confidence to go out and do those things now, and her teammates have all the confidence in her.” 

 This group does not look like the 4-12 group team they were a season ago. “What a difference a year makes,” said Baird-Torney. “We took a deep breath after last season. We did a lot of good things. With the way we get after it, I would have to put us in the mix at some point.” 

  After an 11-7 regular season, the Gilford Golden Eagles are hoping to use their depth to their advantage.

 “I am excited for our group,” said Scott Currier. “They are incredibly coachable and smart kids that want to get better.” 

 The loss of Vanessa Flanders will change things a bit, but the team can make up for her absence collectively. 

 “Things will be more by committee this year,” said Currier. “We are very fortunate that we have an athletic group.” 

 Getting out and running was an emphasis all of last season, and leading that charge will be junior Olivia Keenan. 

 “I think what we are starting to see with her is a maturity in the sense of knowing where things are supposed to go,” said Currier. “She has had two full seasons at the varsity level and is starting to anticipate things quicker.” 

 Defensively she can be assigned to top guards around the division and has the knack of getting in the passing lanes and scoring in transition. 

 Senior Ryan Guyer will run the Golden Eagle offense. “She is another one who we are pushing to be more vocal,” said Currier. “She is a ball player. This is her sport.” 

 Looking to score first this year is something Guyer will need to improve upon, but a task Currier feels she can excel with. 

 “We need her to be the one that makes plays for herself and others,” said Currier. “She is incredibly bright on and off the floor.”

 Mya Shepard will take over the starting center spot this season. “She had a fantastic summer,” said Currier. “She has really taken the opportunity in front of her.” 

 Being more physical and asserting herself in the paint has been a rather big development for Gilford. 

 “She learned a lot from Margarett Cummings last year,” said Currier. “She was physical, competitive, and talked a lot. We also played some bigger teams this summer who pushed her around and she started pushing back.” 

 The all-state soccer midfielder Millie Caldon will take her talents to the hardwood and be hounded on the defensive end. 

 “She is a defensive player that at the end of the year should be talked about with how she plays,” said Currier. 

 Lianna Keenan transferred over from Inter-Lakes and should add to a great pool of depth along with Leah Davignon,

 Practices have been high-level, with not much of a drop-off between the first and second units. “Having those kids go at it every day is a positive thing,” said Currier. “It makes practices more game-like, so come the regular season we can rotate easily.” 

 The Golden Eagles have always been in the postseason mix, but they also have been sitting around the eight, nine, ten spots come playoff time.

 “Can we make some kind of step?” said Currier. “A goal for us is we want to stay out of that range. We want to move beyond that first round stage.”

 White Mountains enters the season with something to prove. After winning four games to finish the season, the Spartans were disqualified from the playoffs for regular-season schedule complications.

 “That was a bit of a letdown,” said Foss. “It leaves a bit of a sour taste in our mouths and puts a chip on the girls’ shoulders.” 

 Ainsley Savage had a breakout junior season for the Spartans. The 6’3” center is a matchup nightmare for many and could be one of the top players the division offers this season. 

 “As the season progressed, the scouting report began to change with how teams needed to defend her,” said Foss. “We are looking for her to continue off that success.” 

 Ava Simpson is set for her healthiest season in three years. “She came on at the end of the season,” said Foss. “She doesn’t have as big a brace anymore and is moving much better.” 

 The crafty wing is a terrific pairing for Savage and should give teams fits on the defensive end about which option they will have to give up in a pick-and-roll scenario. “They are a good one-two punch,” said Foss.

 Emma Simpson is back as the starting point guard in her junior season. “She has really grown,” said Foss. “Last year to this year has been a big difference. She has earned the respect of her teammates.” 

 The junior guard adds a lot on both ends, especially defensively, where she is joined by senior Ciera Challinor, who is a force on that side of the ball. 

 “If Ciera can get some scoring going as well she can be a real threat,” said Foss. 

 Olivia Lorenz could be in the mix to see minutes early as a freshman. “She looked really good over the summer and has continued that into the preseason,” said Foss. Lorenz brings good size and athleticism that could catch some opponents off guard. 

 The Spartans will have seven varsity players and eight others swinging for a total of fifteen on the roster. 

 “There is good competition amongst ourselves,” said Foss. “We feel we have eight or nine players that could be starters, so we will have to figure our rotation out. The freshmen are pushing the upperclassmen.” 

 The Spartans, as they always do, will match up with three Division IV contenders in Littleton, Colebrook, and Groveton, to go along with a rather tough schedule for the rest of the season. 

 “We have to show up every night and perform,” said Foss. “No one will hand us anything.” 

 The Spartans are motivated and have their sights set on a home playoff game come February, something that they feel is obtainable if they play their best basketball. 

  Conant has been one of the most dominant programs over the past decade. Many years you felt they were a write-in to make the Final Four. 

 With two 1,000-point scorers in Brynn Rautiola and Emma Tenters and head coach Brian Troy now gone, things could look different. New head coach Devon Spirka is confident this group can keep their winning ways going. 

 “We obviously lost a lot,” said Spirka. “But there is also a lot of hidden talent on this team that people didn’t get to see yet. A lot of these girls have been waiting their turn and they are ready for the opportunity.” 

 Senior Bella Hart has been an essential glue piece to this team the last two seasons and now takes the keys to the offense as the point guard. 

 “She is sort of the emerging leader on this team,” said Spirka. “She played a big role last year and will play one again this year, but in a different capacity.” 

 The switch from more on-the-ball play should be one that is crucial for the Oriole's success this season. 

 “She has great court vision,” said Spirka. “Bella is our most unselfish player which is a huge plus.” 

 Senior Ireylnd Aucoin will be a bigger part of the rotation this season. “She is a huge spark to the team energy-wise,” said Spirka. “When we are lacking in doing the little things, she can pick that all up. When she is relied upon and given a job she focuses in and gets things done.” 

 Hannah Manley and Lola Hayes will be a duo that can play off one another. “They are both going to play huge roles,” said Spirka. “Their chemistry together is great.” 

 Manley was a starter for the Orioles and hit timely shots for the group when needed. Hayes will step into more of the limelight this season.

 Team basketball has been an emphasis early on. “The biggest change is going to be playing more freely,” said Spirka. “We need to learn to play off one another.” 

 Shifting from a style where you had two of the best scorers the division had to offer to spread things out a bit more will be something to watch for. 

 “We want to rely less on the dribble to create,” said Spirka. “We need to be able to adapt and shift. I want them to be multi-dimensional.” 

 While Conant is not the powerhouse of old, they are a team that is still a contender, especially with how even and wide open the division is this year. 

 “They are enjoying the fact that people may be underestimating them this year,” said Spirka. “We want to get back to the championship, but we will have to get there very differently.”

 The Mascoma Valley Royals are a team hoping to put everything together this winter. Head coach Tonya Young is pleased with the development this group has shown in the last three years since she took over the program. 

 “I am pretty excited with the group we have this season, especially the seniors,” said Young. “I think that experience will help us push towards a double-digit win season.” 

 Point guard Emily Seiler will once again run the Royal offense. “Being able to take care of the ball and not turn it over will be big,” said Young. “We need her to step up as a scorer this year. Seeing her step up by taking and making more shots will be fun to watch.” 

 Getting out of the 30-35 point per game territory is an emphasis for this group early on, as they know they will need to score more than that to compete with the best of the best. 

 Playing through the post will be another source of offense for Mascoma, with Leah Larocque and Gabby Pierce being two primary targets down low. 

 Larocque started to piece things together at the end of last season, something Young is hoping carries over to the beginning of this one. 

 “If she can be more aggressive and show the ability to take over games like she did at the end of last year that would be huge.” 

 Hailey Miller will bring instant energy off the bench. “Her ability to guard quicker players as a post is huge,” said Young. 

 Makenna Houston had a stellar freshman season, and more of the same is expected from the second-year forward. 

 “I expect offensive power coming from her,” said Young. “With her freshman season under her belt, the expectations are higher. We have been missing that scorer the last two years, she can provide that for us.” 

 The Royals have had their highs and lows the last few years, but now the focus is on winning games. 

 “Last year we were competitive, but we didn’t know how to win close games,” said Young. “Now they understand what it takes, they have the basketball IQ, I think that will be helpful for us this year. The goal is to make it to the second round of the playoffs and bring some success back to Mascoma Valley.”

 The Campbell Cougars return after a 6-11 season in which they were tested in many close games. 

 "We learned a lot as to what worked well for us," said head coach Hannah Neild. "We are looking to make adjustments going into this season to put ourselves in the best position for success." 

 A majority of the starting lineup has graduated, including leading scorer Alyvia Ashe and leading rebounder Kristina Castellano.

 Players will be stepping into new roles, including seniors Kate Soule and LeAnn Ramos and junior Abigail Guerrette, who will lead the Cougar backcourt. 

 Senior Haley Swanson and sophomore Kenzie Ripley have impressed early on. 

 "They have both had strong preseason showings on both sides of the ball," said Neild. 

 Guard-play will be the Cougar's strong suit and will have to make up for their size in other ways. 

 "We are very quick with a lot of multi-sport athletes on the roster," said Neild. "They all bring different skill sets to the court." 

 Building chemistry and creating culture has been an emphasis from the first practice. 

 "They are playing to each other's strengths on the offensive end and showing strong communication on defense," said Neild. "They want to be competitive in each this year and make a run into the playoffs. We are working on one game at a time and focusing on what we can control day in and day out."

  After a 4-12 finish a season ago, the Belmont Red Raiders will once again be young, but a year more experienced. 

 “We have a good core group of juniors and a good freshman class coming in,” said head coach Mike Andriski. “Our two returning starters need to be leaders.” 

 Junior Madelyn Besegal is back as the starting point guard. “We are looking for her to run the show,” said Andriski. “Her knowledge is what stands out. She knows what we expect and what her teammates can do.” 

 Getting in the right sets, managing turnovers, and making the right decisions are all tasks Besegal will have to handle this season for the Red Raiders. 

 Darci Stone returns as the team’s leading scorer after putting up 10.6 points a contest last season. 

 “Having her back is a huge plus,” said Andriski. “She can take over games for us. Just playing with confidence is her big thing.” 

 Stone’s speed and handle will be a focal point of the Belmont offense as they look to return to the playoffs once again this season. 

 Freshman Bailey Perkins has stood out early on throughout the preseason. “She will probably be our starting two-guard,” said Andriski. “She can do a little bit of everything. She sees the floor well, can handle and score, and has a good IQ.” 

Junior Madison Carrier returns a year more improved as a junior. “She is an outside threat which is something we haven’t had the last couple of years,” said Andriski. 

 The Red Raider's lack of size will force them to play quicker this season. “We have to look to play uptempo and switch on defense,” said Andriski. 

 Making the playoffs was an accomplishment last season, but the hope is to go a step further this season. 

 “Once they got a taste of it, they wanted more,” said Andriski. “They know the commitment it takes to get to the next level. We want to earn our spot this year, not just sneak in there.” 

 The Berlin Mountaineers will once again be a young bunch with three seniors, one junior, and eight sophomores making up the roster. 

 “It is a young group and so far the energy has been good,” said head coach Donnie Picard. “I am really excited about this year.” 

 After losing all-state guard Makenna Peare will need to look for offense in different ways this season. 

 A good starting point will be seniors Lena Caouette, Montiana Manfredi, and Aubrie Woodward who provide good energy

 “They are super kids,” said Picard. “They are all hard workers so I am pleased with what they have been doing on that front.” 

 The lone returning starter is Lily Kelley, but she will be sidelined due to injury early on. Olivia Richard and Emma Rancloes will need to step up right away as two players who saw time down the stretch of last season and do a bulk of the ball handling for the Mounties. 

 Sophomore Emily Smith had some good run as a freshman, something that hopefully translates into year two at the varsity level. 

 McKenna Kelley will be a bright spot for Berlin. “She has the potential to be a nice inside presence,” said Picard. 

 Early on, it will be about gelling as a group and progressing game by game. “How quick the learning curve is for some of them is going to be key,” said Picard. “Things have been positive early on and I am hoping that continues.” 

 Newfound will continue to rebuild after losing Malina Bohlmann to graduation. “She did a lot for this team,” said first-year head coach Ray Curren. “She will be difficult to replace.”

 Point guard Rylee Barney returns with the most experience and will resume the role of point guard. 

 “At her size, she is as tough as they come,” said Curren. “She will not give up and take us as far as she can.” 

 Barney can hit from the perimeter and will truly have to run the offense and facilitate things as the lone returning ball handler. 

 Cora Sanschagrin is the other returning starter and will step into a much bigger role this season. 

 “She has a good IQ for the game,” said Curren. “She will have to play bigger than she is down low. I hope she can pick up some of the scoring for us.” 

 Evie Bastarache and Bailey Dow will provide some needed size to the frontcourt. “We will need them to step up,” said Currier.

 Leah McFarlane will round out the starting five at the guard spot after playing mostly JV a season ago. 

 “Getting some needed offense out of her will be big,” said Currier. “She showed some flashes defensively last year.” 

 Sophie Drake could play key minutes as a freshman and junior Isadora Roberts returns after not playing for a few years. 

 “We are going to see what we can do this year,” said Currier. “We have to take the positives out of every game and take things day by day.”

  Somersworth has goals of being more competitive this season. “We are looking to have improvement as both a team and individually,” said head coach Dan Burtis. “Creating a good environment is going to be key.” 

 Jaiden Timmons will be a do-it-all player for the Hilltoppers. “She sets a good example for the team,” said Burtis. “She is a great shooter and tenacious defender. Jaiden is such a hard worker.”

 Riley Barton will be an inside presence on a nightly basis. “She is a great offensive rebounder,” said Burtis. “She can get easy putbacks for us and also has good shooting ability outside of the paint.” 

 Freshman Kayla Gonzalez could make an impact right away as a lead ball handler. “We will need her to start the offense,” said Burtis. “Her speed is going to help us as well.” 

 This program is looking to get back on an upward trajectory. “We are looking to build a fun atmosphere this year,” said Burtis. “I want to get build up this program and get buy-in from the players and the community.”

 

Pre-Season First Team All-State

Lauren MacDonald of Winnisquam

Kiley Bundy of Stevens

Tessa Marinello of Kearsarge 

Shaylee Murdough of Hopkinton

Ainsley Savage of White Mountains

 

Pre-Season Second Team All-State

Bella Hart of Conant

Genna Bolduc of St. Thomas Aquinas

Sophia Capsalis of Prospect Mountain

Shaylee Branon of Monadnock 

Sophie Grillone of Fall Mountain

 

With apologies to: Emma Toriello of St. Thomas Aquinas, Isabella Bovell of Stevens, Olivia Keenan and Ryan Guyer of Gilford, Ava Shapiro of Kearsarge, Makenna Houston of Mascoma Valley, Rylee Barney of Newfound, Ava Simpson of White Mountains, and Caidyn Carter of Winnisquam

 

Coming Tomorrow: Division III Boys