Today we take a look and breakdown the four quarterfinal games taking place in Division III tonight.

 Today's preview is brought to you by our friend and partner Kevin Shaw at Roche Realty!

 

Division III

Division III Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Kevin Giannino of St. Thomas Aquinas, Ed Tenney of Kearsarge, Scott Currier of Gilford, Don Picard of Berlin, and Mike Mahoney of Hopkinton

 

#9 White Mountains at #1 St. Thomas

My take: This is a matchup of two teams who haven't seen each other this year but matchup well on paper. 

 The biggest advantage the Saints have had over many this year is their size with Emilie von der Linden. Ainsley Savage has the size and length to match a player like von der Linden and this matchup alone could go a long way in deciding this contest. 

 von der Linden's development as a scorer with her back to the basket or cleaning up offensive rebounds has paired nicely with the two three-level scorers the Saints have in Gena Bolduc and Emma Toriello. 

 This trio makes up nearly 85 percent of the Saints offense and no one has seemed to have an answer to slowing this group down. With the scoring punch they have, they could turn this one into a shootout, something they can do with their ability to control pace. 

 As for the Spartans, they are as balanced as they come, with five active players averaging at least seven points a game. 

 White Mountains finished the year 11-7, but went 10-2 against Division III opponents. The Division IV games they played with Colebrook, Groveton, and Littleton will have them prepared for this type of high-stakes, high-energy game.

 Emma Simpson and Harper Rowe will need to take care of the basketball and maybe try and slow the game down and play out long possessions. You don't want to give the Saints extra chances because they take advantage of them more times than not. 

 Games like this can come down to an x-factor, and that could be Olivia Lorenz, who scored a season-high 20 points in the Spartans best win of the year, 51-46 over Winnisquam.

 This game could come down to who hits shots early. Going on the road and also enduring a two-hour and 23 minute bus ride aren't factors that play in White Mountains' favor, but this team has battled this year and will be ready to play a strong 32 minutes of basketball.

 

The Pick: The Saints offense is too much to handle at home. St. Thomas heads to the Final Four.

 

#5 Gilford at #4 Kearsarge

Box score of the first meeting: Gilford 55, Kearsarge 53

Box score of the second meeting: Kearsarge 51, Gilford 46

My take: This has a chance to be the game of the tournament. Both teams won on the road in the regular season so home-court advantage isn't the biggest of factors in this one.

 Donnie Picard made it a grudge match in round one, but the Golden Eagles scrapped out a 32-23 win over Berlin. 

 Gilford is a team that thrives on the defensive end and works for easy baskets in transition. If Scott Currier isn't yelling "push it" after every steal or inbound, I would be pleasantly surprised.

 Olivia Keenan can be seen getting out for easy layups and is a workhorse in the passing lanes. 

 Millie Caldon has stepped up her game on the offensive end, averaging a career-best 8.2 points in the regular season, and is one of the better ball-stoppers in the division with her ability to move her feet and stay in front of opposing players. 

 Ryan Guyer could help dictate if the Golden Eagles can get out and run effectively. The Gilford point guard has had an all-state level season, and does a good job keeping this group organized.

 The Cougars took care of business in the first round in a game we covered, with four of five starters reaching double figures in a 62-40 win over Fall Mountain.

 The tear Tessa Marinello has been on could be the game-changer. She scored 28 points in the first contest with Gilford and 23 in the win the second time around. 

 There isn't a player who matches up with her size-wise on the Gilford side, something Ed Tenney will continue to try and take advantage of.

 When the three ball is falling for this team, it makes them even tougher to beat. Ava Shapiro and Jada Kendrigan will hit it when they are left alone, and both have shown to be capable scorers in the big moments.

 Ociee Ilg has been a player some teams overlook and the same can go for Megan Hughes for the Golden Eagles. Both could change the fortunes in this one.

 Both teams will have their big run, just like we saw in their second meeting, with Kearsarge having a 22-7 third quarter run while Gilford responded with a 17-5 run of their own. 

 Can someone win three quarters. It seems to be a 50-50 split every time this teams see each other, but if someone can be the aggressor in more than just two they may punch their ticket to the semifinals.

 

The Pick: This is about as 50/50 as it gets, but I'll go with the Cougars prevailing at home in a one possession game.

 

#11 Mascoma Valley at #3 Winnisquam

Box score of the first meeting: Winnisquam 53, Mascoma Valley 26

My take: Mascoma Valley shocked the entire division by going into The Pratt and coming away with a 40-30 win over Conant. 

 This is a moment Tonya Young has been building this program up for the last few years and it finally paid off in a very big way. 

 It was a group effort in the win, with seven players finding the score column. If they are to go on the road and do this again, it won't be one player who overwhelms you, it will be multiple players chipping in to get the job done.

 They are a team playing with house money and that is a scary thing for an opponent.

 Makenna Houston had an all-state level season averaging 12.4 a game in the regular season, and could be asked to go get her own shot if that is what the gameplan calls for.

 Emily Seiler has been the senior leader of this team running things from the point guard spot. She is the most experienced player on the roster, something the Royals will lean on in the quarterfinals. 

 The inside play from Gabby Pierce and Leah Larocque is something this group has hung their hat on a lot this year. Controlling the paint is an area this group will look to win the game with.

 Winnisquam took care of business in round one, and are on the brink of a coveted Final Four appearance, something this group has been building toward the last few seasons.

 When you have one of the best scorers in the state in Lauren MacDonald on your side you like your chances of making something like this a reality. 

 Her 35 points in the round one over Belmont certainly set the tone for this group. 

 It has been no secret that this has been a different team since Victoria Kelly went down with injury, but a three game win streak to end the year helped shift the tides.

 Sophomore Caidyn Carter has stepped into the role of a secondary scorer and has kept up her strong play on the defensive end alongside her sister Triniti Carter. 

 The Bears erupted for a 39 point second half the lone time these two teams met. If they have this type of production to start the ball game on Saturday that will play heavily in their favor. 

 The key in this one will be the same that got the Royals here in the first place. Can they turn this into a grudge match. If Winnisquam finds a rhythm early it will be tough to come back from. This will come down to throwing the first punch and forcing Winnisquam into long, tough possessions.

 

The Pick: The Bears move onto the semis.

 

#10 Monadnock at #2 Hopkinton

Box score of the first meeting: Hopkinton 46, Monadnock 36

Box score of the second meeting: Hopkinton 43, Monadnock 36

My take: We are in for a classic with Monadnock and Hopkinton on Saturday night.

 Four years ago Jennifer Chick-Ruth and I saw these two battle it out in a similar scenario. The Hawks were a top four seed and the Huskies came in coming off an upset in the first round. Brooke Carlson drilled a three in the corner to win it by one for Hopkinton, 28-27, in one of the craziest games we have ever covered..

 Could we see a similar score and game? I think it is certainly a possibility. 

 Monadnock swept the season series with Stevens and picked up their most dominant win over the Cardinals the third time around, 44-29. 

 This team could finish anywhere in the standings and still be a threat to upset you with the physical style they play and the lockdown defense they rely on. 

 Shaylee Branon has found a groove offensively since the month of January began and has been a lethal scorer from all levels. 

Branon is no stranger to the big moments, playing a key role in their upset win over Conant in the finals two years ago. If she can set the tone from the opening tap the Huskies should feel confident in their chances of another upset.

Marlee Carrol-Clough Cainen Avery, and Regan Kidney have all stepped up their game on the offensive end, giving this team four reliable scorers. Their balance on that end is a problem for opposing defenses since most lineups feature players who can take and create open shots.

 This team was able to limit Kiley Bundy to just nine points in the opening round contest, so expect similar attention to be put on Shaylee Murdough for the Hawks.

We have seen Murdough will this team to wins this year by getting the basketball in her hands and controlling the tempo of the game.

 Her shot-making will be crucial against a Huskies team that can throw you off your rhythm with the different looks they show you.

 She will also be tasked with helping limit someone like Branon who will be a focal point for the Hawk defense.

 It is great to have help defenders in cases like this, and Lizz Holmes does a really nice job of showing help and controlling the weak side.

 Her size inside along with Sydney Westover, who can change the game with her offensive rebound, will be something Hopkinton will turn to like they did in their two regular season matchups.

 Hopkinton seems to have a different player step up each game. Avery Chase is someone who could erupt for a big scoring night, Helen Yeaton can make game-altering hustle plays, Paige Boudette or Zoe Bishop can hit big open shots, Mike Mahoney has a lot of options he can turn to, even without his two starters Keegan St. Cyr and Katie Brown.

 The Hawks, much like the Huskies, do things as a team, and rely on the play of multiple players to make plays.

 It could come down which team's role players step up more. This one is going to be tight and is a massive toss up game.

 

 

The Pick: The Hawks find a way late to get back to the Final Four.