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The Nashua Community College Thursday Thoughts for 1/23/2025

By Dave Haley, 01/23/25, 6:30AM EST

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Isaiah Reis and Portsmouth are undefeated and #1 (photo by Cindy Lavigne)

 We're back with a Thursday Thoughts featuring the top two divisions only. This week, we did a mid-season check-in on Division III and IV.

 Next week, we'll break down Division II (on Wednesday) and Division I (on Thursday).

 Our column today was brought to you by our longtime partners at Nashua Community College!

 Division I  

 Division I Standings and Top 20 Scoring Leaders

 Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Jaryd Piecuch of Londonderry, Frank Moreno of Bedford, John Mulvey of Portsmouth, Mike Dunham of Pinkerton, Mitchell Roy of Alvirne, Jeff Holmes of Exeter, Lorne Lucas of Spaulding, Jay McKenna of Winnacunnet and Jeff Baumann of Timberlane.

  1. Portsmouth—The Clippers won their ninth straight game, 75-57, at Spaulding on Tuesday night as Isaiah Reis led five players in double figures with 18 points. Big one in Nashua tomorrow night when they face Josh Caruso and the 6-3 Purple Panthers.
  2. Keene- The Blackbirds know how to execute late in games. They've won two double overtime games and got a Javon Massaih runner with four seconds left to beat Pinkerton on Tuesday night in a game we covered. Jamal Stanley was really tough for Ray Boulay's team, scoring 17 and playing a big role in the W.
  3. Trinity—The Pioneers were beaten 67-62 at Exeter on Tuesday night despite 26 points from Shawn O'Neil. When Trinity is turning you over and dictating pace, they are the best team in the state. When you take care of the ball and turn them into a jump-shooting team, they can be beaten on any given night.
  4. Bedford—We'll see the Bulldogs, who escaped Dover with an 80-78 win Tuesday night, tomorrow night when they take on Merrimack. Logan O'Connell has been as good as any shooting guard not named Caruso in the state, averaging 25.2 ppg in his last five games.
  5. Exeter—Nate McNeff was terrific once again in the win over Trinity, but the big story was the return of Nik Greco after being out for two weeks. Greco was tough in the paint, scoring 18 points. If Greco can be a reliable second scorer, it will open up the Blue Hawks' offense and raise their ceiling as a team.
  6. Nashua South—Nate Mazerolle's team bounced back from a Friday night loss to Windham by scoring 92 against Salem on Tuesday, as Josh Tripp scored a season-high 27. They get a measuring stick game tomorrow night at home against the only undefeated team in the division.
  7. Londonderry—The Lancers earned a good 75-66 win over Goffstown Tuesday, as Mason Paquette continued his player of the year push with 34 points. Matt Luongo has averaged nearly ten rebounds a game for Jaryd Piecuch's team, while Kiet Totten is taking care of the basketball and filling the glue guy role from the point guard position.
  8. Manchester Memorial: Good win over Windham on Tuesday night (80-63) as Christian Bilolo (34 points) and Jack Brooks (27) were both outstanding for the Crusaders. Memorial has been good all year but has not been able to string more than two wins in a row. They have a chance to get a winning streak going over the next two weeks.
  9. Winnacunnet—The Warriors extended their winning streak to four with a 68-46 win over Nashua North Tuesday night in a game we covered. (Teams are zoning North, putting two bodies on Robinson Rodriguez, and daring someone to beat them from the perimeter.) behind 27 points from Christian Chartier, who I now feel comfortable referring to as all-state forward Christian Chartier.
  10. Bishop Guertin—I'm giving the Cardinals the final spot over Windham, Alvirne, and Merrimack. Connor McGowan has been terrific, and Eli Youseff has been a consistent scorer in the paint. Will Horne's team will now face one of the season's most difficult stretches. Their next five games are at Exeter, Salem, Merrimack, Manchester Memorial, and Goffstown.

 

 Division II

 Division II Standing and Top 20 Scoring Leaders

 Gold Level Coaches/Programs: David Smith of Coe-Brown, Peter Pierce of Souhegan, Eric Saucier of Bow, Mike Donnell of Pembroke Academy, Ryan Kelley of Hollis-Brookline, Leo Gershgorin of Milford, Joe Morin of Pelham, Denver Greene of Hanover, Zach Lewis of Oyster River, Rich Otis of Manchester West and Steve McDonough of Laconia.

  1. Pembroke Academy—When the Spartans' offense is clicking, as it was in back-to-back wins over Laconia and Oyster River, where they averaged 67 ppg, they look tough to beat. We'll see Mike Donnell's team on Tuesday when they take on Bow.
  2. Merrimack Valley: Kelly O'Brien's team faces their biggest test of the season tonight when they travel to the Pelham to face the red-hot two-time defending champs.
  3. Manchester West—Rich Otis's Blue Knights are the only team with three scorers ranked in the Top 15 (Max Houde, Tevin Edmunds, and Brayden Mariano) and a five-game winning streak. Next up is a Souhegan team that will look to slow the pace and keep West out of transition opportunities.
  4. Hanover—Denver Greene's team is coming off two of its most impressive wins of the season, victories on the road against Hollis-Brookline and Coe Brown. Beckett Sobel has played very well all season for the Bears.
  5. Pelham- The Pythons earned a good 49-43 win at Souhegan in a grind-it-out affair Friday night and now face undefeated Merrimack Valley at the Snake Pit.
  6. Oyster River—The Bobcats held off Kennett in North Conway Tuesday night 54-52, playing their third straight game without Matthew Jernigan (21.0). Next up is a Milford team defending as well as anyone not named Hanover in the division.
  7. Hollis-Brookline- The Cavaliers bounced back from a three-point loss to Hanover Friday night to beat John Stark 65-47 behind 18 points from Alton Williams. Ryan Kelley's team is off until Tuesday, when they'll take on Souhegan.
  8. Coe Brown—The Bears were held to 36 points in a Tuesday night loss to Hanover, and now they are traveling to Plaistow to take Division I Timberlane, which is still winless on the season but playing better under Jeff Baumann. Jack Matson led the Bears with 16 points in a Friday night win over Kingswood.
  9. Souhegan—The key for the Sabers against Manchester West will be taking care of the basketball, which puts pressure on the point guard combo of Evan Bernasconi and Drew Bushey. Control the pace, and you can win the game. If West turns it into any semblance of a track meet, the Sabers are going to struggle to keep up.
  10. Sanborn—The Indians edge out Bow for the final spot after winning three in a row. Chase Frizzell scored 20 points, including his 1,000th career point, in a 70-67 come-from-behind win over Timberlane. Next up, Brady Moulton and Kingswood will come to Kingston tomorrow night before a rematch with Timberlane on Monday.

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