On Saturday, our 12th annual NHsportspage Basketball Jamboree tips off on the campus of NHTI with six games between elite teams from Divisions I, II & III.

 Admission is $5  (Note: This is not an NHIAA event. Media and Coaches passes are not accepted.)

10 am  Dover vs. Derryfield   (Girls)

 The 25/26 Derryfield Cougars are hungry to avenge their semi-final loss from a year ago. This year's squad welcomes a lot of new faces (four freshmen) and includes only one senior in Ella Laflamme, yet it has high potential. In order to contend in the division, Derryfield will need consistent production from its five juniors: Kelsey Beekman, Ariel Berger, Holly Dufoe, Angie Kenison and Emma Sloper. Although graduating 5 seniors, Derryfield returns all-state player, sophomore Anna Fazelat, who creates havoc on the defensive end for opposing teams and has elite court vision. This team has a high ceiling and is excited to get started

 Dover is returning starters Avery Littlefield, Violet Burt, and Khloe Healy, along with a few rotation players from last year who will be stepping into bigger roles this season. The Green Wave play hard and is going to compete and play with grit. They look forward to using the jamboree as a time to get better, evaluate and build stronger chemistry as a group.

11:30 am: Fall Mountain vs. Pelham  (Girls)

 Fall Mountain returns 10 players from last season’s runners-up squad. Four of five starters return, three of whom are four-year varsity starters. Depth and experience were a calling card last season, and both have been bolstered. Sophia Grillone is at the helm once again and has continued to add to her game in the offseason. Abby Jarvis continues to be the catalyst for this team on both ends, and Riley Beckwith will continue to impose her will on the interior. Kelsey Fillion, Aubrey Thomas and Jenna Fillion all had breakout Junior years and are poised to take another big step. Emma King, Lydia Volgel, Siera King and McKailah Russell all return and will provide important minutes. Two freshmen and a junior join this squad for their first varsity action.

 Pelham has a solid group of veterans returning to the team in Grace Riley, Sophia Guinazzo, Ava Milley, Jess Phillips, and Abby King. They have some exciting sophomores and freshmen who should make this an exciting season. They hope to be a solid defensive team that will capitalise on turnovers and steals.

 1:00 pm:  Bishop Guertin vs. Hollis Brookline  (Boys)

 Bishop Guertin: " Our coaching staff is excited about this year’s team. We return seven players, including four who started every game last season and two All-State selections—Second Team  Connor McGowan and Honorable Mention Eli Youssef. The group made a major offseason commitment, competing in more than 40 games and scrimmages, mostly in highly competitive Massachusetts leagues against Merrimack Valley opponents.

Connor is coming off a 22-point-per-game season and has put in the work to elevate his game even further. Eli enters his fourth varsity season and has noticeably improved in every area and had a dominate fall playing against some of the best programs in the area. 

Junior guard Luca Fabrizio is another player to watch. He has added physicality to his pass-first point guard style, which has boosted our offense, and he continues to grow as a natural scorer.

Surrounding our core is a group of multi-sport standouts, including state high-jump runner-up Sam Woodward, and three athletes with championship experience in lacrosse (Andre Steinbruick), cross country (Sam Prescott), and soccer (Josh Corriveau). With this blend of experience, athleticism, and competitiveness, our coaching staff is as energized as ever heading into the season.

Hollis-Brookline: The Cavaliers bring back a veteran core featuring three 3-year starters. Coming off of a 14-4 quarterfinal appearance, the Cavaliers will look to utilize that experience to field a fast-paced attack this season.

2:30: Pinkerton Academy vs Pembroke Academy (Boys)

Pinkerton: "I'm thrilled about our team this year. We had an excellent summer and fall, and we're prepared to start. The players have put in a lot of effort and are improving daily. I'm particularly excited about Brady Sullivan, Wilson Youssef, and Josh Phanor. We will look to play fast and shoot with a ton of confidence. This is going to be a fun group to coach. Other players to mention. 6ft 5in Adam Ajouz will be a key part for us this year, as well as Sharp Shooter Ryder Hawkes."

Pembroke: The Division 2 defending champion Pembroke Academy Spartans are making their 3rd straight NHSportspage Jamboree appearance, this time with a new Head Coach, (longtime assistant and former Belmont HS Head Coach), Jim Cilley.  The Spartans will be led by junior Andrew Fitzgerald, who is coming off a 26-point 10 10-rebound game last spring at UNH in the finals.  He will have plenty of support with returning starters, sharpshooter Zac Bemis (huge 3 to ice the championship), forward Colin Dube and big guy/rim protector Javien Sinclair.  Other notables returning to the Pembroke roster are Guards, Connor Craig and Jackson Tanguay.  Newcomers to watch include Sophomore Brayden Provost, Juniors Nate Lawrence and Devon Benton, and junior transfer Danny O'Brien.

4 pm:  Bedford vs Portsmouth    (Boys)

Bedford: The defending champion Bulldogs return their top two scorers from last season, Logan O'Connell and Landon Ellsmore, to lead a talented group of returners and newcomers.

Portsmouth: The Portsmouth Clippers, who went 17-4 last year, return the entire team from last season. Players include Derek Swartz, Isaiah Reis, Ryan Swartz, Finn McCauley, Anthony Ferola, Damien Sanu, Zavier Lampert, Jacob Mead, Abrahm Siegel, Cote Bellaud. 

Portsmouth lost by 1 point in the semifinals last year to Keene. With everyone back, the Clippers look to build on last year's momentum and compete for a championship.

5:30 pm:  Keene vs Belmont   (Boys)

Keene: " Jamal Stanley, Kasen Abbott, and Alex Holmes are prepared to lead our team this year. All three return as starters, with Abbott and Stanley entering their second year in starting roles. They will be supported by a strong senior class that brings leadership and experience to every position on the court. Seniors Dan Malay, Gus Smith, and Rhys Fontaine each offer valuable varsity experience and are poised for impactful final seasons.

Juniors Ryker Washburn, Songwei Chen, Aiden Hodgman, and Brayden French are ready to contribute in whatever capacities the team requires. The group competed together throughout the off-season, capturing a summer league championship, and aims to build on that momentum as we begin the new year.

Belmont: Defending Division 3 champion Belmont returns an experienced core from last season's championship run, along with great new additions at each position. The Red Raiders will look to compete and contend for the division crown again.