We start with Division IV as we will take a mid-season look at all four divisions in New Hampshire high school basketball. We'll have a look at Division III tomorrow and the top two divisions later this week.
 

 If forced today to pick the two teams that will meet in the final:

 Derryfield School vs. Sunapee

 Let’s be up front; word of possible looming suspensions play a role in this pick. I will apologize for being vague here but I’m not here to infringe on the privacy of high school players, let’s let it play out and my hope is there are no suspensions at all. We all want to see each team throw their best five on the floor and see it all decided right there at Plymouth State University in March. I sincerely hope that ends up being the case.

 Derryfield was the favorite on day one and even after a loss at home to Epping ten days ago they remain there today. Roger Larrivee returned from an ankle injury and a bout with the flu to score 17 points in a blowout win over Pittsfield last week as Rob Bradley’s team is back to full strength for the first time since Christmas.

 That’s certainly encouraging news but the truth is this team was playing at an elite level without him and the chemistry on the floor that freshman Sam Anderson has brought makes them capable of beating you in the half court or in transition. Anderson may be the team’s best rebounder and his ability to get the outlet pass down the floor quickly to Rob Rizos and Bennett Doherty is one of their strengths. Doherty is the most improved player on the team; a year ago he was a set shooter with a tendency to put it on the floor where as now as a senior he is a very good rebounder from the guard spot and someone who plays with a confidence we hadn’t previously seen.

 The Sunapee Lakers are a team that knows their window is now open for a title run and no team in the entire state has won more lopsided games than Ed Tenney’s crew. It starts with the scoring combination of Issaiah Chappell (20.3 ppg.) and James Fitzgerald (19.3 ppg) but don’t be misled to believe every trip down the floor is a clear out for one or the other. This is a team that shares the basketball and in turn gets good looks on most offensive possessions.

 Both Chappell & Fitzgerald can get out and run the floor but Fitzgerald does most of his damage around the rim while Chappell can punish you from the outside. Matt Tenney is a very heady point guard and Nick Skarin is the team’s best defender, his work on Andrew Houde was one of the key reasons Sunapee beat previously unbeaten Newport.

 Littleton has tremendous depth and one of the best coaches in the state but are they too inconsistent offensively to win a title? Buddy Trask likewise is as good as any coach in New Hampshire but Colebrook’s lack of size may be their undoing. Last post-season Trask applied full court pressure to Derryfield in the quarterfinals only to watch as the taller Cougars saw & passed over it with their considerable height advantage. Can Profile win if you game plan to take away Ian Baker or Bailey Johnson? What starting five will Sean Young and Epping put on the floor in March and will Colby Wilson be able to shake free from all the extra attention he is bound to see? Does Jamie Walker have enough ball handling to get Woodsville to Plymouth when the defensive intensity kicks up a notch?

 All questions to be answered over the second half of the season…

 First Team All-State (First half of the season)
 Jimmy Stanley of Epping
 Bennett Doherty of Derryfield School
 Issaiah Chappell of Sunapee
 James Fitzgerald of Sunapee
 Ian Baker of Profile

 With apologies to: Jordan Litts of Wilton-Lyndeborough, Max Anderson  of Derryfield School, Sedrick McKinnon & Jake Sherer of Colebrook, Joe Abrahamsen & Jaret Bemis of Woodsville, Bailey Johnson of Profile, Kris Perkins & Xenthios Cyr of Pittsfield, Matt Tenney of Sunapee, Colby Wilson of Epping, Corey Gadwah of Groveton, Ryan Jarvis of Newmarket and Kuba Kubkowski & Owen Stone of Littleton.
 
 Coach of the First half: Trevor Howard of Littleton

 Successful JV program or not Howard had to replace two all-state performers and has done so with a 10 man rotation that wins with defense and rebounding. You can envy Howard for all the depth he has but you also need to realize he often times doesn’t know who is going to provide scoring for him on a nightly basis. The veteran coach though has been able to pull the right strings for a 10-2 team that has a chance to earn a top 4 seed for the third consecutive season.

 Runner-up:  Buddy Trask of Colebrook Academy
 
 Player of the First half:  Jimmy Stanley of Epping

 Stanley has been as good as advertised for an Epping team in championship or bust mode. Stanley is an underrated passer in addition to his team’s best scorer and rebounder. This is a group that plays hard for head coach Sean Young and with Stanley leading the way they have to be considered one of the favorites to be the last team standing in March.

 Runner-up:  James Fitzgerald of Sunapee