In our final of the four columns we take a mid-season look at Division I and tell you the top performances so far and the two teams most likely to meet in the finals in March.
 

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

Manchester Central vs. Merrimack

 You can talk all day about how good this Central basketball team is, and that is a group I’m a charter member of, but tread lightly around their veteran head coach. David Wheeler still sees a lot of area for improvement and his mission these days is to turn an elite offensive team into a similarly elite defensive one. Central isn’t a particularly big team down low but without a dominant big man in the division it isn’t going to hurt them and certainly won’t be a fatal flaw. Dawson Dickson is one of the team’s best defenders and Tyler Kelly is making you earn everything down low as well as tossing an elbow or two your way to be sure you know he’s fully engaged. Wheeler wants to see more from this group as a whole but the truth is Central is on par defensively with the other top teams in the division and in some cases is actually superior.

 If you rated the top two pure scorers in New Hampshire you’d have to go Patrick Welch 1 and Brett Hanson 2. The 6’3 junior lefty likes to catch the ball on the reverse and decide as you close out on him if he has enough time to bury the jumper in your mug or use his quickness to leave you flat footed as he goes right around you. Jon Martin is the team’s best passer in the interior, Dickson is a knock down shooter and an 80% foul shooter and the fact it took me 300 words to mention junior Joey Martin (another knock down shooter averaging 15.5 ppg.) tells you the depth of talent here.

 Add to that equation Mike Plentzas off the bench (his coach as well as opposing coaches all rave about him as player & teammate) and 6’4 Nick Makris off the bench and you see why the conversation of late centers on whether this team goes 22-0 or not.

 The final piece is a soon to be Hall of Fame coach who is one of the five or six best at what he does in the state. Upcoming games against teams like Manchester Memorial demonstrate the mindset of this team as they play the second half of the season. Wheeler knows they are capable of outscoring a Crusaders  team that averages 75 points per game. Instead he wants his team to accept the challenge to hold them in the 50’s. That kind of mindset is how you win championships, and no school has won more than Manchester Central.

 You could make a good argument for five or six other teams in the second spot but Merrimack is the pick because of the maturation of the players around all-state point guard Eric Gendron (23 ppg.). A year ago the Tomahawks were not capable of holding off a high scoring offense because they didn't have anyone capable of stepping up to help Gendron. Teams like Exeter & Manchester Memorial forced Tim Goodridge’s team to win without Gendron carrying the load and the results were mixed at best. In 2014 Shayne Bourque (12 ppg.) has been stronger on the low block and more consistent with his mid-range jumper. Austin Franzen has gotten bigger (relatively speaking) and has been better able to create his own shot as opposed to being a set shooter on the wing.

 Dylan Richardson has had his moments as well in what has been a strong 9-1 start. That balance should lead them back to Durham after a one year absence.

 Bishop Guertin lay in the weeds last season until all of the sudden they were knocking off Central & Spaulding on route to the final Saturday of the season. They won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season as Jim Migneault has weapons galore to make another run. Trinity remains one of the top 4 teams in Division I in what is said to be Dave Keefe’s last season as head coach (I’m hoping for a change of heart). This is a team with excellent guard play, point guard Ryan Otis is much improved from a year ago and I was a fan then. Getting production from Patrick Keefe & Brad Rhoades as well as Wenyen Gabriel on the in the post is crucial. How they fare Friday night against BG will be interesting to see (and Pete & Jon will be there cover it), I still feel like this team has another gear they haven’t hit yet and they have three weeks left to find it. Londonderry is as fun to watch as any team in the state, can they rebound against teams like Central & Trinity?
 
 First Team All-State (First half of the season)

 Eric Gendron of Merrimack
 Jon Martin of Manchester Central
 Brett Hanson of Manchester Central
 Carmen Giampetruzzi of Trinity
 Yordy Tavarez of Nashua South


 With apologies to: Jordan Lates of Nashua North, Joey Martin & Dawson Dickson of Manchester Central, Patrick Keefe, Ryan Otis & Wenyen Gabriel of Trinity, Trevor Knight of Nashua South, Trevon Moughn & Kabongo Ngalakulondi of Manchester Memorial, Charlie Nevejens & Darian Berry of Spaulding, Richie Ruffin & Sam Knollmeyer of Winnacunnet, Kyle Gavin & Joe Marandola of Bishop Guertin, Luke Rosinski of Pinkerton, Drew Coveney & Cody Ball of Londonderry and Tyler Brown of Alvirne
 
 Coach of the First Half of the Season:  Nate Mazerolle of Nashua South

 We have talked about the job Mazerolle has down this season both here and on our radio show but it bears repeating. This team was left for dead when Tim & Jack Preston exited stage left but Mazerolle has them playing to their strengths and winning games.

 Runner-up:  David Wheeler of Manchester Central
 
 Player of the First half of the Season:  Eric Gendron of Merrimack

 Gendron is a deserving pick, but the gap between him & Jon Martin is very thin…..

 Runner-up: Jon Martin of Manchester Central