Once a year I use the Thursday Thoughts to preview every single game in the state, a decision I usually start regretting right around breaking down John Stark/Con Val somewhere in the middle of a 40 game haze.

 It’s become a tradition where my own ramblings become my greatest adversary,  so once again I give you a look at every game to be played in the state this weekend.

 Before we get to the games please take a few minutes to watch our video to our readers

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Division I

Salem (4-9) at Alvirne (9-4)
The coverage of Salem is sponsored by Merrimack Valley Sports

 Rob McLaughlin’s team picked up a nice win over Pembroke Tuesday behind 27 points from Jared Gott. The identity of the Blue Devils in the past really has been forged on great man to man defense and taking care of the ball on offense. Salem is allowing 62 points per game, that’s not a big number but it also isn’t good enough to put them in the upper half of the division (The two top defenses are Merrimack at 48.9 ppg. and Spaulding at 49.5).

 Alvirne has to bounce back from a frustrating loss to Nashua South Tuesday night, a game they feel they let get away. Danny Brown has returned from an injury and that gives this team three ball handers along with Brett Richardson and Danny Tucci. First year head coach Brian Lynch has done a very nice job with this group.
 
Pinkerton Academy (11-3) at Bishop Guertin (7-7)

 Two teams that seem to be sputtering right now. The Astros played without all-state point guard Geo Baker against Trinity and it nearly cost them in a close win. Pioneers small forward Connor Walsh (16.9 ppg.) scored 26 points and illustrated another example of teams having a lot of success shooting from the perimeter against Pinkerton. Evan MacDonald hit ten three pointers for Central against Pinkerton back in January and Londonderry hit 18 total in a win two weeks ago. The Astros need to prove they can defend the perimeter if they have serious aspirations for a run to the Final Four.

 Jim Migneault’s team has been solid on their home floor but brutal on the road. In fact BG hasn’t won a road game since they beat winless Concord on opening night. A pair of road losses to Nashua North and Manchester Memorial drops BG back to .500 and in jeopardy of landing outside the Top 8 come tournament time. Road games at Bedford and Trinity loom for a team that wants to stay in Nashua in round one.
 
Merrimack (6-7) at Dover (2-12)

 Covering basketball is more fun when these two coaches are involved. Here’s hoping a youth movement that includes Eric Evans and Devin Cady gets Mike Romps’ and Dover back in the title chase in the next couple of years. I am too young to remember Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin barking at each other in the dugout at Fenway Park but I did get to see three years of Mike Romps & Alex Burt and it was glorious.

 Tim Goodridge is doing a terrific job and has his team playing as good defensively as anyone in the Division. This won’t be easy for the Tomahawks and neither will a trip to a suddenly confident Keene team. If Merrimack can get to 8-7 they have a shot at a home game in the first round.

 Interesting Merrimack factoid for you: Since 2010 Merrimack has either lost in the first round of the tournament or gone all the way to the championship. Five seasons, three first round exits, two trips to the finals and one championship in 2012.

 See you forgot this column can be fun…
 
 Manchester Memorial (6-5) at Exeter (4-9)
 
 Look who’s back….Trevon Moughn pumped in 22 points in his return and now Memorial is the wild card in Division I. This is a really inconsistent team, their head coach Jack Quirk will be the first to point that out, but they are also the last team you want strolling into your gym in March. They’re playoff tested with a ton of confidence. Kabongo Ngalakulondi is a match-up nightmare and Moughn’s presence is only going to open up more space for Craig Preston (14 ppg.). Wade Gop gives you fits with his ability to get his long arms into passing lanes and in Nick Philbert & Malo Roumraji Memorial has the pieces to win now.

 Freshman Cody Morrisette (12.5) has been terrific for Jeff Holmes’ team. Did you know basketball is actually his second best sport? The kid is a stud baseball player as well…
 
Keene (5-8) at Londonderry (13-0)

 Time to recognize the great job Dave Sontag is doing at Keene high school. Sontag is building a program from the youth level up and the results are coming faster than anticipated. Spencer Feng has done a terrific job running the offense while Mason Blanchard (15.4) and big man John Link (12 ppg.) have given this team an inside presence. With Brad Blake (11.8) and Logan Galanes (11.8) each contributing you have a balanced attack and enough rebounding to fight for a playoff berth. Friday night they will need to get back in transition and try to make shooters like Jake Coleman uncomfortable on the perimeter.
 
Concord (0-13) at Nashua North (3-10)

 Steve Lane’s team can build off of their win over Bishop Guertin Tuesday night. Ronnie Silva had 17 points and Nathan Hale (19.1 ppg.) has stepped into a scorers role as a big man who can knock down jumpers. This is a team that has lost five games by six points or less, which tells you the Titans are playing you tough nearly every night. Nashua North owns the tie-breaker over Winnacunnet (a game we covered earlier this season) that may come into play for the final playoff spot in Division I.

 It has been another long season for a Concord  team that has gotten consistent scoring out of Matt Giroux (17 ppg.).
 
 Manchester Central (11-1) at Nashua South (9-5)

 The Little Green bounced back from their first loss in 39 games with a good win over Merrimack Tuesday night and it gets no easier Friday night with a trip to Nashua. Kevin Genao has been underrated at the point for the Panthers as Nate Mazerolle’s team has quietly won 8 of their last 9 games.

 Genao gets a big time match-up when he squares off with Central point guard Oumaru Kante (19.1 ppg.). Nashua South is going to try and push the tempo to get DJ Frechette (20.2) looks before Central can set their defense. Michael Osgood and Zavier Williams will have to try and hold Joey Martin (16.6) in check if they hope to pull off the upset.

 The New Hampshire High school Hoop Show with Pete Tarrier & is back Saturday at 8 am as Manchester West head coach Danny Bryson  will be our guest.

 Listen live on 96.7 FM on the seacoast, WGIR 610 AM in Manchester or listen all over the state online at  

http://www.iheart.com/live/WGIR-AM-610-2752/
 
 
 Trinity (6-7) at Spaulding (10-2)

 Always fun when these two teams get together because it brings back memories of Justin McIsaac’s near meltdown at McHugh gymnasium when Dominic Paradis was, if you were to believe McIsaac, gagged/bound/whipped/beaten and thrown around like a sack of potatoes for four quarters without a foul ever being called.  McIsaac had all the level headiness (is that a word?) of a Texas high school radio announcer..and swears to this day those Trinity officials had it out for his alma mater.

 The Pioneers have some pretty good wins on the resume but have struggled when you take Connor Walsh out of the mix. If Spaulding game plans for Walsh it will be on Justin Trickett or Keanyon Lambert to step up and produce.
 
Pembroke Academy (7-6) at Winnacunnet (4-9)

 It feels like this Pembroke team is really fighting for an identity. Matt Alosa has made some tweaks but right now there doesn’t seem to be a lot that is going to change from here until the post-season. This is a team that can give some teams a lot of trouble with their size (Pembroke’s zone would actually be effective against Londonderry, a team they do not play) and will struggle against smaller athletic teams (they are going to struggle against Central). Dominic Timbas is really playing very well for these guys and doing it out of position. Max Curran had to prove that he could be a reliable scorer this season and he absolutely has.

 In Winnacunnet they face a team that just struggles to make shots on most nights. Jay McKenna is good enough to design enough sets to offset that a bit but when your guards are struggling from the perimeter it tightens up the interior defense. Winnacunnet is going to struggle to rebound against this bigger Pembroke team so their hope is to beat them in transition and use a three quarter court trap to force Pembroke, a team prone to turning it over, to cough the ball up.
 
 Division II

 Merrimack Valley (10-4) at John Stark (3-11)

  We’re at 1,600 words with three divisions to go…time to pick up the pace a little here…John Stark is building around two sophomores in Cooper Gorski and Drew McQuarrie. Head coach Mike Smith does a nice job mixing up his zone defensive looks but he needs to form a nucleus around his two talented underclassman.

 Kevin O’Brien’s team is going to have to win out and hope for Lebanon or Bishop Brady to stumble down the stretch if they are going to get a top 4 seed. The Pride go to the beat of their very good point guard Nate Mulleavy while Bruce Barton (14.8 ppg.) has been a force on the low block.
 
 St. Thomas (3-9) at Milford (8-5)

 The Saints are still pumping up three pointers at a rate that would make J.R Smith blush. In Milford they face a program on the rise as head coach Dan Murray (a two time champion let’s not forget) has gotten very good production from Kirk Palladino (15.6) who has battled back from a knee injury to give the Spartans a big man who can knock it down from long range.
 
 Kingswood (0-13) at Oyster River (4-9)

 Oyster River has lost seven of their last eight games and have to be excited to see Kingswood coming in Friday night. First year head coach Lorne Lucas is in the process of building a once proud program back up but right now he doesn’t have the production or experience to get it done.

 Patrick Meyers leads a Kingswood team that has struggled since the Vezina brothers graduated (1990’s in-joke). I badly sprained my ankle at Kingswood my senior year and missed the next 10 games so…really not a lot of happy memories from Wolfeboro. Garwood’s is a nice restaurant though if you’re in the area…
 
 Kennett (8-6) at Portsmouth (11-0)

 The Great Jon Kesty and I will be in Portsmouth Friday night for our Game of the Week coverage. Brandon DiLucchio (16 ppg.) and Nick Graziano (14 ppg.) have been one of the better backcourts in Division II this season and they’ll try to earn a season split with a Clippers team averaging 82 points per game in their last three contests.

 The difference maker on this Portsmouth team has been center/forward De'Vonn Wilson-Miles, who hasn’t been able to finish the last two seasons but has been dependable from day one this year. Wilson-Miles is a good rebounder and a very underrated defender. His play has taken some of the pressure off of sophomore power forward Joey Glynn who has struggled with defensive assignments at times in his second year in the rotation.
 
 Goffstown (7-6) at Souhegan (4-8)

 The Grizzlies have lost three of four and have proved to be consistently inconsistent all year long. With games against Portsmouth (I think that game has been re-scheduled three times already) and Bishop Brady still on the schedule they are likely hitting the road in the first round. For a team that is 1-4 away from home this season that’s not particularly good news.

 Head coach Pete Pierce continues to work to turn around a Sabers program that hasn’t recovered from the loss of eight seniors off of the 2013 Division II runner-up team. You know how Patriots fans of a certain age will still argue about the Sugar Bear Hamilton roughing the passer call against Oakland in the 1976 NFL playoffs that cost a young Patriots team their first Super Bowl win?

 Ask Mike Heaney sometime about being the 2013 Division II runner-up….
 
 Manchester West (13-1) at Timberlane (1-11)

 Hey look who found each other in Division II!!

 A pair of former Division I teams renews acquaintances, one team seeming to enjoy their new division more than the other. We underrated this Manchester West team, it has all the pieces and two big time players in Zach Jones (18.9 ppg.) (Are we sure he isn’t the Player of the Year??) and Monytung Maker, the most improved player in the state from December to today. I watched him at the Jamboree and then several times in the last month, he has come farther than any other player in New Hampshire in that time. He has become a big time player.

 Cam Donnelly and Jason Hughes are producing for Timberlane as they adjust to life in Division II. I’m still salty at ESPN for not putting them (and us) on Sportscenter last year when they broke their losing streak short of the National record…
 
Division III

Inter-Lakes (4-11) at Belmont (2-13)

 Last season Belmont went with a starting lineup made up of almost entirely freshman and were frisky enough in a few late season games to think they might be on the verge of something. 2-13 though tells you they haven’t made the next step even while getting production from forward Trevor Hunt.

 Dillon Dow and Zach Swanson have produced for the Lakers but they haven’t gotten enough help to stop another losing season in Meredith.
 
 Somersworth (3-12) at Berlin (13-3)

 There isn’t a kid on that Somersworth team looking forward to a three hour bus ride with a nine game losing streak coming along as luggage.
 
 Hillsboro-Deering (1-14) at Bow (8-7)

 Bow has a very nice nucleus with Nate Alford, Matt Ehrenberg and Adam Nelson. Games with Mascenic and Campbell still loom but the Falcons should be set in the top 16 (is now a good time for my annual rant on the ridiculousness of the massive Division III tournament? Not yet? Ok..)

 Couldn’t tell you a thing about Hillsboro-Deering…I blame myself as much as I blame them for that. We all need to look in the mirror sometimes…
 
 Hopkinton (10-5) at Fall Mountain (5-10)

 If there is a team lurking outside of the top 8 who could pull a first round upset like Raymond did a year ago it’s Hopkinton. Veteran coach, go to scorer (Luke Luneau) and they’re battle tested. For the Hawks it may come down to who they match up with. Mascenic is a tough match-up for them but they are a team that would give Newport a lot of trouble.

 Ryan Murdoch (19 ppg.) has been terrific for Fall Mountain this season but this is a team that just hasn’t found their rhythm yet as they own a pair of wins over Bellows Falls (VT) and Hillsboro-Deering.
 
 Mascoma (9-6) at Kearsarge Regional (5-11)

 Good point guard match-up between Trent Noordsij of Kearsarge and Alex Schwarz of the Royals. If Jim Barry’s team has any hope for a top 8 seed they need to win out and this is a very different team at home as opposed to on the road. That gym is not easy to win in.
 
Mascenic Regional (11-4) at Monadnock (4-11)

 They don’t feel like I give them enough love out in New Ipswich so let’s throw a little their way. This is a good Mascenic team and they’ve played a pretty tough schedule (why Hinsdale twice?? Ok sorry I promised to keep it positive). You have your all-state guard Jared Stauffeneker who can carry you for a quarter at a time offensively and an underrated guard in Daimon Gibson who isn’t afraid to mix it up. The Vikings don’t have a ton of size but they can compete on the boards with their athleticism and a home game would be an event for a team that has been building up to this season for some time. They’ll be a tough out at home and how they fare on the road will depend on the match-up (they would give Campbell fits…and they don’t want Conant again..trust me).

 You know I’ve been at this for a long time when I can tell you stories about Monadnock winning the Division II championship (beating Portsmouth, John Stark and Hanover to get there) at UNH. That has to seem like a million years ago….
 
 Windsor (VT) at Newport (11-4)

 The Tigers dropped the first meeting to Windsor and they like Mascenic and Campbell, cannot afford to slip up again. Andrew Houde has been terrific again while being the focal point of every defense he has faced. Getting Noah Wade back from an injury is big for Mike Hatt’s team, the kid is a winner.
 
 Raymond (7-7) at Prospect Mountain (5-8)

 Did you know the Bell brothers were originally supposed to go to Prospect Mountain?

 Think that would have changed the Division III landscape?
 Colby Malo has turned all of that potential into production…The Rams look like a team that is fighting itself on the floor at times but Malo (18.5) and Andrew Downey (11 ppg.) have both stepped up and played well.
 
 Winnisquam (12-3) at Stevens (8-7)

 I’ve been impressed with Winnisquam, this is a very good shooting team that would match up well against teams that try to go zone on them.

 They rely a lot on forcing turnovers with their pressure that is why Pelham beat them up in the second half, Winnisquam was forced to produce in the half court and couldn’t do it. Put the Bears in a game against a team that relies on playing zone (Campbell) and they’re going to give them trouble. Christian Serrano is beginning to heat up, Pelham stopped him by sitting on his right hand and making him create on the left side (which he doesn’t like doing) but when he is in the open court he can score on anyone.

 Parker Smith and Chase Hussey each have averaged 13.7 ppg. for a Cardinal team still fighting for a top 10 finish. Do you think Kaleb Tarczewski still follows them on the site? His dad used to email me when he was a sophomore at Stevens..true. He’s probably emailing Andy Katz now…
 
 Division IV
 
 Colebrook Academy (12-4) at Lisbon (2-14)    Thursday

 Buddy Trask is showing he’s still got it as he closes in on Ed Cloe’s all-time record for most wins by a boys’ basketball coach in New Hampshire.

 If Trask wins out he ties the all-time record, with his first round game at home being the possible record breaker. Sometimes with a team the pieces just seem to fit together and that’s what you have with the Mohawks. Sedrick McKinnon (16 ppg.) has really matured into a steady leader on the floor. Creed Cooney has been more consistent and is starting to carry himself like a senior. When things break down around him he’s the last guy to panic and his size allows him to finish when he gets to the paint. Bryce Hicks is a streaky shooter (when he is on Colebrook is really hard to beat) and Richard Davis is giving this team some attitude down low with the arrival of Mike Hastings just adding depth. Media sensation John Zavala (Tommy Heinsohn always loved Walter McCarty…I love John Zavala..) is sticking his nose in the middle of everything and this group breaks pressure very well because of how well prepared Trask has them.

 This is a better team than they were a year ago. That team always had a smoke & mirrors feel to it, this group doesn’t. There is a real chemistry with this group.

 When you fall off a cliff the way Lisbon has you have to look around at what you have and plan for a few calendars away. When Chad Knighton made the move to go Holderness Prep after his junior season and second state title the cupboard was left bare for Sam Natti. When you aren’t getting production from your senior class you develop what is below and in freshman Josh Woods (10.5 ppg.) and Josh Brooks Natti has his nucleus going forward. If Lisbon is going to turn it around they are going to have to become a barnstorming unit around the state. Tournaments wherever they hold it, men’s leagues, 3 on 3 tournaments, wherever Josh Woods and Josh Brooks can play they need to gain experience. Natti is looking to change the offense completely in 2016  and he’ll build it around that class.
 
 Sunapee (7-7) at Epping (9-4)

 The Lakers have to feel like they are getting another shot at Epping at the right time. A 69-66 win at Sunapee last week proved we were right to keep our eye on what Ed Tenney’s team was up to and it also began a stretch where the defending champs have begun to look vulnerable.

 I asked four Division IV coaches would they would rather avoid: Jordan Litts or Issaiah Chappell? All four said Chappell because of his combination of shooting from deep and getting to the rim. You can’t invent a defense he hasn’t seen already and his teammates are starting to fit into their roles. Here comes that nightmare team we warned you about back in December…
 
 Lin-Wood (5-12) at Gorham (1-14)

  What??? Oh come now….really……..I mean I’m 3,760 words deep here……………..can we talk about the Turd Ferguson Celebrity Jeopardy Skit on SNL’s 40th reunion or something? ‘I’d like to solve the puzzle..What is Andre The Giant?”
 
 Wilton-Lyndeborough (12-3) at Newmarket (7-8)

 This is the time of year you see very good coaches start to get every ounce of potential out of their team. Newmarket went up to Moultonborough on December 22nd and got annihilated (there is no other word for it) 67-29.

 Two months later they beat that very same team 57-47. With big man Ian Bentley finally back from a head injury and starting to produce Jamie Hayes has his team peaking at the right time.
 
 Nute (7-9) at Concord Christian (1-15)

 Scott Currier continues to do a nice job building the Nute program back up, Friday night they’ll face Concord Christian and newest 1,000 point scorer Jeremiah Boulter.

 Conner Bradway (19.9 ppg.) has had a big season for Currier’s team.
 
 Hinsdale (3-13) at Pittsfield (1-16)

 Tough luck season for Jay Darrah who does a terrific job at Pittsfield. This team will be heard from next year when they are fully healthy.

 The next time Clay Bucholtz misses a start because he slept on his pillow wrong remember Cam Darrah is playing every night with one hand because of a broken wrist. Darrah couldn’t stand to watch his teammates struggle without him any longer and although the long range bomber is playing one handed he’s still bringing energy and intelligence to a Panthers team with a ton of underclassman.

 Nothing like ending a 4,000 word preview with a feel good story……