As we do every year at this time we rank the Top 15 teams in New Hampshire by taking a look back at what was and a look ahead of what might be.

1. Pelham     22-0

What went right?: Everything. Matt Regan’s team blocked out the considerable noise (‘Why are they here??’ ‘Why did they leave Division II?’ ‘How dare they make noise while we are shooting foul shots??’) to finish 22-0 and earn their first state title since 2006.  What if a true state championship did happen? Only it took place across the border in Massachusetts back in December with  a shot clock? The Pythons double overtime win over Londonderry separates 1 for 2. The Lancers will quickly point out that they beat Pelham in the Fall League playoffs in another close game that wasn’t without a little controversy. Anyone opposed to Round 3?

How does next year look?: Player of the Year Keith Brown returns but four starters: Ryan Cloutier, Dylan Silvestri, David Rogers and Ryan Rondeau graduate. Kyle Frank will form a very good backcourt with Brown and Cam Deloreto will immediately step into a bigger role but Pelham is no longer the favorite after graduation day. It’s Conant again.
 
2. Londonderry      22-0 

What went right?: Everything. The Lancers spaced the floor and shared the ball as well as any team in New Hampshire. Cody Ball earned a basketball scholarship to St. Anslems on his way to Player of the Year honors, Marc Corey stepped up as a big time scorer as did Jake Coleman as their third option in his sophomore year. Add to that the steady hand of head coach Nate Stanton and the do whatever it takes efforts of Joe Kwiatkowski, Nate Gaw, Cole Britting & Brandon Radford and you were left with a team capable of blowing you out of the gym or winning ugly. The Lancers never lost a game and beat Central, Spaulding & Pinkerton (twice) away from their home floor in becoming the second straight Division I champions to finish a perfect season.

How does next year look?: Jake Coleman has to step into the role vacated by Cody Ball. Stanton likes the combo of Britting & Gaw in the backcourt as well as what Radford, Dakota Bertrand & Matt Corey will bring with 10 months of added experience by the time we get to opening night. The Lancers will be formidable again in 2016.
 
3.  Pinkerton Academy     18-4

What went right?: The Astros carried their considerable potential all the way until the final second of the championship game. Peter Rosinski’s team survived the loss of all-state center Luke Rosinski when he left for prep school and introduced an all-state point guard in Geo Baker. Not a bad trade..Matt Rizzo and Drew Green stepped up into bigger roles and David Faulks protected the rim and guaranteed himself about four spots on our season highlights video.

How does next year look?: The Astros aren’t done by any stretch. Geo Baker returns for his junior season along with Brennan Morris (they need to find a way to get him more looks), Tom Romick (maybe the most improved player on this team from day one to Saturday afternoon), and center Ben Olson. Add to that the inevitable depth that comes from an enrollment of 3,400 kids and you can expect Pinkerton to be back in the title chase next December.
 
4. Manchester Central              17-2

What went right?: Central was able to beat teams from the perimeter, play at the pace they wanted and hide the fact that their center (Joey Martin) was their shooting guard (also Joey Martin). David ‘Doc’ Wheeler did another incredible job with a team that replaced four starters from last years champions. Oumaru Kante was a terrific scoring point guard and Jaylen Leroy emerged as an all-state performer.

How does next year look?: A lot will depend on eligibility. If Ayei Akot (younger brother of former Memorial standout Tong Akot) is eligible this becomes an elite offensive team. Leroy will return and will need to take on the leadership role for a team that often needed it this year. Evan MacDonald will get more looks and is a deadly outside shooter while Jonathan Makori & David Baraka both produced for the Little Green this past season.

5. Bishop Brady                           18-4

What went right?: Bishop Brady rode the best player in the division to the title with a furious comeback against Portsmouth. The team adjusted to new head coach Cole Etten (with a title under his belt we are here forth removing the ’24 year old Cole Etten’ label) as he grew into the job. Etten made some very nice adjustments Saturday afternoon and behind the best starting five in the division Brady won an instant classic and earned the school’s first state title since 1997.

How does next year look?: Very up in the air. Joe Bell’s answer to Pete Tarrier’s ‘Can you guys repeat?’ question sounded a lot like a kid who isn’t sure where he will be enrolled next year. Jourdain will do a post-grad year, does Joe follow? That would leave Matt Quirk as the only rotation player returning.

6. Portsmouth                           20-2

What went right?: Jim Mulvey did another stellar coaching job and players like Cody Graham, Shon Parham and Loden Formichelli stepped up into bigger roles. The Clippers featured one of the best defenses in the state and got great senior leadership out of Charlie Lehoux. This was a team that could beat you in the half court or in transition and they were the best team in Division II all the way up until the final 12 seconds of the season.

How does next year look?: The loss of Lehoux, Formichelli and De’Vonn Wilson-Miles is bigger than people might think. Lehoux & Formichelli were real senior leaders and that void will not be easy to fill. Yes Joey Glynn, Shon Parham, Cody Graham, Angus Lamond, AJ McManus and Christian Peete return but there needs to be someone that is the vocal leader in the huddle. That’s not Glynn’s personality and Parham was largely absent last summer while the team jelled. Even though he’ll only be a sophomore it really becomes Cody Graham’s team, a kid whose performance and poise at Durham was apparent to every person I spoke to. The Clippers will be the favorites along with Lebanon & West going into 2016.
 
7. Spaulding                      17-4

What went right?: Give Tim Cronin a group of smart/hard working seniors led by an all-state guard and that’s a recipe for success. Darian Berry was tremendous and trusted in his teammates to run Cronin’s complex offense and defend. Anthony Ciccotelli returned to the team and gave them a strong inside presence. They led Londonderry for most of the night in the second semifinal but couldn’t knock off what would be a 22-0 team.

How does next year look?: That senior class is going to be very hard to replace (they’ll be getting Care Packages from Justin McIsaac throughout the fall) and what is left lacks experience. Cal Connelly is the only major contributor returning to what has been one of the best programs in the state the past eight seasons.
 
8. Lebanon                       16-5

What went right?: Keith Matte was smart enough to see the pieces he had and play the style that gave them the best chance for success. Without a true big man the Raiders pressured you for 90 feet and got KJ Matte, Austin Whaley and Ryan Milliken the ball In transition where they thrived. Losing Greg Roberge mid-way through the season was a big loss but Matte was able to lead them to the Final Four for the third straight season.

How does next year look?: Very promising. KJ Matte, Milliken, Whaley, Jeremiah Morton and Jake Hansen all return. If Matte can entice some 6’4 football player to guard the rim this is your pre-season favorite in Division II.
 
9. Conant                         17-5

What went right?: This may have been Eric Saucier’s best coaching job as he took a team with little or no varsity experience to the last four minutes of the championship game. Brandon Ford stepped into a bigger role and the development of Simeon Hodgson and J.P Record from December to March was startling. Nate Wheeler and CJ Bilodeau filled their roles perfectly and Josh Degrenier shook off a slow start to have an all-state season.

How does next year look?: Four starters will return for a team that plays all summer & fall to prepare for opening night. Pelham might be the champs but Conant isn’t just handing over the Division III throne just yet….
 
10. Manchester West               17-2

What went right?: Danny Bryson’s team rolled through Division II with wins over Lebanon and Bishop Brady along the way. Zach Jones was as good as any player in Division II, Monytung Maker was the most improved from beginning to end and Joe Simpson made hitting big shots a common occurrence. In the end it was one bad night and a shocking defeat to a St. Thomas team that was ready to play, but this was still a terrific season at West.

How does next year look?: Maker, Simpson, Keenan Caron, Corey Descoteaux and Jacobee Burpee all return for what should be a Top 4 team once again in Division II. Bryson has worked very hard on & off the floor to build this program and right now he has them exactly where he wants them.

11. Pembroke Academy            10-8

What went right?: The Spartans competed in Division I and as late as October that was not a forgone conclusion. Dominic Timbas had a tremendous senior season, moving from the center position as a junior to point guard as a senior. Tell me the last time that has happened? Pembroke didn’t get a ton of production in the low post and had trouble covering scoring guards but they improved as the season went along and knocked out Manchester Memorial in the first round.

How does next year look?: The cupboard finally looks bare. Collin Justin and Dante Timbas return but five starters will not. Does Matt Alosa stay? Do young players step up? As is usually the case there are a lot of questions that will need to be answered here.

12. Campbell                             16-5

What went right?: The Cougars did what they usually do, they played their best basketball of the season in the tournament. Credit five returning starters who knew how to win and head coach John Langlois who has proven time & again he knows how to put his team in a position to win in the post-season.

How does next year look?: Harrison Vedrani was, in the opinion of coaches I spoke to, the best player on the team. He will return along with Kyle Shaw and Michael Gray but there are heavy graduation losses and players like Zach Bergeon don’t come along very often.
 
13. Wilton-Lyndeborough              18-4

What went right?: It’s easy to say that with Ty & Trey Carrier coming in and the development of Casey Lane that this team had surrounded Jordan Litts with enough to win but that would be short changing the value of chemistry. Playing with someone who dominates the ball like Litts does isn’t always easy and he needed players around him to buy into what head coach Ken Grantham was selling. To their credit they did, and by March this was the best team in Division IV.

How does next year look?: Four of their top six players return (Division IV is going to be loaded next year) but that guy wearing the Superman Cape is staying at Plymouth State to play for the Panthers. Expect Ty & Trey Carrier to be the go to guys while Duncan Rae will be there to provide rebounding on the low block. Casey Lane needs to step into the point guard role from day one and his development this summer will tell you a lot about how ‘Year One After Litts’ goes.

14. Windham                             14-6

What went right?: David Carbonello stepped up and became a first team all-state point guard while a group that won a championship in football made it to the quarterfinals in basketball. Todd Steffanides team played a tough schedule (losing to Pelham twice) and was beaten by the eventual champions in the final 8.

How does next year look?: Cole Gill will return to a team that loses Carbonello, Kurtis Jolicoeur, Davis Potter and Joe Frake. Head coach Todd Steffanides will have to re-tool around a younger nucleus but the Jaguars have the players to be a factor again in Division II.

15. Epping                                  17-4

What went right?: Sean Young’s team was able to shake off the loss of three senior starters from the year before to come within one minute of being repeat champions in Division IV. Tommy Bullock and Dylan Derosier stepped up to form a very good backcourt while Brett Couture and Colby Wilson played at an all-state level from day one.

How does next year look?: Epping is your pre-season favorite in Division IV but it won’t be easy. Wilson is going to face tougher defenses and Couture, although the only starter graduating, is going to be tough to replace. Young works tireless with this group over the off-season and his task is to let the players decide who his top 8 players will be next season. The Blue Devils join Sunapee, Littleton, Wilton-Lyndeborough, Groveton and Newmarket as the teams to beat next season.