This is an annual column where we stop to take a look around each of the four divisions at the midway point of the season. The purpose is to analyze the first half of the season to tell you where the teams stand today and where they are likely headed over the second half of the season.

 Coming tomorrow Division I

 As always I pick the two teams most likely to meet in the championship game, your most likely final four teams, hand out mid-season all-state picks as well as our mid-season player & coach of the year.

 Gold Level Coaches/Programs: David Smith of Coe-Brown, Kieth Matte of Lebanon, Peter Pierce of Souhegan, Cole Etten of Hollis-Brookline, Jeff Baumann of Timberlane, Mike Larson of Pelham, Leo Gershgorin of Con Val, Nate Camp of Kearsarge, Billy Clarke of Coe-Brown, Mike Gasper of Goffstown, Mike Sullivan of Plymouth & Lorne Lucas of Oyster River

If forced to pick the two teams that will meet in the final: Kearsarge vs The Field

 My mother told me a few years ago, “When you are into it everyone around you can tell, but boy, when you’re not….you, can’t fake it’

 I think she was referring to my interaction with my former in-laws… but as always mom is right.

 I can’t pretend to talk you into a second team in the spot next to Kearsarge and so I’m not even going to try. You’re too smart for that and again, I apparently wouldn’t be able to fool you anyway.

 Instead we are going to look at a whole host of teams capable of being in Durham on March 17th, and believe me, it could be any one of ten teams…..I mean have you been following this division??

 Kearsarge lost four games without Tayler Mattos and Tommy Johnson, which only tells us that when you lose two first team all-state players you’re not as good anymore.

 Duly noted.

 Lebanon has wins over teams like Kearsarge and Hollis-Brookline, but losses to Con Val and John Stark.

 Coe-Brown blew out Hollis-Brookline but lost to Souhegan, who then got blown out by Hollis-Brookline..who you might remember lost badly to Coe-Brown.

 I mean I could do this until we are all staring at the wall like Russell Crowe in ‘A Beautiful Mind’ ..the hottest team in the division is Kennett and the team on the biggest slide is Manchester West.

 Oh, you saw that coming??

 So let’s dive in and see who our candidates are…

 Let’s  start with the favorite…Kearsarge.

 They have recovered nicely from their four-game slide and won a knock down drag out affair with Souhegan on Tuesday night.

 When they dropped to 3-4 I said on our radio show that it was going to be a bad break for some 4 seed who instead of hosting a team they would be favored to beat in the quarterfinals would now have to play a Kearsarge team that is 14-0 with their starters…but taking a look at the standings this morning tells you they still have a shot at the #1 seed. Even with four losses.

 Oyster River at 7-2 is your top seed, that’s only two games, meaning the Cougars will control their own destiny when it comes to a Top seed and a pair of home games. Tayler Mattos (26.2) and Tommy Johnson (21.0) are the top two scorers in the division and players like Noah Tremblay stepped up in their brief absence.

 Oyster River has the ability to get you out of your offensive rhythm with their half-court traps and in Max Lewis, Kyle Landrigan, Joe Morell, Brennan Oxford and Cam Thibodeau they have a starting five that can guard multiple positions.

 They don't have a true big man but Lewis rebounds very well for his size and all five players will hit the glass. Head coach Lorne Lucas won a title at Somersworth in 2011 and understands how to manage a tournament game in its final minutes.

 Merrimack Valley’s recent two-game skid is just a natural correction. This is a good team, well coached by Tim Mucher, that won a lot of close games, and now they have come out on the short end of games against Bishop Brady & Pembroke.

 They remind me of Oyster River in that they don’t have a go-to scorer but five good players interchangeable on the floor as far as their spacing on offense.

 I’d keep an eye on Pembroke. Of all the teams they might have the most upside. Players get tired of hearing the defense wins mantra but the truth is, after watching 32 of the last 36 state championship games in person, I can count on one hand the number of shoot-outs there were. Teams win in March in the 40’s and 50’s and if you can’t defend you don’t win those games.

 Head coach Rich Otis understood that from Day 1 and as the players continue to buy in this becomes a team more & more capable of being the last team standing. Noah Cummings has been terrific, Jake Sherman can score in his sleep and Sean Menard can get 25 points on the right night. If they defend and rebound they’re a very tough out in March.

 The defending champs have been very inconsistent and just looking at their results gives you a Popsicle headache. Lebanon has wins over Kearsarge, Hollis-Brookline & Kennett…but losses to Con Val and John Stark.

 The issue for Lebanon is scoring. They are not getting as many easy baskets as Ryan Milliken & KJ Matte used to regularly supply, so they are forced to get everything in the half court. They have only gotten over 60 points once all season and by comparison, Kearsarge has scored 70.5 ppg. in games with Mattos & Johnson.

 The verdict is still out on: Hollis-Brookline ( they are pounding teams on the glass with Matt Dowling & Matt Simco and teams are settling for jumpers because of it…can the backcourt come together for a run back to Durham? Head coach Cole Etten knows what it takes to get there…) Coe-Brown ( their second-half schedule is really tough…they’re going to have to win on the road to get a top 8 seed)…….Pelham ( they are about to play four straight road games against Oyster River, Windham, Hollis-Brookline & Timberlane followed by Milford & Hollis-Brookline at home…this team hasn’t clicked yet but let’s see where they’re at after this stretch)……Souhegan ( they are scoring in bunches, they play a very tough schedule and they’re oozing confidence…keep your eye out for the Sabers…they just went toe to toe with the team to beat and walked away feeling like they can beat them if they get them on a neutral floor..we’ll be out to cover them very soon)…..Timberlane (the win over Oyster River showed a lot of character…they beat you with precision and Bob Horgan is the best passing big man in the state…..)

 

Your lower seeded team that will be a nightmare in Round 1: Plymouth

 Can they score enough to pull a first-round upset? I’m not sure they can…

 What I do know is Mike Sullivan can really coach, this team has depth, athletes and they will defend. They also understand what it takes to win a one & done game, I watched them do it for three straight weeks on the football field.

 That makes them a scary lower seed come March.

 

 Player of the year at the mid-point: Tayler Mattos of Kearsarge

 This was not a tough call….

 Runner-up:  Anderson Geffard of Souhegan

 

 Coach the of the Year at the mid-point: Lorne Lucas of Oyster River

 This was an extremely tough call….you could argue for Pete Pierce (Souhegan), Tim Mucher (Merrimack Valley), Leo Gershgorin (Con Val)  and Rich Otis (Pembroke) and I would nod my head in agreement…

 Runner-up: A  lot of people

 

 First Team All-State (First half of the season)

 Tayler Mattos of Kearsarge Regional

 Tommy Johnson of Kearsarge Regional

 Anderson Geffard of Souhegan

 Scott Spenard of Coe-Brown

 Noah Cummings of Pembroke Academy

 With apologies to: Drew Brown & Blake Woekel of Pelham, Max Lewis of Oyster River, Matt Dowling & Matt Simco of Hollis-Brookline, Jake Sherman of Pembroke, Ryan Defina & Jake Hebert of Merrimack Valley, Colby Livingston of Kennett, Ryan Hickey of Souhegan, Bob Horgan & Sam Hovan of Timberlane, Charlie Adams of Hanover, Matt Eylander & Chris Nulty of Lebanon, Ben Henry of Con Val & Gob Gob of Manchester West