It’s back! The Winter edition of the Top 10 is here. The listicle you can’t live without. Just remember– this is a STATE WEBSITE and I expect you to send me ideas for this list. YOU GOT THAT?!?!?!

The Top 10 is brought to you by TJ’S in Portsmouth! My absolute favorite spot in Portsmouth to catch a game. Tell Bethany that McIsaac sent you.

10. JAMAL ADAMS CAN’T STOP ANY PATRIOTS THAT AREN’T WEARING A COSTUME

By now you’ve seen the video of NY Jets DB Jamal Adams putting the hit stick on some poor kid in a Pat Patriot costume. Whoever was wearing the costume had to be treated at a local hospital, since as it turns out getting tackled by an NFL player (I think the Jets still technically count as an NFL team) when you aren’t expecting to get truck-sticked, isn’t great for you. Pat Patriot is reportedly going to sue Adams for damages, but really, if he wanted to avoid the hit he should’ve just told Adams it was 3rd down.

9. A SOMERSWORTH STATEMENT

The defending champs made the trip to Hopkinton and laid the smack down on the Hawks Friday night with a  68-39 W in a gym that’s not easy to win in (I once saw Belgian exchange student/point guard Jeremy Dognies dribble into the floor for 3 straight minutes to get a last shot against a zone in a Topp-Hawks playoff game, true story). With the Toppers sitting at 9-2 they’re one of the teams that might pose a threat to spoil the expected Conant-Campbell party.

8. LITTLETON KINDA MADE A STATEMENT TOO

I think the last thing Groveton wanted was for White Mts to beat Littleton this week, but that’s what happened and Groveton got an angry Crusader team handing the Eagles a 70-35 L Friday night. We’ve seen Groveton bounce back from regular season losses to Littleton before, but getting doubled up has to smart a little bit.

7. BELMONT TAKES THE BATTLE OF THE LAKES

Lead by future Speaker of The House Aidan Rupp’s 21-13 night, Belmont put themselves in a good spot with a 60-52 win over Inter-Lakes. The (other) Red Raiders have a game with Winnisquam and a matchup with Hillsboro Deering before a showdown with Somersworth that they could enter with a record of 9-2, if they take care of business.

6. THE NUMBER OF HS HOOPS COACHES THAT EITHER MESSAGED OR TWEETED ME ABOUT THE WWE ROYAL RUMBLE

That’s right, it was 6.  As I write this we’re in the middle of the Women’s Rumble, and a guy dressed as a Leprechaun (Hornswaggle) just appeared from under the ring and scared Zelina Vega, who had ALSO had been hiding under the ring to avoid entering the Rumble. I know a lot of you might be confused right now, but if You Know, You Know.

5. THE PATS HELD A RALLY THAT SOLD OUT, AND ABOUT 22 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT THE RAMS RALLY

This might just seem like a “MY FAN BASE IS BETTER THAN YOUR FANBASE” internet argument, but I think the fact that Pats fans should outnumber Rams fans about 10000-1 at the actual game will play a factor. LA doesn’t care about the Rams when they’re playing at the Colosseum, you think anyone is flying to ATL for them?

4. LYRIC GRUMBLATT  >>> LYRICS TO YOUR FAVORITE SONG

41 points at Keene including 8 3’s (for the 2nd time this season) followed up by 20 points in a W over Salem to help get the Manchester Memorial Crusaders to 9-2 in D1. It’s still BG’s world in D1 Girls, but if Memorial can get a few more Lyrical performances like that, anything can happen.

3. AMERICA’S TEAM NEARLY WENT TO CANADA

Sam Natti and the Lisbon Panthers traveled allll the way to Pittsburgh-Caanan (or is it Caanan-Pittsburgh? CAN I GET A RULING HERE??) and came away with a win over the Yellow Jackets, but the real story might be Freshman Phenom Camden Burt pouring in 25 points – I don’t know a ton of things, but I do know this; if you have a Freshman that can score like that, a march towards 1,000 points is inevitable.

2. THE CON VAL COUGARS ARE RED HOT, AND THEY GIVE AWAY A WRESTLING BELT AFTER EVERY GAME

I don’t know if the Cougars were looking to try and steal my heart, but giving away a WWE belt each night for their “Work Ethic Player Of The Game” is a good way to start. The Cougars have an 8-1 mark, and let’s take a look at their schedule:

Two with Souhegan could be tough, at Kearsarge will be a battle, and the last 3 on the road will test their mettle (and Laconia is capable of biting you if you’re not careful), not to mention hosting West, so we’re going to find out exactly what Con-Val is made of.

1. WINNY’S BIG WEEK

Can you think of two bigger regular season games for the Warriors? At Salem on Tuesday (Have the SwishGate wounds healed yet?), followed by At their bitter rivals Exeter on Friday. The three teams are a combined 24-1 right now, and Salem’s only loss is to Exeter. Winnacunnet will know where they’re at come Saturday morning, that’s fur sure.

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: Did Hanover get hosed? DOVER SPAULDING THIS WEEK, Cam McIsaac with a 213 for the Red Raider Bowling squad, The Pro Bowl was a joke

 Justin McIsaac writes the Top 10 every week (usually). He is the 2018 NSMA NH Sportscaster of The Year.  He has 1,000 jobs, including radio color commentary for UNH Football, Producer of "NH Today with Jack Heath", HS play by play for MOSN, The McIsaac On Sports Network, college play by play for Dartmouth, St Anselm’s, UNE, Harvard, and whoever else will cut the check. Follow him on Twitter: @justin_mcisaac