Division I

Bracketology: Division I girls basketball

The closer the end of the regular season seems to get, the more wide open Division I gets in girls basketball. Going into the year, it looked like every team would be chasing the usual suspects - Bedford and Londonderry - with Winnacunnet, Pinkerton and Bishop Guertin not too far behind. While those

The closer the end of the regular season seems to get, the more wide open Division I gets in girls basketball.

Going into the year, it looked like every team would be chasing the usual suspects - Bedford and Londonderry - with Winnacunnet, Pinkerton and Bishop Guertin not too far behind.

While those five teams make up the top five in the division, none are unbeatable.

Just take a look at results from the last few weeks. Nashua North handed losses to both Bedford and Pinkerton. Londonderry lost at home in overtime to Dover. And of course, those five have beaten up on each other.

How the playoffs stand

Here's a look at the first-round matchups if the playoff started Friday. No tiebreakers have been applied.

No. 16 Keene (4-12) at No. 1 Bishop Guertin (14-1)
No. 9 Dover (8-9) at No. 8 Manchester Central (8-7)
No. 12 Saken (6-9)at No. 5 Pinkerton (12-3)
No. 13 Trinity (6-9) at No. 4 Londonderry (12-3)
No. 15 Exeter (4-11) at No. 2 Bedford (14-2)
No. 10 Merrimack (7-9) at No. 7 Nashua North (9-6)
No. 14 Nashua South (5-11) at No. 3 Winnacunnet (13-3)
No. 11 Manchester Memorial (6-9) at No. 6 Alvirne (11-4)

Top four

Bishop Guertin (14-1): The Cardinals still have two enormous games left on the schedule, starting with Pinkerton at home on Friday. Bishop Guertin then ends the season hosting Bedford on Feb. 26 in the second game of a varsity doubleheader. The Cardinals have won 11 in row, and all but three have been by double figures. Best wins: at Winnacunnet (48-41), Alvirne (42-25), at North (56-27). Bad losses: None. PPG: 48.9. PA: 32.6.
Bedford (14-2): The Bulldogs two losses have been by a combined 13 points. Bedford ends its season with two road games next week, as it heads to Trinity on Feb. 23 and then to Bishop Guertin on Feb. 26 in a game that could be for the No. 1 seed. Best wins: at Londonderry (45-33), at Winnacunnet (64-46), Pinkerton (40-33). Bad losses: Londonderry (28-21). PPG: 51.9. PA: 29.9.
Winnacunnet (13-3): The Warriors are riding a six-game winning streak that has seen them move ahead of Londonderry and Pinkerton in the standings. Like Bedford, Winnacunnet ends the season on the road next week, at Alvirne on Feb. 23 and at Manchester Central on Feb. 26. Best wins: at Nashua North (74-49), Londonderry (65-45). Bad losses: None. PPG: 55.5. PA: 37.2.
Londonderry (12-3): Right now, the Lancers are the fourth seed thanks to their head-to-head win over Pinkerton. Londonderry is at home against Keene on Friday, then plays at Manchester Memorial on Feb. 23 and hosts Nashua North on Feb. 26. Best wins: at Bishop Guertin (50-44), at Bedford (28-21), Pinkerton (39-28). Bad losses: Dover (54-49). PPG: 48.4. PA: 35.9.

Next four

Pinkerton (12-3): The Astros need to win out to have a real shot at getting into the top four, and would likely need some help. After winning its first 10 and averaging 47.6 points a game, Pinkerton has gone 2-3, scoring an average of just 38.8 points. After a tough road game at Bishop Guertin on Friday, the Astros finish with winnable games at Concord and against Exeter. Best wins: Winnacunnet (48-31), at Alvirne (43-33). Bad losses: Nashua North (43-29). PPG: 44.7. PA: 31.3.
Alvirne (11-4): The Broncos have beaten the teams that they should beat and lost to the teams above them in the standings. The biggest difference has been offense. Alvirne has scored 45 points or more in every win, and 36 points or less in each loss. The Broncos take on Salem on Friday before hosting Winnacunnet on Feb. 23 and traveling to Trinity on Feb. 26. Best wins: at Nashua North (55-54), Manchester Central (49-31). Bad losses: at Bishop Guertin (42-25). PPG: 47.5. PA: 36.1.
Nashua North (9-6): The Titans have been a streaky team this season, with two three-game winning streaks and a three-game losing streak. But North has some impressive wins, and if the Titans can get out of the first round, none of the top four teams would want to see them. Best wins: at Pinkerton (43-29), Bedford (49-44). Bad losses: Manchester Memorial (60-58), Trinity (41-29). PPG: 49.9. PA: 44.0.
Manchester Central (8-7): The Little Green have gone 1-6 against teams with a winning record and 7-1 against teams at or under .500. Central, which is 3-4 in its last seven games, plays at Nashua South on Friday before hosting Salem on Feb. 23 and Winnacunnet on Feb. 26. Best wins: Nashua North (45-43). Bad losses: Trinity (59-55). PPG: 46.5. PA: 43.5.

Rest of the field

Dover (8-9)
Manchester Memorial (6-9)
Merrimack (7-9)
Salem (6-9)
Trinity (6-9)
Nashua South (5-11)
Exeter (4-11)
Keene (4-12)

On the rise: Dover had won three straight and five of its last seven, including a win over Londonderry, before falling to Merrimack on Thursday. Trinity started the year 2-7 and has won four of its last six games.

Trending down: Merrimack had dropped its last three and five of seven after a 4-4 start. Nashua South has dropped eight in a row after opening 5-4.