Division II

Bracketology: Division II girls basketball

The season doesn't end until Friday, but the No. 1 seed in the Division II girls basketball tournament has already been determined, regardless of any outcomes. Portsmouth will be the No. 1 seed, no matter what it does Thursday at Windham, while Merrimack Valley, just a game behind the Clippers, will

The season doesn't end until Friday, but the No. 1 seed in the Division II girls basketball tournament has already been determined, regardless of any outcomes.

Portsmouth will be the No. 1 seed, no matter what it does Thursday at Windham, while Merrimack Valley, just a game behind the Clippers, will be the No. 2 seed. Lebanon has also already clinched the No. 3 seed.

The real battle for position comes throughout the rest of the division.

How the playoffs stand

Here's a look at the first-round matchups if the playoff started Friday. Tiebreakers have been applied.

No. 16 John Stark (5-12) at No. 1 Portsmouth (17-0)
No. 9 Oyster River (10-8) at No. 8 Hollis Brookline (10-7)
No. 12 Manchester West (8-10) at No. 5 Hanover (13-4)
No. 13 Timberlane (7-10) at No. 4 Souhegan (13-4)
No. 15 St. Thomas (6-12) at No. 2 Merrimack Valley (16-1)
No. 10 Bishop Brady (9-8) at No. 7 Goffstown (11-6)
No. 14 Windham (6-11) at No. 3 Lebanon (14-3)
No. 11 Coe-Brown (8-9) at No. 6 Pembroke (12-5)

Top four

Portsmouth (17-0): The Clippers have already beaten Windham once this season, back on Jan. 12, and another win over the Jaguars would complete an undefeated regular season. Even with a loss, Portsmouth would get the No. 1 seed, thanks to a better record against fellow playoff teams. Best wins: Souhegan (50-26), Goffstown (52-36), Bishop Brady (54-25). Bad losses: None.
Merrimack Valley (16-1): The Pride will be the No. 2 seed regardless of the outcome of Friday's game against Milford. In fact, its a bigger game for the Spartans, as they are on the outside looking in. Merrimack Valley would lose a tiebreaker with Portsmouth based on its record against playoff teams. Best wins: Pembroke (71-43), at Hanover (56-43), at Bishop Brady (50-44). Bad losses: None.
Lebanon (14-3): The Raiders travel down to Peterborough to face winless ConVal, but even should Lebanon lose, it will be the No. 3 seed. The Raiders can't catch Merrimack Valley, and hold the head-to-head tiebreakers over Souhegan and Hanover, should they finish tied. Best wins: at Bishop Brady (54-29), Hanover (39-19, 45-41), Pembroke (50-33), Souhegan (57-36). Bad losses: None.
Souhegan (13-4): The Sabers survived for a three-point win Tuesday night against Windham. A loss would have been a third in a row for Souhegan, and it can't afford to lose ground. The Sabers have a tough final game at Hollis Brookline, who they beat by one earlier this year. A win gets Souhegan the fourth seed, but a loss could drop it to as low as sixth. Best wins: Hanover (43-36), Hollis Brookline (47-46), Bishop Brady (48-33). Bad losses: Manchester West (33-27).

Next four

Hanover (13-4): The Marauders have stormed into the top five by winning eight games in a row, and a win over John Stark on Friday, combined with a Souhegan loss, would give Hanover the No. 4 seed. But four of those wins came against teams that won't make the postseason. Best wins: Bishop Brady (51-39, 52-47), at Pembroke (38-36), at Goffstown (54-33), Hollis Brookline (62-35). Bad losses: at Lebanon (39-19).
Pembroke (12-5): The Spartans have also been hot to end the season, winning five games in a row, and six of seven. Pembroke should be inspired to beat its final opponent, Timberlane, which knocked the Spartans off earlier this season. Pembroke needs a win to hang on to the No. 6 seed, as a loss and a Goffstown win would have the teams switch spots. Best wins: Hollis Brookline (56-53), Merrimack Valley (43-39), Lebanon (47-42). Bad losses: at Timberlane (55-49).
Goffstown (11-6): Another team that's been hot down the stretch, the Grizzlies have won five of six going into Thursday's finale with Bishop Brady. Goffstown lost the Giants by eight points on Jan. 22, and since then, its gone 6-2. A win could move Goffstown up to sixth if Pembroke loses, but a loss could drop the Grizzlies to eighth, if HB beats Souhegan. Best wins: Pembroke (29-26), Lebanon (47-40). Bad losses: Manchester West (52-42), Coe-Brown (45-41).
Hollis Brookline (10-7): The Cavaliers are ending the season the same way they stared. HB dropped three of its first four games, and after winning eight of nine, have lost three of their last four. The Cavs need a win to at least hang on to the eighth seed. A loss could drop them down to the 10th seed. Best wins: Bishop Brady (58-47), Lebanon (46-37). Bad losses: at John Stark (48-34), Milford (39-36), Windham (53-50).

Rest of the field

Oyster River (10-8)
Bishop Brady (9-8)
Coe-Brown (8-9)
Manchester West (8-10)
Timberlane (7-10)
Windham (6-11)
St. Thomas (6-12)
John Stark (5-12)

Team no one wants to face: Oyster River. The Bobcats have already finished their season, and could end up getting a home game if things break right. In the last six games, Oyster River is 5-1, with the one loss a three-point defeat against Portsmouth.