Bracketology: Division II Girls Basketball (Feb. 22)

(Updated Feb. 22) The Division II girls basketball regular season is down to its final week and there is still a lot to be decided before the postseason begins on Feb. 27.

This week, we’ll be updating the playoff picture when necessary for Sports Insider Members. To signup for a membership, click on the register button below.

Note: With the NHIAA’s 70-percent rule in place for the postseason, Division II will have 16 teams. These are not official pairings.

Division II

Playoff field (record, rating)

1. Portsmouth (18-0, 4.0556)
2. Lebanon (15-2, 3.5294) ⇑
3. Hollis Brookline (15-2, 3.5294)
4. Pelham (15-2, 3.5294) ⇓
5. Kennett (13-4, 3.1176)
6. Goffstown (12-5, 2.8235)
7. Hanover (12-5, 2.8235)
8. Bishop Brady (12-5, 2.8235)
9. Bow (10-7, 2.3529) ⇑
10. Windham (10-7, 2.3529) ⇓
11. John Stark (9-8, 2.1176)
12. Laconia (9-8, 2.1176)
13. Merrimack Valley (9-8, 2.1176)
14. Pembroke (9-8, 2.1176)
15. ConVal (7-10, 1.6471)
16. Souhegan (7-11, 1.5556)

Outside: Coe-Brown (6-11, 1.4118); Timberlane (6-11, 1.4118); Kearsarge (5-12, 1.1765); Kingswood (4-12, 1.0000); Milford (3-14, 0.7059); Plymouth (1-16, 0.2353); Manchester West (0-17, 0.0000); Oyster River (0-17, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

• Lebanon wins the three-way tiebreaker with Hollis Brookline and Pelham thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
• Hollis Brookline wins the tiebreaker with Pelham thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
• Goffstown wins the three-way tiebreaker with Hanover and Bishop Brady thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games.
• Hanover wins the tiebreaker with Bishop Brady thanks to a head-to-head victory.
• Bow wins the tiebreaker with Windham thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
• In a four-way tiebreaker, John Stark and Laconia finish ahead of Merrimack Valley and Pembroke thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games.
• John Stark wins the tiebreaker over Laconia thanks to a head-to-head victory.
• Laconia wins the three-way tiebreaker with Merrimack Valley and Pembroke thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games.
• Merrimack Valley wins the tiebreaker with Pembroke thanks to a head-to-head victory.

Schedule

• Thursday, Feb. 22: Laconia at Plymouth, 6 p.m.; Timberlane at Goffstown, 6:30 p.m.; Windham at Hanover, 7 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 23: Kennett at Kingswood, 5:30 p.m.; Manchester West at Pelham, 6:30 p.m.; Bishop Brady at Hollis Brookline, 6:30 p.m.; Merrimack Valley at Pembroke, 6:30 p.m.; Lebanon at John Stark, 6:30 p.m.; Bow at Kearsarge, 6:30 p.m.; Milford at ConVal, 6:30 p.m.; Coe-Brown at Oyster River, 8 p.m.

Scenarios

• Portsmouth has clinched the No. 1 seed.
• Lebanon would get the No. 2 seed with a win and a Hollis Brookline loss.
• Hollis Brookline would get the No. 2 seed with a win and a Pelham loss.
• Pelham would get the No. 2 seed with a win and a Lebanon loss and a Hollis Brookline loss.
• In a three-way tie, Lebanon would be second, Hollis Brookline third and Pelham fourth.
• Kennett had clinched the No. 5 seed.
• Goffstown clinches the No. 6 seed with a win.
• Hanover clinches the No. 7 seed with a win and a Goffstown win.
• Bishop Brady will be the No. 8 seed unless it wins and Goffstown and/or Hanover lose.

The final two spots

• ConVal, Souhegan and Coe-Brown are alive for the final two playoff spots.
• If ConVal wins its final game, it clinches a playoff spot.
• If Coe-Brown wins its final game, and ConVal wins, the Bears clinch the final spot and Souhegan is out.
• If Coe-Brown loses, ConVal and Souhegan are both in.
• If Coe-Brown wins and ConVal loses, creating a three-way tie, Souhegan and ConVal are both in and Coe-Brown is out.

First-round matchups (changes in bold)

• No. 16 Souhegan at No. 1 Portsmouth
• No. 9 Bow at No. 8 Bishop Brady
• No. 12 Laconia at No. 5 Kennett
• No. 13 Merrimack Valley at No. 4 Pelham
• No. 15 ConVal at No. 2 Lebanon
• No. 10 Windham at No. 7 Hanover
• No. 14 Pembroke at No. 3 Hollis Brookline
• No. 11 John Stark at No. 6 Goffstown