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# Division I girls basketball preview
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/division-i-girls-basketball-preview/
- Published: 2014-12-12T18:47:05.000Z
- Updated: 2014-12-12T18:47:05.000Z
- Description: Here's a look at how the Division I girls basketball might play out in 2014.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Winter Sports, Division I, girls basketball, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

![Londonderry's Kelsey Coffey blocks a shot by Bedford's Nikki Tucci during a game last season.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jmlonbball021914-l21-1.jpg)

Londonderry's Kelsey Coffey blocks a shot by Bedford's Nikki Tucci during a game last season.

Here's a look at how the Division I girls basketball might play out in 2014.

## Favorites

- **Londonderry (last year: 19-3):** The defending champs lost last year's Gatorade Player of the Year in Aliza Simpson and perhaps the best head coach New Hampshire girls basketball has known in John Fagula. But the Lancers return some key role players from last year's title run and a lot of size.
- **Bedford (last year: 21-1):** The Bulldogs were hit hard by graduation and lost Gabby Hunter to prep school, but Bedford returns perhaps the best backcourt in the state in juniors Bri Purcell and Nikki Tucci.
- **Bishop Guertin (last year: 15-5):** Bishop Guertin enters its second year under coach Jeremy Faulkner and returns one of the top players in the division in senior Megan Kerutis (division second team). The Cardinals are young and should be one of the top teams for the next couple of seasons.
- **Nashua North (last year: 16-5):** The Titans reached the semifinals for the first time in program history last year and return most of the players that got them there. Leading the way is the trio of senior Taylor Chaote (division first team) and juniors Adaeze Okorie (second team) and Sara Cordova.
- **Pinkerton (last year: 15-6):** The Astros were a final four team a year ago and have a solid group returning, led by senior Valerie Martin (division first team).

## Contenders

- **Winnacunnet (last year: 13-7):** Winnacunnet returns three starters from last year's quarterfinal team in senior Molly Britton and juniors Katie Valich and Meg Knollmeyer, who combined to average 23-plus points a game last year.
- **Trinity (last year: 12-8):** The Pioneers have a new head coach - Kevin Gibbs - and they lost one of their better players - Amanda Torres (division first team) - prep school, but Trinity has a talented group back and adds sophomore Hannah Fabiano, who transferred from Campbell, to the mix.
- **Manchester Memorial (last year: 11-8):** The Crusaders played a lot of the top teams in the division tough last year and they have one of the top players in the division back in senior Makenah Grisson.

## Sleeper

- **Dover (last year: 9-11):** The Green Wave returns four starters from the team that upset Salem in the first round a year ago. Seniors Katie Boyatsis and Abby Tilton are four-year varsity players, meaning Dover has plenty of experience going into the year.

**The rest:** Alvirne, Concord, Exeter, Keene, Manchester Central, Merrimack, Nashua South, Salem, Spaulding.

**Key matchups**

- Dec. 12: Trinity at Bishop Guertin
- Jan. 15: Nashua North at Dover
- Jan. 16: Bedford at Londonderry
- Feb. 3: Bedford at Manchester Memorial
- Feb. 6: Londonderry at Pinkerton
- Feb. 6: Manchester Memorial at Trinity
- Feb. 13: Manchester Memorial at Bishop Guertin
- Feb. 13: Bedford at Pinkerton
- Feb. 17: Nashua North at Bishop Guertin
- Feb. 20: Bishop Guertin at Pinkerton
- Feb. 27: Bishop Guertin at Bedford
- Feb. 27: Londonderry at Nashua North
- Feb. 27: Trinity at Alvirne

**Projected Final Four**

1. Bishop Guertin
2. Bedford
3. Londonderry
4. Trinity

**Championship:** Bishop Guertin over Londonderry.

**Tournament dates**

- Preliminary round: March 3, home of higher seed, 7 p.m.
- Quarterfinals: March 6, home of higher seed, 7 p.m.
- Semifinals: March 9, SNHU, 6 and 8 p.m.
- Final: March 13, SNHU, 7:30 p.m.