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# First round to get underway as D1 girls basketball favorites wait
- URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/first-round-get-underway-d1-girls-basketball-favorites-wait/
- Published: 2017-03-01T17:30:18.000Z
- Updated: 2017-03-01T17:30:18.000Z
- Description: Higher seeds will find out Wednesday what happens in first round of D1 postseason.
- Author: Joe Marchilena
- Tags: Division I, girls basketball, playoffs, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44

When the NHIAA first announced its new playoff format, Lani Buskey was not a fan.

The 70-percent rule cut down the number of teams that made the postseason in most divisions, meaning that some of the top teams would get a bye into the quarterfinals. In some cases, that means more than a week off for the teams that finished at the top of the standings.

But now, the Pinkerton Academy girls basketball coach is thankful for the change she at first didn't like.

"What had me initially thinking I didn't know if I liked this new playoff system has me saying thank you for this new playoff system," Buskey said following last Friday's loss to Bishop Guertin. "Now we have a week to figure stuff out."

The stuff would be injuries to three players - Amanda Lemire, Cydney Lessard and Taylor Frost.

Lemire missed the Astros' final two games, and likely won't return unless Pinkerton reaches the final four, while Lessard was hurt in the next-to-last game against Trinity and sat out the finale. Buskey felt positive Lessard would return for the quarterfinals, while the status of Frost - who was hurt against Bishop Guertin - was up in the air.

Pinkerton is one of four teams with a bye into Saturday's quarterfinals - Bishop Guertin, Bedford and Alvirne are the others. Here’s a look at the rest of the first-round matchups, which all take place Wednesday.

**No. 9 Manchester Memorial (9-9) at No. 8 Nashua North (9-9)**

The Titans escaped with a last-minute, 52-51 win over the Crusaders on Jan. 31, but North struggled down the stretch, losing four of its final five games. Memorial has gone 7-4 in its last 11 games, with the other three losses coming to teams that finished in the top four in the division.

**No. 12 Dover (8-10) at No. 5 Londonderry (11-7)**

The Lancers ended the regular season with four wins in a row, including a 53-37 win over Dover on Feb. 20\. That was part of a three-game losing skid to end the season for the Green Wave.

**No. 10 Manchester Central (9-9) at No. 7 Merrimack (9-9)**

These two teams met a little more than a week ago, with the Little Green taking a 54-48 win. The teams headed into the postseason in different directions, with Central winning four of its final six games, while Merrimack lost three in a row before taking its final two games.

**No. 11 Salem (8-10) at No. 6 Winnacunnet (11-7)**

The Warriors won two games against the Blue Devils during the regular season, winning 49-39 at Salem on Jan. 17 and 61-43 at home a month later. That first win started Winnacunnet on a season-ending stretch that saw the Warriors go 7-2, with the losses coming to Bishop Guertin and a one-point setback to Londonderry in the finale. Salem had been on a roll in the second half of the year, but dropped its final three games going into the playoffs.

### Playoff predictions

**First-round byes:** No. 1 Bishop Guertin (16-1), No. 2 Pinkerton (16-2), No. 3 Bedford (16-2), No. 4 Alvirne (16-2)

**First-round winners:** Londonderry, Winnacunnet, Manchester Memorial and Manchester Central.

**Final four:** Bishop Guertin, Pinkerton, Bedford, Alvirne.

**Championship:** Bishop Guertin over Bedford.