Lebanon gets top seed in D2; Milford girls basketball to host first playoff game in over 20 years

History will be made Tuesday night at Milford High School, as the girls basketball team will host its first playoff game since the split that created Souhegan in 1992.

But the Spartans and 14 other challengers in Division II might have to put their championship hopes on hold this season.

Top-seeded Lebanon (18-0) not only enters the tournament undefeated, but largely unchallenged. The Raiders have won their games by an average of 32.3 points this season, and their closest games were two 23-point victories.

Lebanon opens the postseason by hosting No. 16 John Stark (4-14) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the preliminary round. The winner of that game moves on to face either No. 9 Kennett (11-7) or No. 8 Coe-Brown (11-7) in the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for Friday.

No. 4 Milford (13-5) will host No. 13 Pembroke (8-10) in the first round Tuesday, and the winner advances to face either No. 5 Hollis Brookline (13-5) or No. 12 St. Thomas (8-10). If the Spartans and Cavaliers reach the quarterfinals, it will be their third meeting this season.

No. 14 Souhegan (7-11), the two-time defending champs, go on the road to face No. 3 Windham (14-4) in the first round. The winner will advance to play either No. 11 Pelham (9-9) or No. 6 Goffstown (12-6).

No. 2 Portsmouth (15-3) hosts No. 15 Oyster River (6-12) on Tuesday, and the winner of that game will face the winner of No. 10 Merrimack Valley (11-7) and No. 7 Hanover (12-6).

All quarterfinal games will be played Friday at 7 p.m. at the home of the higher seed and the semifinals are scheduled for March 4 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. at Southern New Hampshire University.

The championship game will be held March 8 at 7 p.m., also at SNHU.