Winter Sports

Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (Feb. 14)

Love isn't the only thing in the air this Friday; playoff basketball is as well. Division III wraps up its regular season this weekend and begins the playoffs next week, with Division IV following suit the week after that. Here’s a look at what the tournament field for all four divisions of boys bas

Joe Marchilena

— 5 min read
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Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (Feb. 14)

Love isn't the only thing in the air this Friday; playoff basketball is as well. Division III wraps up its regular season this weekend and begins the playoffs next week, with Division IV following suit the week after that.

Here’s a look at what the tournament field for all four divisions of boys basketball would look like if the postseason were to begin today.

Note: With the NHIAA’s 70-percent rule in place for the postseason, Division I and III will have 15 teams, Division II will have 14 teams, and Division IV will have 16 teams in the playoffs. Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. These are not official. 

Division I

Team (record, rating, last week)

  1. Portsmouth (12-2, 3.4286, 3rd)
  2. Bedford (12-3, 3.2000, 1st)
  3. Exeter (11-3, 3.1429, 4th)
  4. Trinity (10-4, 2.8571, 5th)
  5. Keene (10-4, 2.8571, 2nd)
  6. Nashua South (10-4, 2.8571, 6th)
  7. Alvirne (10-4, 2.8571, 7th)
  8. Windham (8-6, 2.2857, 13th)
  9. Manchester Memorial (8-6, 2.2857, 12th)
  10. Londonderry (8-6, 2.2857, 8th)
  11. Winnacunnet (7-7, 2.0000, 9th)
  12. Goffstown (7-7, 2.0000, 11th)
  13. Bishop Guertin (7-8, 1.8667, 10th)
  14. Dover (6-8, 1.7143, 14th)
  15. Merrimack (6-8, 1.7143, 15th)

Outside: Spaulding (6-9, 1.6000); Pinkerton (5-10, 1.3333); Salem (4-10, 1.1429); Nashua North (4-10, 1.1429); Manchester Central (2-12, 0.5714).

Eliminated: Timberlane (1-14, 0.2667); Concord (0-15, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

  • In a four-way tiebreaker, Trinity and Keene finish ahead of Nashua South and Alvirne thanks to a better rating in head-to-head games.
  • Trinity wins the tiebreaker with Keene thanks to a head-to-head victory.
  • Nashua South wins the tiebreaker with Alvirne thanks to a head-to-head victory.
  • In a three-way tiebreaker, Windham, Manchester Memorial and Londonderry finish in that order thanks to rating against tournament teams.
  • Winnacunnet wins the tiebreaker with Goffstown thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.
  • Dover wins the tiebreaker with Merrimack thanks to a head-to-head victory.

First-round bye (changes in bold)

  • No. 1 Portsmouth

First-round matchups (changes in bold)

  • No. 9 Manchester Memorial at No. 8 Windham
  • No. 12 Goffstown at No. 5 Keene
  • No. 13 Bishop Guertin at No. 4 Trinity
  • No. 15 Merrimack at No. 2 Bedford
  • No. 10 Londonderry at No. 7 Alvirne
  • No. 14 Dover at No. 3 Exeter
  • No. 11 Winnacunnet at No. 6 Nashua South

Playoff Schedule

  • Prelims: March 5, at home of higher seed.
  • Quarterfinals: March 8, at home of higher seed.
  • Semifinals: March 12, at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, Rochester.
  • Championship: March 16, at the University of New Hampshire, Durham.

Division II

Team (record, rating, last week)

  1. Pembroke (12-1, 3.6923, 1st)
  2. Pelham (11-2, 3.4615, 2nd)
  3. Hanover (12-2, 3.4286, 3rd)
  4. Coe-Brown (11-3, 3.2143, 6th)
  5. Hollis Brookline (10-3, 3.1538, 8th)
  6. Manchester West (11-3, 3.1429, 4th)
  7. Sanborn (10-4, 3.0000, 5th)
  8. Oyster River (9-4, 2.8462, 7th)
  9. Bow (9-4, 2.7692, 10th)
  10. Merrimack Valley (8-5, 2.4615, 9th)
  11. Kennett (6-7, 1.8462, 11th)
  12. Souhegan (6-8, 1.7143, 13th)
  13. Milford (5-8, 1.5385, 12th)
  14. ConVal (4-8, 1.3333, NR)

Outside: Kingswood (4-10, 1.1429, 14th); John Stark (3-10, 0.9231); Laconia (2-11, 0.6154); Bishop Brady (2-11, 0.6154); Lebanon (2-11, 0.6154); Plymouth (0-14, 0.0000).

First-round byes (changes in bold)

  • No. 1 Pembroke
  • No. 2 Pelham

First-round matchups (changes in bold)

  • No. 9 Bow at No. 8 Oyster River
  • No. 12 Souhegan at No. 5 Hollis Brookline
  • No. 13 Milford at No. 4 Coe-Brown
  • No. 14 Kingswood at No. 3 Hanover
  • No. 10 Merrimack Valley at No. 7 Sanborn
  • No. 11 Kennett at No. 6 Manchester West

Playoff Schedule

  • Prelims: March 4, at home of higher seed.
  • Quarterfinals: March 7, at home of higher seed.
  • Semifinals: March 10, at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, Rochester.
  • Championship: March 16, at the University of New Hampshire, Durham.

Division III

Team (record, rating, last week)

  1. Belmont (16-1, 3.7647, 1st)
  2. Mascoma Valley (15-1, 3.7500, 2nd)
  3. Kearsarge (15-2, 3.5294, 3rd)
  4. Campbell (14-2, 3.5000, 4th)
  5. St. Thomas (13-3, 3.2500, 5th)
  6. Gilford (13-4, 3.0588, 6th)
  7. Newport (12-5, 2.8235, 8th)
  8. Fall Mountain (10-5, 2.6667, 9th)
  9. Raymond (12-6, 2.6667, 7th)
  10. Newfound (10-7, 2.3529, 10th)
  11. Prospect Mountain (8-8, 2.0000, 11th)
  12. Hopkinton (7-9, 1.7500, 12th)
  13. White Mountains (7-9, 1.7500, 13th)
  14. Conant (7-10, 1.6471, 14th)
  15. Stevens (4-11, 1.0667, NR)

Outside: Monadnock (4-12, 1.0000, 15th); Hillsboro-Deering (2-12, 0.5714).

Eliminated: Inter-Lakes (4-13, 0.9412); Somersworth (3-12, 0.8000); Derryfield (1-16, 0.2353); Winnisquam (0-15, 0.0000); Berlin (0-17, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

  • Fall Mountains wins the tiebreaker with Raymond thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
  • Hopkinton wins the tiebreaker with White Mountains thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.

First-round bye (changes in bold)

  • No. 1 Belmont

First-round matchups (changes in bold)

  • No. 9 Raymond at No. 8 Fall Mountain
  • No. 12 Hopkinton at No. 5 St. Thomas
  • No. 13 White Mountains at No. 4 Campbell
  • No. 15 Stevens at No. 2 Mascoma Valley
  • No. 10 Newfound at No. 7 Newport
  • No. 14 Conant at No. 3 Kearsarge
  • No. 11 Prospect Mountain at No. 6 Gilford

Playoff Schedule

  • Prelims: Feb. 18, at home of higher seed.
  • Quarterfinals: Feb. 21, at home of higher seed.
  • Semifinals: Feb. 26, at Bow High School.
  • Championship: March 1, at Keene State College.

Division IV

Team (record, rating, last week)

  1. Woodsville (16-0, 4.0000, 1st)
  2. Concord Christian (15-0, 4.0000, 2nd)
  3. Littleton (13-3, 3.3750, 3rd)
  4. Newmarket (12-4, 3.0000, 4th)
  5. Groveton (11-5, 2.8750, 5th)
  6. Farmington (11-5, 2.7500, 6th)
  7. Portsmouth Christian (11-5, 2.7500, 7th)
  8. Gorham (10-6, 2.5625, 9th)
  9. Franklin (9-7, 2.2500, 8th)
  10. Epping (8-8, 2.0000, 16th)
  11. Hinsdale (8-8, 2.0000, 10th)
  12. Holy Family (7-8, 1.8667, 11th)
  13. Colebrook (7-9, 1.7500, NR)
  14. Pittsburg-Canaan (7-9, 1.7500, 14th)
  15. Lin-Wood (7-9, 1.7500, 13th)
  16. Mascenic (7-9, 1.7500, 15th)

Outside: Moultonborough (6-10, 1.6250, 12th); Profile (6-10, 1.5625); Wilton-Lyndeborough (4-11, 1.0667).

Eliminated: Nute (4-12, 1.0000); Pittsfield (2-14, 0.5000); Sunapee (2-14, 0.5000); Mount Royal (1-15, 0.2500).

Tiebreakers

  • Woodsville wins the tiebreaker with Concord Christian thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.
  • Epping wins the tiebreaker with Hinsdale thanks to a head-to-head victory.
  • In a four-way tiebreaker, Colebrook finishes ahead of Lin-Wood and Pittsburg-Canaan, and Mascenic finishes behind all three, thanks to rating against tournament teams.
  • Pittsburg-Canaan wins the tiebreaker with Lin-Wood thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.

First-round matchups (changes in bold)

  • No. 16 Mascenic at No. 1 Woodsville
  • No. 9 Franklin at No. 8 Gorham
  • No. 12 Holy Family at No. 5 Groveton
  • No. 13 Colebrook at No. 4 Newmarket
  • No. 15 Lin-Wood at No. 2 Concord Christian
  • No. 10 Epping at No. 7 Portsmouth Christian
  • No. 14 Pittsburg-Canaan at No. 3 Littleton
  • No. 11 Hinsdale at No. 6 Farmington

Playoff Schedule

  • Prelims: Feb. 24, at home of higher seed.
  • Quarterfinals: Feb. 27, at home of higher seed.
  • Semifinals: March 3, at Laconia High School
  • Championship: March 8, at Colby Sawyer College, New London.

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