Winter Sports

Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (Feb. 6)

No kidding, it’s time to start talking playoffs. With tournaments beginning for some divisions next week, the time has come to start taking a look at where teams are lining up. Here’s a look at what the tournament field for all four divisions of boys basketball would look like if the postseason were

Joe Marchilena

— 5 min read
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Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (Feb. 6)

No kidding, it’s time to start talking playoffs. With tournaments beginning for some divisions next week, the time has come to start taking a look at where teams are lining up.

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 will have 15 teams, Division II and III will have 14 teams, and Division IV will have 17 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. Bedford (13-0, 4.0000, 1st)
  2. Pinkerton (12-1, 3.6923, 2nd)
  3. Nashua North (9-4, 2.7692, 7th)
  4. Nashua South (9-4, 2.7692, 3rd)
  5. Exeter (8-4, 2.6667, 8th)
  6. Trinity (8-4, 2.6667, 4th)
  7. Windham (8-4, 2.6667, 6th)
  8. Portsmouth (7-5, 2.3333, 5th)
  9. Keene (7-6, 2.1538, 12th)
  10. Manchester Memorial (6-6, 2.0000, 9th)
  11. Goffstown (6-6, 2.0000, 10th)
  12. Dover (6-6, 2.0000, 11th)
  13. Alvirne (5-6, 1.8182, 13th)
  14. Merrimack (5-7, 1.6667, 15th)
  15. Salem (5-7, 1.6667, NR)

Outside: Spaulding (5-8, 1.5385); Londonderry (4-7, 1.4545, 14th); Bishop Guertin (4-9, 1.2308); Manchester Central (3-8, 1.0909); Winnacunnet (2-10, 0.6667); Concord (1-10, 0.3636); Timberlane (0-12, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

  • Nashua North wins the tiebreaker with Nashua South thanks to a head-to-head victory.
  • In a three-way tiebreaker, Exeter, Trinity and Windham finish in that order thanks to ratings in head-to-head games.
  • In a three-way tiebreaker, Manchester Memorial, Goffstown and Dover finish in that order thanks to ratings in head-to-head games.
  • Merrimack wins the tiebreaker with Salem thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.

First-round bye (changes in bold)

  • No. 1 Bedford

First-round matchups

  • No. 9 Keene at No. 8 Portsmouth
  • No. 12 Dover at No. 5 Exeter
  • No. 13 Alvirne at No. 4 Nashua South
  • No. 15 Salem at No. 2 Pinkerton
  • No. 10 Manchester Memorial at No. 7 Windham
  • No. 14 Merrimack at No. 3 Nashua North
  • No. 11 Goffstown at No. 6 Trinity

Division II

Team (record, rating, last week)

  1. Hanover (13-1, 3.7143, 1st)
  2. Pelham (11-1, 3.6667, 2nd)
  3. Pembroke (10-2, 3.3333, 3rd)
  4. Coe-Brown (10-2, 3.3333, 4th)
  5. Manchester West (9-3, 3.0000, 5th)
  6. Bow (9-3, 3.0000, 6th)
  7. Laconia (9-5, 2.5714, 9th)
  8. Oyster River (6-6, 2.0833, 7th)
  9. Kennett (6-6, 2.0000, 10th)
  10. Plymouth (7-7, 2.0000, 8th)
  11. Merrimack Valley (6-8, 1.7143, 12th)
  12. Kingswood (5-7, 1.6667, 11th)
  13. Sanborn (5-8, 1.5385, 13th)
  14. Souhegan (4-7, 1.4545, NR)

Outside: John Stark (5-9, 1.4286); Hollis Brookline (4-9, 1.2308, 14th); Milford (4-9, 1.2308); Lebanon (4-9, 1.2308); ConVal (1-11, 0.3333); Bishop Brady (0-12, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

  • Pembroke wins the tiebreaker with Coe-Brown thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.
  • Manchester West wins the tiebreaker with Bow thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
  • Kennett wins the tiebreaker with Plymouth thanks to a head-to-head victory.

First-round byes (changes in bold)

  • No. 1 Hanover
  • No. 2 Pelham

First-round matchups

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

Division III

Team (record, rating, last week)

  1. Conant (17-0, 4.0000, 1st)
  2. St. Thomas (14-1, 3.7333, 2nd)
  3. Mascoma Valley (12-1, 3.6923, 3rd)
  4. Kearsarge (13-3, 3.2500, 4th)
  5. Hopkinton (11-3, 3.1429, 5th)
  6. White Mountains (10-6, 2.5000, 6th)
  7. Belmont (9-7, 2.2500, 12th)
  8. Gilford (9-7, 2.2500, 10th)
  9. Campbell (8-7, 2.1333, 7th)
  10. Raymond (7-8, 1.8667, 8th)
  11. Fall Mountain (7-8, 1.8667, 11th)
  12. Stevens (7-8, 1.8667, NR)
  13. Inter-Lakes (6-8, 1.7143, 9th)
  14. Prospect Mountain (6-8, 1.7143, 13th)

Outside: Monadnock (6-9, 1.6667, 14th); Newport (6-10, 1.5000); Winnisquam (4-10, 1.1429).

Eliminated: Newfound (2-12, 0.5714); Somersworth (1-13, 0.2857); Hillsboro-Deering (1-14, 0.2667); Berlin (0-16, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

  • Belmont wins the tiebreaker with Gilford thanks to a head-to-head victory.
  • In a three-way tiebreaker, Raymond, Fall Mountain and Stevens finish in order thanks to ratings against tournament teams.
  • Inter-Lakes wins the tiebreaker with Prospect Mountain thanks to a head-to-head victory.

Remaining Schedule

  • Tuesday: Prospect Mountain at Belmont, 6 p.m.; Winnisquam at Gilford, 6 p.m.; Inter-Lakes at Newfound, 6 p.m.; White Mountains at Berlin, 6:30 p.m.; Campbell at Raymond, 6:30 p.m.; Stevens at Fall Mountain, 6:30 p.m.; Hopkinton at Mascoma Valley, 6:30 p.m.; Monadnock at Kearsarge, 6:30 p.m.; Somersworth at St. Thomas, 6:30 p.m.; Newport at Hillsboro-Deering, 7 p.m.
  • Thursday: Fall Mountain at Mascoma Valley, 6:30 p.m.; Kearsarge at Conant, 7 p.m.; Inter-Lakes at Winnisquam, 7 p.m.; Newfound at Newport, 7 p.m.
  • Friday: Raymond at Hillsboro-Deering, 5:30 p.m.; Belmont at Gilford, 6 p.m.; Berlin at Somersworth, 6 p.m.; Campbell at Prospect Mountain, 6 p.m.; Fall Mountain at Monadnock, 6:30 p.m.; Mascoma Valley at White Mountains, 6:30 p.m.; St. Thomas at Hopkinton, 7 p.m.

First-round byes

  • No. 1 Conant
  • No. 2 St. Thomas

First-round matchups

  • No. 9 Campbell at No. 8 Gilford
  • No. 12 Stevens at No. 5 Hopkinton
  • No. 13 Inter-Lakes at No. 4 Kearsarge
  • No. 10 Raymond at No. 7 Belmont
  • No. 14 Prospect Mountain at No. 3 Mascoma Valley
  • No. 11 Fall Mountain at No. 6 White Mountains

Division IV

Team (record, rating, last week)

  1. Profile (15-0, 4.1333, 1st)
  2. Derryfield (15-1, 3.8125, 3rd)
  3. Littleton (14-2, 3.6250, 2nd)
  4. Farmington (13-3, 3.2500, 5th)
  5. Woodsville (12-3, 3.2000, 4th)
  6. Holy Family (11-4, 2.9333, 6th)
  7. Portsmouth Christian (10-5, 2.6667, 7th)
  8. Franklin (10-5, 2.6667, 8th)
  9. Gorham (9-6, 2.4667, 9th)
  10. Groveton (9-7, 2.4375, 10th)
  11. Hinsdale (6-8, 1.7857, 12th)
  12. Concord Christian (7-9, 1.7500, 13th)
  13. Colebrook (6-9, 1.6667, 11th)
  14. Moultonborough (6-9, 1.6667, 15th)
  15. Newmarket (6-9, 1.6000, 16th)
  16. Pittsburg-Canaan (5-8, 1.5385, 14th)
  17. Epping (5-10, 1.3333, 17th)

Outside: Mascenic (5-11, 1.2500); Sunapee (5-11, 1.2500); Nute (5-11, 1.2500); Wilton-Lyndeborough (4-10, 1.1429); Lin-Wood (2-11, 0.6154); Pittsfield (1-14, 0.2667); Mount Royal (1-14, 0.2667).

Tiebreakers

  • Portsmouth Christian wins the tiebreaker with Franklin thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
  • Colebrook wins the tiebreaker with Moultonborough thanks to a head-to-head victory.

Opening Round (changes in bold)

  • No. 17 Epping at No. 16 Pittsburg-Canaan

First-round matchups 

  • Epping/P-C winner at No. 1 Profile
  • No. 9 Gorham at No. 8 Franklin
  • No. 12 Concord Christian at No. 5 Woodsville
  • No. 13 Colebrook at No. 4 Farmington
  • No. 15 Newmarket at No. 2 Derryfield
  • No. 10 Groveton at No. 7 Portsmouth Christian
  • No. 14 Moultonborough at No. 3 Littleton
  • No. 11 Hinsdale at No. 6 Holy Family

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