Winter Sports

Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (Jan. 10)

No kidding, it’s time to start talking playoffs, with most teams completing the first third of their regular-season schedule this weekend, if they haven't already. 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 tod

No kidding, it’s time to start talking playoffs, with most teams completing the first third of their regular-season schedule this weekend, if they haven't already.

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)

Portsmouth (5-0, 4.0000)
Keene (4-1, 3.2000)
Trinity (4-1, 3.2000)
Nashua South (4-1, 3.2000)
Bedford (4-1, 3.2000)
Merrimack (3-1, 3.0000)
Alvirne (3-2, 2.4000)
Windham (3-2, 2.4000)
Manchester Memorial (3-2, 2.4000)
Exeter (3-2, 2.4000)
Londonderry (3-2, 2.4000)
Bishop Guertin (3-3, 2.0000)
Winnacunnet (2-3, 1.6000)
Pinkerton (2-3, 1.6000)
Nashua North (2-3, 1.6000)

Outside: Dover (2-3, 1.6000); Goffstown (2-3, 1.6000); Salem (1-3, 1.0000); Manchester Central (1-4, 0.8000); Spaulding (1-5, 0.6667); Concord (0-5, 0.0000); Timberlane (0-7, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

In a four-way tiebreaker, Keene finishes ahead of Trinity, Bedford and Nashua South thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Trinity, Nashua South and Bedford finish in that order thanks to quality of wins against tournament teams.
In a five-way tiebreaker, Alvirne and Windham finish ahead of Manchester Memorial, Exeter and Londonderry thanks to a better rating against tournament teams. Alvirne also finishes ahead of Windham for the same tiebreaker.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Manchester Memorial finishes ahead of Exeter and Londonderry thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.
Exeter wins the tiebreaker with Londonderry thanks to a head-to-head victory.
In a five-way tiebreaker, Winnacunnet, Dover, Pinkerton and Nashua North finish ahead of Goffstown thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
In a four-way tiebreaker, Winnacunnet finishes ahead of Dover, Pinkerton and Nashua North thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Pinkerton and Nashua North finish ahead of Dover thanks to better rating in road games against division opponents.

First-round bye

No. 1 Portsmouth

First-round matchups

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

Division II

Team (record, rating)

Oyster River (4-0, 4.2500)
Merrimack Valley (4-0, 4.0000)
Pembroke (4-1, 3.2000)
Coe-Brown (4-1, 3.2000)
Hanover (4-1, 3.2000)
Pelham (4-2, 2.8333)
Kennett (2-1, 2.6667)
Hollis Brookline (3-2, 2.4000)
Manchester West (3-2, 2.4000)
Souhegan (3-2, 2.4000)
Bow (2-2, 2.0000)
Milford (2-2, 2.0000)
ConVal (2-2, 2.0000)
Sanborn (2-3, 1.6000)

Outside: John Stark (2-3, 1.6000); Laconia (1-3, 1.0000); Kingswood (1-4, 0.8000); Lebanon (1-4, 0.8000); Bishop Brady (0-5, 0.0000); Plymouth (0-5, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

In a three-way tiebreaker, Pembroke, Coe-Brown and Hanover finish in that order thanks to rating against tournament teams.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Hollis Brookline finishes ahead of Manchester West and Souhegan thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
Manchester West wins the tiebreaker with Souhegan thanks to a better rating in road games against division opponents.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Bow finishes ahead of ConVal and Milford thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
Milford wins the tiebreaker with ConVal thanks to a better rating in home games against division opponents.
Sanborn wins the tiebreaker with John Stark thanks a better rating against tournament teams.

First-round byes

No. 1 Oyster River
No. 2 Merrimack Valley

First-round matchups

No. 9 Manchester West at No. 8 Hollis Brookline
No. 12 Milford at No. 5 Hanover
No. 13 ConVal at No. 4 Coe-Brown
No. 14 Sanborn at No. 3 Pembroke
No. 10 Souhegan at No. 7 Kennett
No. 11 Bow at No. 6 Pelham

Division III

Team (record, rating)

Belmont (6-0, 4.0000)
Raymond (6-0, 4.0000)
Kearsarge (6-0, 4.0000)
Gilford (6-1, 3.4286)
Mascoma Valley (5-1, 3.3333)
Campbell (4-1, 3.2000)
St. Thomas (4-1, 3.2000)
Newfound (4-2, 2.6667)
Newport (4-2, 2.6667)
Hopkinton (3-2, 2.4000)
Prospect Mountain (3-3, 2.0000)
Monadnock (3-3, 2.0000)
Fall Mountain (2-3, 1.6000)
White Mountains (2-4, 1.3333)
Inter-Lakes (2-4, 1.3333)

Outside: Stevens (1-4, 0.8000); Somersworth (1-4, 0.8000); Conant (1-5, 0.6667); Hillsboro-Deering (0-5, 0.0000); Winnisquam (0-5, 0.0000); Derryfield (0-6, 0.0000); Berlin (0-7, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

In a three-way tiebreaker, Belmont, Raymond and Kearsarge finish in that order thanks to quality of wins against tournament teams.
Campbell wins the tiebreaker with St. Thomas thanks to a head-to-head victory.
Newfound wins the tiebreaker with Newport thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
Prospect Mountain wins the tiebreaker with Monadnock thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
White Mountains wins the tiebreaker with Inter-Lakes thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.

First-round bye

No. 1 Belmont

First-round matchups

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

Division III

Team (record, rating)

Concord Christian (5-0, 4.0000)
Woodsville (7-0, 4.0000)
Littleton (5-1, 3.5000)
Newmarket (5-1, 3.3333)
Groveton (4-2, 2.8333)
Epping (4-2, 2.6667)
Gorham (3-2, 2.4000)
Pittsburg-Canaan (3-2, 2.4000)
Portsmouth Christian (3-2, 2.4000)
Holy Family (3-2, 2.4000)
Hinsdale (3-2, 2.4000)
Colebrook (3-3, 2.0000)
Wilton-Lyndeborough (3-3, 2.0000)
Franklin (3-4, 1.7143)
Farmington (2-3, 1.6000)
Profile (2-4, 1.3333)

Outside: Moultonborough (2-4, 1.3333); Nute (2-4, 1.3333); Lin-Wood (2-5, 1.1429); Mascenic (1-5, 0.6667); Pittsfield (1-6, 0.5714); Sunapee (0-4, 0.0000); Mount Royal (0-5, 0.0000).

Tiebreakers

In a five-way tiebreaker, Gorham finishes ahead of Portsmouth Christian, Pittsburg-Canaan, Holy Family and Hinsdale thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
In a four-way tiebreaker, Portsmouth Christian, Pittsburg-Canaan and Holy Family finish ahead of Hinsdale thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Pittsburg-Canaan, Portsmouth Christian and Holy Family finish in that order thanks to quality of wins against tournament teams.
Colebrook wins the tiebreaker with Wilton-Lyndeborough thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Profile and Moultonborough finish ahead of Nute thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.
Profile wins the tiebreaker with Moultonborough thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.

First-round matchups