Winter Sports

Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (March 2)

(Updated March 2) It is the final week of the regular season in Division I and II boys basketball, but there is still plenty to sort through before the playoffs begin. Every day this week, we'll take a look at where each division stands as teams continue to battle for seeding. Note: With the NHIAA’s

It is the final week of the regular season in Division I and II boys basketball, but there is still plenty to sort through before the playoffs begin.

Every day this week, we'll take a look at where each division stands as teams continue to battle for seeding.

Note: With the NHIAA’s 70-percent rule in place for the postseason, all divisions will have 15 teams make the playoffs, except for Division III, which will have 14 teams. Standings based off results reported to NHIAA.org and other media outlets. Pairings for D3 D4 have already been released and can be found here.

Division I

Playoff field (record, rating, previous)

Exeter (15-1, 3.7500, 1st)
Portsmouth (14-2, 3.5000, 3rd)
Bishop Guertin (14-3, 3.2941, 2nd)
Nashua North (12-4, 3.0000, 4th)
Merrimack (11-5, 2.7500, 5th)
Bedford (10-6, 2.5000, 9th)
Nashua South (10-6, 2.5000, 7th)
Keene (10-6, 2.5000, 8th)
Winnacunnet (10-7, 2.3529, 6th)
Windham (8-7, 2.1333, 10th)
Concord (8-8, 2.0000, 12th)
Alvirne (8-8, 2.0000 11th)
Goffstown (7-9, 1.7500, 13th)
Salem (7-9, 1.7500, 14th)
Manchester Central (7-9, 1.7500, 15th)

Outside: Dover (7-10, 1.6471)

Eliminated: Manchester Memorial (4-12, 1.0000); Spaulding (4-12, 1.0000); Londonderry (4-12, 1.0000); Trinity (3-13, 0.7500); Timberlane (2-14, 0.5000); Pinkerton (1-15, 0.2500).

Tiebreakers

In a three-way tiebreaker, Bedford finishes ahead of Nashua South and Keene thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams. Nashua South finishes ahead of Keene thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.
Concord wins the tiebreaker with Alvirne thanks to a head-to-head victory.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Goffstown finishes ahead of Salem and Manchester Central thanks to a better rating against tournament teams. Salem finishes ahead of Manchester Central thanks to a better rating in road games against division opponents.

Remaining schedule

Monday, March 2: Manchester Central at Pinkerton, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3: Windham at Winnacunnet; 6:30 p.m.; Alvirne at Keene, 6:30 p.m.; Bedford at Salem, 6:30 p.m.; Bishop Guertin at Portsmouth, 6:30 p.m.; Concord at Trinity, 6:30 p.m.; Exeter at Dover, 6:30 p.m.; Merrimack at Timberlane, 6:30 p.m.; Spaulding at Nashua North, 6:30 p.m.; Goffstown at Londonderry, 7 p.m.; Nashua South at Manchester Memorial, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 5: Windham at Spaulding, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, March 6: Merrimack at Bedford, 6:30 p.m.; Pinkerton at Timberlane, 6:30 p.m.; Trinity at Exeter, 6:30 p.m.; Concord at Goffstown, 6:30 p.m.; Keene at Windham, 6:30 p.m.; Nashua South at Portsmouth, 6:30 p.m.; Alvirne at Manchester Memorial, 7 p.m.; Nashua North at Londonderry, 7 p.m.

First-round bye (changes in bold)

No. 1 Exeter

First-round matchups

No. 9 Winnacunnet at No. 8 Keene
No. 13 Goffstown at No. 4 Nashua North
No. 12 Alvirne at No. 5 Merrimack
No. 15 Manchester Centralat No. 2 Portsmouth
No. 10 Windham at No. 7 Nashua South
No. 14 Salem at No. 3 Bishop Guertin
No. 11 Concord at No. 6 Bedford

Division II

Playoff field (record, rating, previous)

ConVal (16-1, 3.7647, 1st)
Bow (15-1, 3.7500, 3rd)
Hanover (15-2, 3.5294, 2nd)
Lebanon (14-2, 3.5000, 4th)
Pelham (13-3, 3.2500, 6th)
Hollis Brookline (13-3, 3.2500, 5th)
Kennett (11-6, 2.6471, 7th)
Manchester West (9-7, 2.2500, 8th)
Milford (9-8, 2.1176, 10th)
Oyster River (8-8, 2.0625, 12th)
Souhegan (8-8, 2.0000, 9th)
Sanborn (7-9, 1.7500, 11th)
Kearsarge (7-9, 1.7500, 14th)
Kingswood (7-9, 1.7500, 13th)
Laconia (6-10, 1.5000, 15th)

Outside: Coe-Brown (5-11, 1.2500); John Stark (5-11, 1.2500); Pembroke (4-12, 1.0000).

Eliminated: Stevens (3-13, 0.7500); Bishop Brady (3-14, 0.7059); Merrimack Valley (2-15, 0.4706); Plymouth (1-15, 0.2500).

Tiebreakers

Pelham wins the tiebreaker with Hollis Brookline thanks to a head-to-head victory.
In a three-way tiebreaker, Sanborn finishes ahead of Kearsarge and Kingswood thanks to a better rating against tournament teams. Kearsarge finishes ahead of Kingswood thanks to a better rating against tournament teams.

Remaining schedule

Monday, March 2: Kearsarge at John Stark, 6 p.m.; Hollis Brookline at Lebanon, 6:30 p.m.; Merrimack Valley at Pelham, 6:30 p.m.; Pembroke at Coe-Brown, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3: Bishop Brady at Laconia, 6 p.m.; Bow at Plymouth, 6 p.m.; Manchester West at Kingswood, 6 p.m.; Sanborn at Oyster River, 6:30 p.m.; Stevens at Souhegan, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4: Oyster River at Coe-Brown, 7 p.m.
Thursday, March 5: John Stark at Manchester West, 6 p.m.; Kennett at Kingswood, 6 p.m.; Stevens at Kearsarge, 6 p.m.; Laconia at Plymouth, 6 p.m.; ConVal at Souhegan, 6:30 p.m.; Hollis Brookline at Milford, 6:30 p.m.; Lebanon at Hanover, 6:30 p.m.; Sanborn at Pelham, 6:30 p.m.; Pembroke at Bow, 7 p.m.

First-round bye (changes in bold)