Winter Sports

Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (March 5)

(Updated March 5) 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 and D4 have already been released and can be found here.

Division I

Playoff field (record, rating, previous)

Exeter (16-1, 3.7647, 1st)
Portsmouth (15-2, 3.5294, 2nd)
Bishop Guertin (14-4, 3.1111, 3rd)
Nashua North (13-4, 3.0588, 4th)
Merrimack (12-5, 2.8235, 5th)
Nashua South (11-6, 2.5882, 6th)
Keene (11-6, 2.5882, 7th)
Winnacunnet (11-7, 2.4444, 8th)
Bedford (10-7, 2.3529, 9th)
Windham (8-8, 2.0000, 10th)
Alvirne (8-9, 1.8824 11th)
Salem (8-9, 1.8824, 12th)
Goffstown (8-9, 1.8824, 13th)
Concord (8-9, 1.8824, 14th)
Manchester Central (8-9, 1.8824, 15th)

Eliminated: Dover (7-11, 1.5556); Manchester Memorial (4-13, 0.9412); Spaulding (4-13, 0.9412); Londonderry (4-13, 0.9412); Trinity (4-13, 0.9412); Timberlane (2-15, 0.4706); Pinkerton (1-16, 0.2353).

Tiebreakers

Nashua South wins the tiebreaker with Keene thanks to a head-to-head victory.
In a five-way tiebreaker, Alvirne finishes ahead of Salem, Goffstown, Concord and Manchester Central thanks to a better rating against tournament teams. Salem finishes next, also thanks to a better rating against tournament teams. Goffstown and Concord finish ahead of Manchester Central thanks to a better rating against tournament teams. Goffstown finishes ahead of Concord thanks to a better quality of wins against tournament teams.

Remaining schedule

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.

Scenarios (top five)

Exeter has clinched the No. 1 seed.
Portsmouth has clinched the No. 2 seed.
Nashua North clinches the No. 3 seed with a win over Londonderry. A North loss gives the Titans the No. 4 seed.
Bishop Guertin clinches the No. 3 seed with a North loss. A North win gives the Cardinals the No. 4 seed.
Merrimack clinches the No. 5 seed with a win over Bedford or a loss and wins by Nashua South and Keene, or a loss and a loss by Keene.
Keene clinches the No. 5 seed with a win over Windham and a loss by Merrimack.

First-round bye (changes in bold)

No. 1 Exeter

First-round matchups

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

Division II

Playoff field (record, rating, previous)

ConVal (16-1, 3.7647, 1st)
Bow (16-1, 3.7647, 2nd)
Hanover (15-2, 3.5294, 3rd)
Pelham (14-3, 3.2941, 4th)
Hollis Brookline (14-3, 3.2941, 5th)
Lebanon (14-3, 3.2941, 6th)
Kennett (11-6, 2.6471, 7th)
Manchester West (10-7, 2.3529, 8th)
Oyster River (10-8, 2.2778, 9th)
Souhegan (9-8, 2.1176, 10th)
Milford (9-8, 2.1176, 11th)
Kearsarge (8-9, 1.8824, 12th)
Sanborn (7-10, 1.6471, 13th)
Laconia (7-10, 1.6471, 14th)
Kingswood (7-10, 1.6471, 15th)

Eliminated: John Stark (5-12, 1.1765); Pembroke (5-12, 1.1765); Coe-Brown (5-13, 1.1765); Stevens (3-14, 0.7059); Bishop Brady (3-15, 0.6667); Merrimack Valley (2-16, 0.4444); Plymouth (1-16, 0.2353).

Tiebreakers

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

Remaining schedule

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.

Scenarios

ConVal clinches the No. 1 seed with a win over Souhegan or a loss, a Bow loss and a Hanover loss.
Bow clinches the No. 1 seed with a win over Pembroke and a ConVal loss, or a loss combined with a ConVal loss and a Hanover win.
Hanover clinches the No. 2 seed with a win over Lebanon and a ConVal loss. The Marauders clinch the No. 3 seed with a win.
Pelham clinches the No. 3 seed with a win over Sanborn and a Hanover loss.
Hollis Brookline clinches the No. 3 seed with a win over Milford and losses by Hanover and Pelham.
Lebanon could finish as high as No. 3 with a win over Hanover, but no lower than No. 6 with a loss.
Kennett has clinched the No. 7 seed.
Manchester West clinches the No. 8 seed with a win over John Stark. A loss would drop West to No. 9.
Oyster River clinches the No. 8 seed with a West loss.
Souhegan clinches the No. 10 seed with a win over ConVal.
Milford clinches the No. 10 seed with a win over Hollis Brookline and a Souhegan loss.
Kearsarge clinches the No. 12 seed with a win over Stevens.
Laconia, Sanborn and Kingswood have all clinched playoff spots.

First-round bye (changes in bold)