Winter Sports

Playoff Picture: Boys Basketball (March 6)

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 i

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 (9-8, 2.1176, 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); Londonderry (4-13, 0.9412); Trinity (4-13, 0.9412); Spaulding (4-14, 0.8889); 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

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.; Salem at Manchester Central, 6:30 p.m.; Alvirne at Manchester Memorial, 7 p.m.; Nashua North at Londonderry, 7 p.m.

Scenarios

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.
Nashua South clinches the No. 6 seed with a win over Portsmouth. A loss and a Bedford win would drop South to No. 9.
Winnacunnet clinches the No. 7 seed with a Keene win and losses by South and Bedford.
Bedford clinches the No. 7 seed with a win over Merrimack and a loss by South.
Windham clinches the No. 9 seed with a win over Keene and a Bedford loss.
Four of the teams tied for the bottom five spots play on Friday: Salem at Manchester Central and Concord at Goffstown. The losers of those games will be the bottom two seeds if Alvirne wins over Manchester Memorial.
Alvirne clinches the No. 10 seed with a win over Memorial, a loss by Windham and wins by Salem and Goffstown.

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 (17-1, 3.7778, 1st)
Bow (17-1, 3.7778, 2nd)
Pelham (15-3, 3.3333, 4th)
Hollis Brookline (15-3, 3.3333, 5th)
Hanover (15-3, 3.3333, 3rd)
Lebanon (15-3, 3.3333, 6th)
Kennett (12-6, 2.7222, 7th)
Manchester West (11-7, 2.4444, 8th)
Oyster River (10-8, 2.2778, 9th)
Souhegan (9-9, 2.0000, 10th)
Milford (9-9, 2.0000, 11th)
Kearsarge (9-9, 2.0000, 12th)
Laconia (8-10, 1.7778, 14th)
Sanborn (7-11, 1.5556, 13th)
Kingswood (7-11, 1.5556, 15th)

Eliminated: John Stark (5-13, 1.1111); Pembroke (5-13, 1.1111); Coe-Brown (5-13, 1.1111); Stevens (3-15, 0.6667); Bishop Brady (3-15, 0.6667); Merrimack Valley (2-16, 0.4444); Plymouth (1-17, 0.2222).

Tiebreakers

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

First-round bye (changes in bold)