> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The land of the unbeaten, 2015 winter edition - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/the-land-of-the-unbeaten-2015-winter-edition/ - Published: 2015-02-05T16:30:15.000Z - Updated: 2015-02-05T16:30:15.000Z - Description: What a difference a year can make. At this time last season, there were just four teams across 12 divisions that remained undefeated; this year, there are 14 teams with a loss this season. - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Winter Sports, boys basketball, boys hockey, Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV, girls basketball, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 ![Salem's John Gray skates in on Bedford goalie Alec Lindberg during Saturday's game. Salem handed Bedford its first division loss in almost two years.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/jmbedsalhock013115-b35s15-1.jpg) Salem's John Gray skates in on Bedford goalie Alec Lindberg during Saturday's game. Salem handed Bedford its first division loss in almost two years. *“The artist who aims at perfection in everything achieves it in nothing,” – Eugene Delacroix, French Romantic painter, 1798-1863.* What a difference a year can make. At this time last season, there were just four teams across 12 divisions that remained undefeated; this year, there are 15 teams with a loss this season. How many of those teams have a shot at making it through the season unscathed? Of those 14 teams, nine are in a division with another undefeated team (there's three in Division III girls basketball), which means as many as eight teams could finish the year with a perfect record. It's possible, but not likely. ## Division I boys basketball ### Manchester Central (8-0) The Little Green haven't lost a game since the quarterfinals in 2013, which means Central has been here before. The consensus going into this season was that Central would be good, but after losing a lot of talent from last year's perfect season, it was possible the Little Green might lose a game or two. A defeat may come eventually, especially considering that Central has won five games by 10 points or less this season, a number that's already higher than a year ago. ### Londonderry (8-0) The Lancers are a missed buzzer beater away from not being included here, but Londonderry survived for a one-point win over Merrimack earlier this season. That was just one of three games Londonderry has had this year decided by 10 points or less. The Lancers have had one of the best offenses in the state this year, averaging 70.6 points per game, and is outscoring opponents by 18.8 points per game. **Chances for an undefeated season:** Central hosts Londonderry on Feb. 13, so only one of them will remain undefeated. Which ever team it is has the talent to end the season that way, unless of course they meet again in the final. ## Division II boys basketball ### Portsmouth (8-0) Jim Mulvey's crew is once again just doing what it does. The Clippers can beat teams with defense and a slower pace, like they did in holding Manchester West to 38 points, 25.4 below its season average. Or they can pick up the tempo and score a bunch, like in a 92-60 win over St. Thomas or an 86-42 win over Souhegan. The Clippers' average margin of victory this year is 22.8\. Since moving down to Class I/Division II in 2007, Portsmouth has won two titles, been to the final five times and reached the semifinals two more times. **Chances for an undefeated season:** Of the top 10 teams in D-II right now, Portsmouth plays six of them a total of eight times. Barring injuries, the Clippers' shot at finishing perfect looks pretty good. ## Division III boys basketball ### Pelham (11-0) Like Portsmouth, it should be no surprise that the Pythons are where they are at this point in the season. Pelham was one of the best teams in D-II last season, with one of the best players in the state (junior Keith Brown) returning, so of course it would be a favorite after all the school's programs moved to D-III. Pelham has had just one close game this year, a 40-34 win over Conant, but in the teams' first meeting of the season, the Pythons won 62-45\. Aside from that second Conant game, Pelham is averaging 69.3 points per game. **Chances for an undefeated season:** Pelham still has games against Hopkinton (8-3), Newport (9-2) and Campbell (8-3) left on the schedule, with two of those on the road. But the Pythons would be a favorites in any game they play in D-III and a run at perfection should happen. ## Division II girls basketball ### Coe-Brown (10-0) Last year's runner-up was a preseason favorite and not much has changed since then. The Bears can get it done on both ends of the court, averaging 55.9 points per game and they've allowed more than 40 points just twice. The only team to come within double digits of Coe-Brown was Merrimack Valley, the defending champs, who lost 54-47 at Coe-Brown on Jan. 16. ### Milford (9-0) The Spartans look like they'll have no problem making it their third straight final four, and much like Coe-Brown, Milford has been getting it done on both ends of the floor. The Spartans average 47.7 points per game and have also allowed more than 40 just twice. But depth could be an issue for Milford down the stretch. **Chances for an undefeated season:** These teams were supposed to meet on Jan. 30, but that game was postponed to Feb. 12 in Milford, so only one has the change to remain undefeated. While both are among the best teams in the state, they both face such tough schedules down the stretch that a loss here or there wouldn't be out of the question. ## Division III girls basketball ### Conant (14-0) At times this season, Conant has looked untouchable, as its games are typically over by the end of the first quarter. Only twice has a team been within 10 points of the Orioles - a 72-66 win over Pelham back on Dec. 18 (Conant won the second meeting by 19) and a 46-36 win over Monadnock on Tuesday. The Orioles will host the Huskies on Feb. 17, but Conant's three other remaining games are against teams that are a combined 6-25. ### Gilford (14-0) Like Conant, the Golden Eagles haven't had many close games this year. Gilford's closest game was a three-point win over Laconia on Jan. 30, and the teams will meet again in Gilford on Feb. 11\. The Eagles also still have games against Somersworth (9-3) and Berlin (7-5), and ends the regular season against undefeated Newfound. ### Newfound (13-0) The Bears should enter that game against Gilford undefeated, all though they've had some close calls against teams with lesser records this season, most recently a three-point win over Belmont (8-6) on Jan. 29\. Newfound also gets White Mountains (4-8), a team it beat earlier in the year by four, on Feb. 10. **Chances for an undefeated season:** At most, two of these teams could enter the postseason undefeated, and if that's the case, the title game could feature two teams with perfect records. At this point, Conant appears to be the best bet to be that team with the perfect record at the end of the year. ## Division IV girls basketball ### Sunapee (13-0) The Lakers, like a lot of teams on this list, can put up points and keep opponents from scoring, but they might be the most dominant on each end. Sunapee averages 66.4 points per game on offense while allowing an average of just 26.8\. The Lakers have allowed more than 30 points four times all season and only two of their games have been decided by under 25 points. ### Littleton (12-0) The Crusaders aren't that far behind Sunapee in terms of margin of victory. Littleton averages 55 points per game and has allowed 30 points or more just four times, including a 55-54 win over Colebrook on Jan. 16\. The Crusaders will play teams that are a combined 42-36 the rest of the way, including Groveton (12-2), which Littleton beat by 28 earlier this year. **Chances for an undefeated season:** Sunapee would seem like a safer bet to navigate the regular season unscathed, but the Lakers don't play five of the current other top seven teams in the division. Littleton has a tougher road, and would prove to be a tough foe if the two teams were to meet in the final. ## Division I boys hockey ### Salem (10-0-1) The Blue Devils did what no one else had for almost two years when they handed Bedford a 5-2 loss on Saturday. Since tying Pinkerton to open the season, Salem has won 10 in a row, averaging over five goals per game and giving up two a game. There are still tough games on the schedule - Londonderry (twice), Concord and Nashua North - but Salem has handled every test so far. **Chances for an undefeated season:** It will be tough, especially in Division I. Salem may end up winning its first title since 2004, but perfection would be tough to come by. ## Division II boys hockey ### Spaulding (10-0) No team in D-II may have been happier to see Bedford move up than the Red Raiders, as they've had their season ended in the semifinals the last two years by the Bulldogs. All Spaulding has done this year is win its first 10 games, including four shutouts. And before a 7-4 win over Somersworth/Coe-Brown (1-10), Spaulding had allowed just eight goals in nine games. **Chances for an undefeated season:** Spaulding already swept Dover and has a win over Bow, but the Red Raiders still have to play Merrimack (7-3), Goffstown (6-3-1), Kingswood (7-3-2), Windham (11-2) and Bow (9-4) one more time down the stretch. Like Salem, Spaulding might end up winning a title, but being undefeated might be a long shot. ## Division III boys hockey ### John Stark-Hopkinton (12-0) Two years ago, the Generals upset undefeated Berlin to win the D-III title, and last year, a late goal by Souhegan sunk John Stark-Hopkinton's dreams of back-to-back titles. This year, the Generals are averaging seven goals per game and have looked unstoppable at times. They've already beaten Souhegan twice this year and handed Berlin-Gorham a loss as well, but the Generals still have two games against Kennett (8-1-1) plus one each with Belmont-Gilford (8-1) and Berlin-Gorham. **Chances for an undefeated season:** We'll know more after Feb. 14, when John Stark-Hopkinton hosts Kennett, but if any hockey team was going to undefeated this year, the Generals look like the team to do it.