> ## 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. # Top seeds wait, watch, as D1 girls basketball tournament gets started - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/top-seeds-wait-watch-d1-girls-basketball-tournament-gets-started/ - Published: 2018-02-28T18:11:08.000Z - Updated: 2018-02-28T18:11:08.000Z - Description: There is one thing that is certain heading into the Division I girls basketball tournament. - Author: Joe Marchilena - Tags: Division I, girls basketball, playoffs, slider, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 There is one thing that is certain heading into the Division I girls basketball tournament. No matter what happens in the opening rounds, there will not be a third-straight finals matchup between Bedford and Bishop Guertin. While the Bulldogs (18-0) enter as the No. 1 seed, the Cardinals (13-5) will be the fifth seed, which means playing in the preliminary round on Wednesday, and if all breaks right, a semifinal matchup between the two. But there's a long way to go between here and there, starting with Wednesday night's first-round games. Here's a look at those games and the four teams that got a bye into the quarterfinals. **No. 9 Salem (9-9) at No. 8 Winnacunnet (9-9)** - When Salem beat Winnacunnet, 66-54, in its final home game on Feb. 16, on paper, it looked like a nice victory for the Blue Devils on senior night. But it meant a lot more than that - it was Salem's [first win over Winnacunnet going back to Feb. 3, 2003](https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/content/files/www-eagletribune-com/sports/local%5Fsports/nh-girls-basketball-playoffs-can-salem-do-it-again/article%5F877cd0c9-1c5e-5873-a52f-5bd9a49dd4dc.html). The Warriors had won 17 in a row against the Blue Devils, including a 52-45 win on Jan. 16 of this year. A lot was different on that, as Winnacunnet was in the middle of a 7-1 start to the season before going 2-8 the rest of the way, including six straight loss to end the regular season. Salem, meanwhile, won three in a row and five of its last seven entering the postseason. - **Winner gets No. 1 Bedford (18-0):** The Bulldogs beat both teams by 30 points or more this season and held both under 30 points total. In 14 games this season, Bedford held its opponent under 30 points, and allowed more than 40 just twice. **No. 12 Nashua South (7-11) at No. 5 Bishop Guertin (13-5)** - Speaking of winning streaks, Bishop Guertin is on one, having won six in a row and eight of nine - including wins over Pinkerton and Manchester Memorial - heading into the playoffs. The two-time defending champs handled South 63-23 in their lone regular-season meeting on Jan. 12\. The Panthers won three of their final five games, including wins over Winnacunnet and Exeter, to get into the postseason. The seven wins is the most for South since the 2010-11 season. - **Winner gets No. 4 Merrimack (15-3):** Behind the leadership of several seniors, the Tomahawks surged into the postseason this year on an 11-game win streak. Merrimack's last loss came against Bishop Guertin, 48-32, on Jan. 9. **No. 10 Exeter (8-10) at No. 7 Londonderry (9-9)** - Exeter was one of the higher-scoring teams in the division this year, averaging 57.2 points and scoring 50 or more points 14 times this year. But the Blue Hawks were just 8-6 in those games, including a 69-59 loss to Londonderry on Jan. 12\. The Lancers overcame a 1-5 start to their season to get into the playoffs, which included winning six of their final eight games. - **Winner gets No. 2 Pinkerton (15-3):** The Astros blew past Exeter in their first game of the season this year, winning by 53 points, while Pinkerton also beat Londonderry twice by an average of 20 points. **No. 11 Nashua North (8-10) at No. 6 Manchester Central (11-7)** - Both teams overcame some midseason struggles to finish strong, as North won three of its final four games to secure a playoff spot, and Central was 5-2 in its last seven to grab a home playoff game and finish as just one of six teams in the division with a winning record. The Little Green won the only regular-season meeting between the two teams, holding off North 35-33 on Jan. 12. - **Winner gets No. 3 Manchester Memorial (15-3):** The Crusaders played Central and North in a four-day stretch at the end of January with much different results. Against Central, Memorial had to hang on for a two-point win while the Crusaders beat the Titans by 25 points. ### Playoff Predictions **First-round winners:** Salem, Bishop Guertin, Londonderry, Manchester Central. **Final four:** Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Pinkerton, Manchester Memorial. **Championship:** Bedford over Pinkerton.