Good Grief! How is it even possible that HS B Ball and Hockey Playoffs are almost upon us ALREADY?!?! It's true- the D3 Girls Basketball Prelims are ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. We're extremely lucky on the Seacoast, we've got a whollllllllllle bunch of teams that have a chance to go far. Here's the ones to watch!
GIRLS BASKETBALL
D3-- Somersworth and Farmington
These two are playing tonight, with MAJOR playoff implications. Somersworth is sitting in the 9 seed right now, and Jeff Francouer's team would love to get in the top 8 to get a home playoff game. Farmington is #6 right now, and this is their last regular season game, so they're trying to hang on to that top 8 spot.
Both teams have a great shot to get to SNHU for the final 4!!
D2-- Portsmouth
The Clippers lost 6 Seniors to graduation before this season, and most people thought this might be a transition year for PHS. But "New" Coach Dan Parr (he's only been doing this for about FIFTY YEARS!!!) has the Clippers playing great (12-3, #5 right now), and with outside shooting from Markey Flewelling, and inside play from the likes of Madeline Nossiff, Devon Parker, and Alicia Brown, the Clippers could be DANGEROUS in March!
D1-- Dover
Dover's hannnnnnnging on to a top 8 spot right now (9-6, #7 in D1), and they're a young team. That doesn't always add up to playoff success, but sometimes a young team forgets that they aren't supposed make playoff noise! Dover is definatley a threat to mix things up in D1
BOYS BASKETBALL
D3-- Somersworth
The defending champs graduated about 925 kids from last year’s championship team, but Lorne Lucas' team hasn't missed a beat! Matt Robins is tearing things up down low, and Jeremy Dognies, a Belgian exchange student, handles things at the point. Throw in outstanding athletes like Drew Francouer and Tyler Krestchmar, and I'm predicting a Final 4 return trip for the 'Toppers.
D2 -- Portsmouth, Saint Thomas
Portsmouth is without a doubt the favorite in D2. Their offense and defense are equally impressive, with Kamahl Walker lighting up the scoreboard, and guys like Charlie Duprey and Alex Rigazio causing opponents NIGHTMARES on D. Plus, they just got Kyle DiCesare back from injury last week! It's almost unfair! I'd be SHOCKED if Portsmouth didn't back to the D2 Championship game.
St. Thomas is a team that is going to ruin someone's playoff run. Andrew Kahr is a dynamic scorer, and Chris Haaser controls the boards down low. First year coach Pat Quinn has guided this club to impressive wins over Portsmouth and Pelham, and if they can get consistent headed into the playoffs, they could be a dark horse to get to UNH!
D1-- Spaulding
The Red Raiders came within a heartbeat of beating eventual State Champs Bishop Guertin on the road in the Quarterfinals last year. This year, they could be a Top 4 seed and potentially host 2 playoff games! The Red Raiders have already knocked off one #1 team in Merrimack on WTSN, and they'll get another chance when they travel to Trinity on 2/24 (a game we'll ALSO have on WTSN). Tim Cronin's team has pulled off a bunch of last second wins already- could they be a team of destiny?
We'll have more coming up later in the week when we preview the local Hockey teams playoff chances!
