Date Posted : 03-09-2010 Written by: Dave Haley

Dimitri Floras and Merrimack take on Londonderry Wednesday night

 (16) Goffstown at (1) Winnacunnet

  Groveton proved last Friday night in Class S that you can win a championship playing team basketball without a superstar. Winnacunnet begins that same quest Wednesday night. Jay McKenna's team has been the most consistent team in Class L all season if not the most exciting. They rarely turn the ball over (a credit to their point guard Ryan Dunn), they do a nice job with their half-court traps and rebound well as a team. All of which has led to the best regular season in the division.

 This is a basketball team that went through enough drama last season to last a lifetime and the biggest question mark coming into 2010 was; can they leave all of that behind? They have and all of last season's tension seems to have made them stronger as a group now. Dunn controls the offense and has shooters on the wing in leading scorer Jesse Gould and s 2-guard Nick McGrail. Players Lounge member Steve Cronan does all the little things on the interior, Shaun Munson provides depth and they get scoring in bunches from Harry Knowles. It's a well-rounded, well-coached unit.

 Goffstown is led by Tyler Wageline and Brandon Shea. At 4-14 they are probably an argument for why the field of 16 may be 4 teams too big but this is a team that has beaten both Manchester Memorial and Nashua South. Winnacunnet won the only meeting between the two teams 52-37 on January 29^th and will be very tough to beat on their home floor.

Date Posted : 03-09-2010 Written by: Dave Haley

James Peard and Conant go for 5 titles in a row Wednesday night

 (2) Berlin vs. (1) Conant

 Let's get right to the point; Can Berlin beat Conant and win the Class M championship?

 Yes, they can. It takes a pretty powerful magnifying glass to find any chinks in the armor of the 4-time defending champions but they are there and here's what Berlin needs to do to expose them.

 1) Curtis Arsenault down on the low block. Rinse, wash and, repeat...

 All great upsets have featured a team that believed in themselves riding the performance of an all-star and this one would be no different. Berlin needs to get the ball on the low block to Arsenault as often as possible. Conant has dominated teams all season but they have been susceptible to big games from opposing post players. Kevin O'Connor of Stevens went for 46 points in two meetings with the Orioles and Mascoma center Connor Torrey went for 20 points and 9 rebounds Saturday night. A big physical Winnisquam team gave Conant trouble in last years quarterfinal and Berlin is a near mirror image of the Bears.

Date Posted : 03-08-2010 Written by: Dave Haley

Coe-Brown travels to Pembroke Academy Tuesday night

 (16) Merrimack Valley at (1) Milford

 One prominent Class I coach told me in the final month of the regular season, "If Milford comes to play and they're focused, no one is beating them." Milford has been the best team in Class I all season. They feature the highest scoring offense in the division at 69 points per game and they rank third in scoring defense, giving up only 44 ppg.

 They are 17-1 and they've played a pretty tough schedule along the way. So why doesn't it all feel as dominant as Pelham's 17-1 last season? Are we judging Milford too harshly? Do people realize that their core players are all juniors? These guys aren't going anywhere for a while.

 Whatever the case may be you have to label them the favorites. I couldn't explain the heel system to you if we pulled up a chair for an hour but it worked with the top 4 seeds. All were deserving. Class I is known for annually producing more upsets than any other division and it could very well be the case again.

 Merrimack Valley has had a bit of a disappointing season. They were the 15 seed a year ago and led by Kevin Cressy, Nick Lavoie and Justin Abbott there is talent here but the Pride haven't won more than two games in a row all season and travel to Milford Tuesday riding a five game losing streak to end the season. They will play in a very tight, old school gym sure to be packed with fans. Milford's goal is championship or bust. Anything else is not going to cut it with Dan Murray's team. They take their first step Tuesday night.