Division: I
Coach: Mike Achilles (7th year)
Last year: 1-17 (did not qualify for the tournament)
Returning starters: Brighid Weeden, jr., G, 5-5
Top newcomers: Haley Munroe, jr., G, 5-2; Quinn Daniels, so., F, 5-9; Marissa Payne, fr., C, 5-10
Outlook: The Tide returns eight players and has good size and quickness on the perimeter, but the squad lacks experience. Figuring out the best way to use each player and improving on outside shooting will be two of the keys to Concord’s success this year.
“We are looking to build on the core of the eight players we have returning,” Achilles said. “Hopefully we can establish roles for everyone and come together as a team quickly. If we do, we’ll compete in every game.”
Teams to beat: Bishop Guertin, Bedford, Winnacunnet, Londonderry
Bishop Brady
Division: II
Coach: Annie Alosa (1st year)
Last year: 9-10 (lost in the first round)
Returning starters: Riley Bennett, sr., G, 5-6; Cait Mallahan, sr., G/F, 5-10; Lily Rivera, sr., G/F, 5-5; Alex Sacco, sr., G, 5-7; Sam Will, jr., G, 5-11; Lauren Roy, jr., G, 5-6; Emma Bradley, jr., G/F, 5-7
Top newcomers: Sarah Doherty, jr, G, 5-6; Sofia Riccio, fr., G, 5-6; Emily Arnaud, so., G/Fr, 5-9
Outlook: This season brings a new coach and a new style to Bishop Brady. Alosa, a well-known basketball name in these parts, takes over a program with several returning starters, including a strong class of four seniors.
Teams to beat: Lebanon, Merrimack Valley, Portsmouth, Hanover, Pembroke
Division: II
Coach: Joe Vachon (3rd year)
Last year: 9-10 (lost in the first round)
Returning starters: Catie Langdon, sr., G, 5-3; Shannon Riley, sr., G/F, 5-8
Top newcomers: Kerry Riley, sr., G/F, 5-6; Chelsea McCallion, sr., G, 5-4; Ahna McCusker, jr., F, 5-11; Sydney Gast, jr., G, 5-3
Outlook: Led by their senior guard Langdon, the Bears have a reliable group of upperclassmen that have been a part of some strong varsity teams in the past. While the second unit lacks inexperience, Vachon believes the Bears can find success this winter.
“This team has the capability of winning some games,” Vachon said. “They need to stay confident with themselves and their teammates.”
Teams to beat: Merrimack Valley, Lebanon, Hanover, Portsmouth, Goffstown
Division: II
Coach: Don Poitras (3rd year)
Last year: 5-14 (lost in the first round)
Returning starters: Jillian Douzanis, jr.; Laura Martin, jr.; Emily Patten, jr.; Sarah Clark, sr.
Top newcomers: Autumn Nelson, so.; Mackenzie Nase, sr.; Kali Kolehmainen, so.
Outlook: With an experienced group of players returning from last season, the Generals are still improving as a varsity program and hope to reach the playoffs again. Poitras expects his guards to be an improvedment from last season, which will go a long way when facing the deep crop of talented D-II backcourts.
Teams to beat: Portsmouth, Merrimack Valley, Lebanon, Bishop Brady
Division: II
Coach: David Huckins (4th year)
Last year: 18-2 (lost in quarterfinals)
Returning starters: Megan Johnston, sr., G, 5-6; Abby Grandmaison, jr., G/F, 5-7
Top newcomers: Sara Osborne, jr., G, 5-0
Outlook: Coming off a solid campaign, the Pride return All-State guards Johnston and Carly Huckins to a team that figures to be competitive in a tough division. Huckins, a 5-foot-8 sophomore, came off the bench for the Pride last year but was still named Honorable Mention D-II All-State. She, Johnston – a Second Team D-II All-State pick last year – and Grandmaison, a versatile player who does all the little things, form a great nucleus for the Pride.
“We will play our tough nose, in your face defense and hope for the best,” Coach Huckins said.
Teams to beat: Portsmouth, Lebanon, Windham, Bishop Brady
Division: II
Coach: Jessica Hardiman (2nd year)
Last year: 14-6 (lost in quarterfinals)
Returning starters: Olivia Langenvin, jr., G; Morgan Allen, jr., F; Ciera Clark, jr., G
Top newcomers: Madison Gaskill, soph., F
Outlook: The Spartans will look to be a quicker team this season after losing some of their tallest players to graduation last year.
Teams to beat: Portsmouth, Merrimack Valley, Bishop Brady
Division: III
Coach: Mark Dawalga (6th year)
Last year: 8-12 (lost in second round)
Returning starters: Sarah Chase, sr., F; Taylor Yelle, sr., C; Nicole Antonucci, sr., G; Mariah Watson, sr., G; Jordan Sargent, jr., G
Top newcomers: Chloe Sottak, jr.; Julianna Estremera, so., G; Mackenzie Donovan, so., G; Skylar Ruelle, so., F; Lizzie Fleming, so., G
Outlook: The Raiders will have a lot of new faces in new places this season. But a strong senior class, led by captains Yelle and Watson, should help lead the way through any transitional turmoil in Belmont.
“It may take a little time for everyone to get on the same page,” Coach Dawalga said. “We will look to improve every game and build on our record from last season.”
Teams to beat: Newfound, Gilford, Prospect Mountain, Fall Mountain
Division: III
Coach: JJ Winters (10th year)
Last year: 6-13 (lost in first round)
Returning starters: Mackenzie Weatherbee, sr., C, 5-8; Zoe Kaplan, sr., G/F, 5-7
Top newcomers: Ryley Haskins, so., G, 5-3; Megan Johnston, jr., G, 5-4; Hannah Hicks, G/F, fr., 5-4
Outlook: The Golden Tornadoes are without Lauren Marsh, a key player from last year, due to a health issue, so the team will need others to step up to provide leadership.
“We have a large senior class and we will rely on their leadership,” Winters said. “Our goal is to improve every game and be peaking at tournament time.”
Teams to beat: Gilford, Newfound, Kearsarge, Fall Mountain, Monadnock
Division: III
Coach: Tiffany Lewis (2nd year)
Last year: 0-18 (did not make tournament)
Returning starters: Kiersten Clough, sr., G, 5-6; Nicole Mooney, sr., G, 5-5; Melissa Veitch, sr., F, 5-10
Top newcomers: Fayth Grimes, fr., F, 5-8; Morgan Racine, fr., F, 5-6; Taveya Ortiz, jr., G, 5-2
Outlook: Despite finishing winless last season, H-D put together some better games down the stretch and the Hillcats are hoping to continue to build on their skills.
“This season we have put together a very athletic team,” Lewis said. “I believe a lot of people will be surprised with the amount of growth that we will be showing from last season. We have a core group of returners that will help guide this team. We also welcome some new players who will become big assets to our program’s success.”
Teams to beat: Fall Mountain, Monadnock
Division: III
Coach: Patrick Roye (1st year)
Last year: 7-12 (lost in first round)
Returning starters: Taylor Signor, jr., G, 5-4; Abby Houston, jr., F, 5-9
Top newcomers: Amelia Thomas, so., F, 5-7; Lyndon Flanagan, so., F, 5-6; Chloe Wood, so., G, 5-4; Maddie Bishop, so., F, 5-6; Katie Meserve, fr., F, 5-10; Sophie Potter, fr., G, 5-3; Taylor Clark, fr., G, 5-5; Ellie Owen, fr., F, 5-6; Fiona Beane, fr., G, 5-3
Outlook: Not only do the Hawks have a new coach in Roye, they have what has to be one of the youngest teams in the state with two junionrs, four sophomores and five freshmen making up the varsity roster.
“(We) are dealing with injuries as well,” Roye said. “Our goal is to get better every day and take it one game at a time. The team is showing a strong working ethic.”
Teams to beat: Gilford, Monadnock, Fall Mountain
Division: III
Coaches: Mike Gallagher and Brittany Gallagher (9th year)
Last year: 2-16 (did not make tournament)
Returning starters: Margaux Dickinson, sr., F, 5-5; Jordan Durand, jr., F, 5-7; Jessalyn Brown, so., G, 5-5; Julia Gintof, so., G, 5-5
Top newcomers: Emma Wheeler, fr., G/F, 5-5; Reagan Buhrman, fr., G/F, 5-8; Mollie Durand, fr., PG, 5-4; Taylor Ambrose, fr., G, 5-5
Outlook: The Lakers have a lot of leadership returning this season, including captains and returning starters Dickinson and Jordan Durand and senior forward Stephanie Andrews. Sophomore guards Brown and Gintof were key factors last year as freshmen and will be counted on to play a bigger role this season. The Lakers have strong additions in senior guard Ali Robinson and freshmen Wheeler, Buhrman, Ambrose and Mollie Durand.
“I am looking forward to our team chemistry and heart this season,” Mike Gallagher said. “These girls have been together for a few years. We are young and hope to push the ball.”
Teams to beat: Gilford
Division: III
Coach: Keith Roberts (2nd year)
Last year: 8-11 (lost in first round)
Returning starters: Devi Kraushaar, sr., F, 5-8; Maicy Hansen, sr., G/F, 5-7
Top newcomers: Meg Roy, so., F, 5-8; Emilie Webster, so., G, 5-5; Madi Brayshaw, fr., G, 5-5
Outlook: The Cougars return four strong senior leaders and the addition of some young talent should help the team continue to improve. For Kearsarge to find success this year, Roberts believes his team needs to improve its transition defense, force turnovers with the press and shoot well against zone defenses.
“With a roster of 11 or 12 players we should be able to continue to rotate players through on a nightly basis to continue our defensive pressure,” Roberts said. “We need to stay healthy, which we were not able to do last year.”
Teams to beat: Monadnock, Fall Mountain
Division: III
Coach: Bob McNutt (2nd year)
Last year: 10-10 (lost in second round)
Returning starters: Laura Harmon, sr.
Top newcomers: Meghan Cote, fr.; Meghan Harmon, fr.; Megan Goodridge, fr.
Outlook: With a strong core returning from last year and three freshmen who could all contribute this season, Winnisquam has added some hope to go along with its height.
Teams to beat: Fall Mountain, Gilford, Newfound
Division: IV
Coach: Shelby Purtell (8th year)
Last year: 7-12 (lost in first round)
Returning starters: Rebekah Johnson, sr., F; Jasmine Bell, sr., F; Kara Jarvis, Jr., G
Top newcomer: Hannah Fowler, fr., F
Outlook: With three returning starters and some young talent coming in to fill the gaps, Concord Christian hopes to improve on last season and make a deeper run in the playoffs.
Teams to beat: Sunapee, Colebrook
Division: IV
Coach: Heidi Hall (2nd year)
Last year: 0-18 (did not make the tournament)
Returning starters: Alyssa Sullivan, sr., G; Lindsey Massey, sr., G; Katie Rollins, jr., F
Top newcomers: Ari Cyr, so., F; Cora Lemay, fr., F
Outlook: The Panthers are hoping to rebound from a winless season and will look to Sullivan, Massey and Rollins to lead the way. Sullivan, a talented athlete and the team’s point guard, and Massey will be threats from 3-point range. Rollins, last year’s leading scorer and rebounder, will be the main threat inside and anchor the defense. Freshmen guards Beca Smith and Bryana Morris will get some playing time off the bench, while junior forward Meredith Smith brings some experience and depth to the forward position.
“With such a young team some of the players will be asked to play key roles quickly,” Hall said. “If they can adjust and gel with the others, we will be in great shape.”
Teams to beat: Sunapee