The Concord Christian Kingsmen girls’ basketball team has had an ascent through the ranks of New Hampshire hoops like no other. They have won divisions in three consecutive years and have risen from Division IV to D-I in that span.

“When we won Division IV, we had to make a decision. The decision was one that has carried on, which was trying to chase competition. I think chasing competition is our unspoken motto,” said head coach Rebecca Carlile.

Last year, Concord Christian dominated D-II with a 20-1 regular season record and decisively swept through opponents in the playoffs. The Kingsmen are a combined 61-2 over the past three seasons. Their dominance at all levels and upward trajectory in New Hampshire high school sports is unprecedented, but competing for a title in Division I will be their biggest challenge yet.

“We’re chasing competition, we’re not chasing wins. This season will, more than likely, give us a lot more losses than we’re used to getting. But ultimately, I think every coach goes into the season with the end goal of winning a championship,” said Carlile.

The Kingsmen scrimmaged and trained alongside their new D-I peers in the spring and summer and are somewhat familiar with their competition already. However, they will still have to prove that they have the chops to challenge schools with more than double their total enrollment.

Concord Christian has had a small pool of girls to choose from in the past and won D-II with only seven players on the roster last season. The success of the program has enticed more to join, bringing up the roster to 11 girls, and this newfound depth allows Carlile to run more balanced schemes while ensuring starters can rotate and rest when needed.

“I’m excited about the 11 girls we have and our style of play will, in a lot of ways, be the same. We do like to push the tempo and control the tempo of games,” Carlile said. “We have a lot of speed, and we have a lot of really great shooters, and so we’ll continue to push the ball as best we can, and hopefully control the tempo of the game, both offensively and defensively.”

Returning senior guards Lilli Carlile (First Team, D-II record 29 points in last year’s championship game) and Ireland Baines are both prolific shooters and distributors who will lead the Kingsmen alongside juniors Emma (Second Team) and Kate Smith who are coming off strong seasons.

Rounding out the squad, two seniors who also play volleyball have joined the team, Sadie Thompson and Kaylie Christopherson. In addition, sophomore Emmy Laboe will see a lot of playing time this season and has grown leaps and bounds since last season according to Carlile.

Last, freshmen Lauren Andrews and Rylie Ring will provide depth from the bench and are eager to see court time at the varsity level. The Kingsmen also have a recent transfer student from Prospect Mountain, Sophia Capsalis, who will join the team later in the season after rehabbing from an ACL injury.

Overall, with a strong returning core and added depth should make Concord Christian Academy a tough team to beat this year. The Kingsmen start their season at home against Bishop Guertin on Friday night at 5:30.

CONCORD

Division: I

Coach: John Edwards (1st year)

Last year: 8-10, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Abby Lash, so.; Jillian Nailor, sr.; Makayla Root, sr.; Camryn Dubois, so.; Izzy Langlois, so.

Outlook: Lash, Nailor and Root all provide varsity experience, while Dubois and Langlois “have greatly improved from their work over the summer,” Langlois said. “The team will look to play fast and will take pride in its defensive intensity. We are looking forward to the strong competition from the high level of teams we will face each week throughout the season.”

BISHOP BRADY

Division: III

Coach: Steve Aubertine (1st year)

Last year: 6-12, did not make tournament.

Returning starters: Payton Bryson, sr.; Claire Jackson, sr.; Gwyn McLaughlin, jr.; Maia Dow, so.

Top newcomers: Ella Blanchette, fr.; McKenzie Packer, fr.

Outlook: The Giants started out last year 0-7 before winning half of their remaining games, falling one win why of qualifying for the postseason tournament. Brady is returning four starters from last season and are bolstered by six freshman on the roster.

“We have an experienced starting core with four returning varsity (starters) and we will be leaning on our young freshmen to round out or bench,” Aubertine said. “Our team goal is to make the playoffs.”

Teams to beat: Merrimack Valley, Bow, John Stark.

BOW

Division: II

Coach: Cassidy Emerson (2nd year)

Last year: 14-6, reached quarterfinals

Returning starters: Ella Gray, sr.; Kate McGovern, sr.; Kylie McKee, sr.; Bry Szepan, sr.; Gabby Tarsa, sr.

Top newcomers: Peyton Vaughn, fr.

Outlook: The Falcons’ program is down in numbers this year, but they return five seniors with significant varsity experience.

“Our senior class is ready to lead this program this season,” Emerson said. “Our early team goal is to start where we left off last season. We were one game short of being in the top four. We are going to use our experience and new talent to get back to the top of Division II.”

Teams to beat: Pembroke, Milford, Pelham, Laconia.

COE-BROWN

Division: II

Coach: Joe Vachon (11th year)

Last year: 10-9, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Hannah Meehan, sr.; Jennifer Noni, sr.; Zoey Smith, sr.; Emma Lapierre, so.

Top newcomers: Bella Wiggin, sr.; Jaymee Bartlett, so.

Outlook: After a shaky 2-5 start to last season, the Bears ended the season on an 8-3 run to sneak into the playoffs and return the starting core for that group. Coe-Brown showed a lot of growth down the stretch and the Bears are looking to take the next step as a program.

“Our expectations are high for ourselves, but how we work every day is going to determine how successful we will be,” Vachon said. “We are young on the back end, getting them up to speed to see if they can help us later in the year (will be key).”

JOHN STARK

Division: II

Coach: Tiffany Warren (3rd year)

Last year: 16-5, reached semifinals.

Returning starters: Lexi Korbet, so.; Haley Stafford, sr.; Kylie Dinan, so.

Top newcomers: Ava Montgomery, fr.; Nora Smith, fr.

Outlook: The Generals graduated all five starters from last season, including two All-State players, but Warren is confident that “With hard work, the team can evolve rapidly, as young players gain experience and confidence. This group has been working really hard at practices and is looking forward to the upcoming season.”

Teams to beat: Laconia, Pelham Pembroke.

MERRIMACK VALLEY

Division: II

Coach: Bob McNutt (8th year)

Last year: 9-10, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Kayla Smith, sr.; Izzy Navoy, jr.; Syd Bailey, sr.; Jada Lucas, jr.

Outlook: “They’re an athletic group that wants to get out and run,” McNutt said. “We have a deep team with strong returning players and some new younger girls who will help out on both ends. I think Division II is wide open and a lot teams feel the same way that I do. With some luck, staying healthy and good team play, we can have a successful season and a run to the semifinals.”

PEMBROKE

Division: II

Coach: Steve Langevin (5th year)

Last year: 18-4, D-II runner-up.

Returning starters: Kate Stephens, jr., G; Anne Phillips, so., G; Kaitlin Arenella, sr., F.

Top newcomers: Lily Gagnon, so., G; Ava Strazzeri, jr., G.

Outlook: The Spartans graduated last season’s Division II Player of the Year Annelise Dexter, but return three starters, plus senior guard Bailey Gatchell and junior forward Hailey Steinmetz, who both logged a lot of minutes on the varsity floor. Pembroke hung tough with Concord Christian before ultimately losing, 65-53, in the final.

“(The team) plays great together as a unit and should be fun to watch play,” Langevin said. “We believe we still have the players to be one of the better teams in our division and are still pretty young. Many of them have made great improvements from last year and are ready to step into bigger roles.”

BELMONT

Division: III

Coach: Roger Carroll (1st year)

Last year: 7-12, reached prelims.

Returning starters: Madelyn Besegai, sr.; Madison Carrier, sr.; Bailey Perkins, so.

Top newcomers: Mia Ellis, fr.; Jenna Laramie, fr.

Outlook: The Raiders return three starters on the perimeter, while sophomore Lyla McSheffrey, senior Molly Reposa and junior Sami O’Connor will be asked to play larger roles on the inside.

“Our emphasis has been on ball security, rebounding, defensive fundamentals and staying organized on offense,” Carroll said. “We were the 14th seed last season and the players have their sights set higher this time around, with a work ethic that reflects that. They’re a terrific group, and it should be a fun ride.”

HILLSBORO-DEERING

Division: III

Coach: Bruce Johnson (3rd year)

Last year: JV only.

Returning starters: Morgan Dean, sr., F/C.

Outlook: Dean is the only player on the Hillcat roster with varsity experience after playing a JV schedule last season.

“The girls are working hard to improve their skills and knowledge of the game,” Johnson said.

HOPKINTON

Division: III

Coach: Mike Mahoney (2nd year)

Last year: 15-4, D-II runner-up

Returning starters: Shaylee Murdough, sr., G; Paige Boudette, jr., G; Helen Yeaton, jr., F; Zoe Bishop, jr., F; Sydney Westover, sr., F.

Top newcomers: Emily Nemeth, sr., G; Ella-Mai Johnson, fr., G.

Outlook: The Hawks had last year’s Division III Player of the Year (Murdough), Coach of the Year (Mahoney) and an All-State Honorable Mention forward (Westover), but Hopkinton fell short of the ultimate prize to Kearsarge in the championship game, 38-27. The Hawks return nine players from that runner-up team and are capable of being a contender once again.

“We bring back an experienced team that has set high goals this year, and will look to lean on that experience and a strong group of newcomers to build off last year’s success,” Mahoney said. “It is a challenging schedule, but we have the depth that should allow us to continue to compete at a high level in a competitive division, and the girls are working hard to meet the expectations we’ve set for ourselves this year. We’re excited to get started.”

Teams to beat: St. Thomas, Monadnock, Kearsarge.

KEARSARGE

Division: III

Coach: Steve Lavolpicelo (1st year)

Last year: 16-5, D-III champions

Returning starters: Ava Shapiro, sr.; Jada Kendrigan, sr.; Ociee Ilg, jr.; Miranda Anderson, sr.

Top newcomers: Carly Grant, sr.; Madden Huff, fr.; Aya Terayama, jr.; Kaelan Finnegan, fr.

Outlook: The No. 4 Cougars upset Hopkinton and St. Thomas in the final four on their way to last year’s championship run. Kearsarge returns three starters, plus sixth-man Anderson. Shapiro is a returning Second Team and All-Defensive Team player.

WINNISQUAM

Division: III

Coach: Mark Dawalga (5th year)

Last year: 14-5, reached semifinals

Returning starters: Caidyn Carter, jr.; Jaelynn Treamer, jr.; Leah Morrison, sr.

Top newcomers: Avrill Labranche, fr.; Kylie Degrace, fr.; Kaylynn Reagan, fr.; Abby Meunier, fr.; Teagan Labrie, so.; Bella Soucy, jr.; Sophia Labranche, sr.

Outlook: The Bears graduated six seniors from last year’s final four team and are a much younger group this year with Carter as the only returning starter.

“What I really like about Caidyn is that she is extremely knowledgeable about the game and understands what it takes everyday in practice to get to where we want to get to,” Dawalga said. “Her leadership on the court will be extremely helpful this year.”

Morrison and Treamer provide varsity experience, while Avrill Labranche, Sophia Labranche, Degrace, Wolfe and Soucy will work hard down low. Reagan, Meunier and Labrie round out the unit of guards.

“This is a great group of kids that understand it will take some time for everyone to figure out their new roles,” Dawalga said. “I truly believe in this group and understanding patience early on will be a key to this group getting used to playing together. Our goal is to get better everyday in practices and games.”