The Sentinel Title Services Division II Tournament Preview
2016-03-11
Cooper Gorski and The Generals head to Hollis-Brookline
By Dave Haley
While there are no doubts to whom the favorites are as the Division II tournament begins tonight you will find a lot of different opinions on who is advancing through the bracket. Both the analytics & the eye ball test tell you there isn’t much of a gap between the 5 seed and the 12 seed.
We have an idea of who we will see at UNH but for the quarterfinal round, as many as 13 teams should feel like they have a chance to be playing this weekend.
Our early bird registration rate of just $50 ends tomorrow. The one time registration gives you uninterrupted coverage of every game video, column, statistic and podcast we bring you. After tomorrow’s deadline the registration process will go through our web provider with a cost of around $150 annually.
Anyone not registered will not have access to any of the content on our website. This is a move to grow NHsportspage and we hope you love the coverage enough to come with us. Remember if you prefer to register by check simply email me at davehaley@nhsportspage.com
Each registration will be getting an NHsportspage black game jersey mailed to you after the season, so act today and you are set through next (2017) season.
It’s that quick…it’s that easy. We have had a ton of registrations come in the last few days so as a message to all of those people, we will send out your NHsportspage shirts right after the end of the season.
(16) St. Thomas at (1) Portsmouth
After tonight the next regular season game St. Thomas plays will be in Division III. The Saints, who won back to back Class M (Division III) titles in 1991 &1992 behind the legendary Brendan Carr, should compete for a top 8 seed next season under head coach Sean Murphy.
Murphy plans to modify the team’s Grinnell offense but simply the drop in divisions will elevate the program. St. Thomas scoring leaders
On the right night this is a dangerous basketball team. Ian Wilson of “FROM THE PARKING LOT!!” fame and Matt Baker can score in bunches when they are shooting in rhythm. Unfortunately Portsmouth’s defense doesn't allow you to do anything in rhythm.
(9) Timberlane at (8) Coe-Brown
David Smith’s Bears desperately wanted to get up to the 7th seed but a season ending loss to Souhegan put them in the 8/9 game and in Portsmouth’s side of the bracket.
The Bears didn’t win a game against a plus .500 team this season but have played better in the second half of the season. The return of Brody Ashley from an injury plus the production the Bears (they’ll always be the Comanches to me…) have gotten from Sam Luppinacci (13.9), Jayson Cleveland (11.4) and big man Dylan Andrews earned them home court for a rematch of an opening night contest Timberlane won 48-47.
The Owls were able to survive the loss of Jason Hughes (12.6) late in the season to earn a Top 10 seed. John Dolan, Ryan Doherty and Drew Siemering have all played 'glue guy' roles that have helped lead the social media giants to the tournament for the first time in years.
Chad Ripley has been productive all season long and Jeff Baumann’s team has been at its best when they are slowing the pace and winning with their defense.
(13) Goffstown at (4) Milford
The Grizzlies have been remarkably consistently inconsistent (try and pretend that makes sense) in year one under head coach Mike Gasper. Goffstown never lost more than three games in a row and never won more than two consecutively. In Milford they play a veteran team looking to get the Spartans back to the Final Four for the first time since winning their second of back to back titles in 2011.
Milford ended the season as the second ranked offense in the division Milford scoring leaders at 64.7 ppg and guard Ryan Banuskevich has been a big part of their success. With Kirk Palladino able to create spacing with his ability to knock down shots Banuskevich and Jack Briggs have had the room to create off the dribble. Goffstown is a big physical team that likes to control the glass and wants to hold Milford to under 55 points for a chance at the upset.
(12) Hanover at (5) Bishop Brady
The defending champs won a pair of very close games with Hanover (54-50 on the road and 54-52 at home) and will have to beat them for a third time to continue their title defense. Cole Etten’s team realized in February they couldn’t win by outscoring teams so they’ve slowed the pace down and in the tournament they’ll work to keep the game close enough for Joe Bell to win in the end.
Tim Winslow’s team comes into the tourney having lost three of their last four games, just as Bishop Brady has. Hanover is a good team defensively behind Asa Berth and Pat Dyrothe. Dom Linehan gives this team scoring while Benny Gantrish & Martin Paulsen can also knock down shots on the perimeter. Like Brady this is a team that wins when they can hold team to less than 50 points.
(15) Oyster River at (2) Lebanon
The Bobcats head west for the second year in a row to face Keith Matte’s unbeaten Raiders.
Oyster River lost eight games in a row before ending the season with two wins in their last three. Colin Runk has been a consistent scorer the past two years and both Griffin Luczek & Max Lewis have had their moments for Lorne Lucas’s team. In Lebanon they face a team that doesn’t turn the ball over and is very disciplined defensively.
Lebanon will apply pressure and try to bury Oyster River early in their first round game.
(10) Windham at (7) Souhegan
Pete Pierce’s Sabers swept the season series from Todd Steffanides Jaguars 49-44 & 67-64. Those numbers tell you Windham was a play or two away from getting a win. Tonight is about extending the season.
The Sabers have done a nice job sharing the basketball and are getting balanced scoring from Jarrell Webster, Raj Gandhi and Gabe Cruz. Pierce’s team has the 8th ranked defense in the Division (50.5 ppg) and players like Ryan Boehm & Ryan Hickey have sacrificed their scoring to help wins games. Souhegan closed the season with wins over Coe-Brown, Hollis-Brookline and Windham so if there is one team riding a bit of momentum coming into tonight it is Souhegan.
Windham will try to slow the pace and turn this into a physical game decided in the paint. Marco Allanach and Cole Gill give the Jaguars enough scoring to win tight games and if Souhegan decides to pressure the Windham guards they can force turnovers.
(14) Kennett at (3) Manchester West
The Eagles have lost 9 of their last 11 games and six in a row while Danny Bryson’s team has gone 16-1 over their last 17 games including a 72-55 win at North Conway last weekend.
With all that information and factual data you still will find a West team that will take nothing for granted tonight. After last season’s upset a win puts that behind them.
(11) John Stark at (6) Hollis-Brookline
Rematch of a game the Cavaliers won 59-31 in the last game of the season.
Do not expect this one to be nearly that one sided. The Generals stayed out of the Portsmouth/Lebanon brackets and have to feel like they can beat Hollis-Brookline if they can hold them into the 40’s. Drew McQuarrie has become one of the best rebounders in the division while Cooper Gorski & Egan Nickerson provide balanced scoring.
Mike Soucy’s team features the 4th best defense in the Division (45.0 ppg.) and has to feel like if they hold John Stark in the low 40’s they are going to be hard to beat. Matt Simco is a player to watch for a team with a lot of underclassman playing big minutes.
We have an idea of who we will see at UNH but for the quarterfinal round, as many as 13 teams should feel like they have a chance to be playing this weekend.
Our early bird registration rate of just $50 ends tomorrow. The one time registration gives you uninterrupted coverage of every game video, column, statistic and podcast we bring you. After tomorrow’s deadline the registration process will go through our web provider with a cost of around $150 annually.
Anyone not registered will not have access to any of the content on our website. This is a move to grow NHsportspage and we hope you love the coverage enough to come with us. Remember if you prefer to register by check simply email me at davehaley@nhsportspage.com
Each registration will be getting an NHsportspage black game jersey mailed to you after the season, so act today and you are set through next (2017) season.
It’s that quick…it’s that easy. We have had a ton of registrations come in the last few days so as a message to all of those people, we will send out your NHsportspage shirts right after the end of the season.
(16) St. Thomas at (1) Portsmouth
After tonight the next regular season game St. Thomas plays will be in Division III. The Saints, who won back to back Class M (Division III) titles in 1991 &1992 behind the legendary Brendan Carr, should compete for a top 8 seed next season under head coach Sean Murphy.
Murphy plans to modify the team’s Grinnell offense but simply the drop in divisions will elevate the program. St. Thomas scoring leaders
On the right night this is a dangerous basketball team. Ian Wilson of “FROM THE PARKING LOT!!” fame and Matt Baker can score in bunches when they are shooting in rhythm. Unfortunately Portsmouth’s defense doesn't allow you to do anything in rhythm.
(9) Timberlane at (8) Coe-Brown
David Smith’s Bears desperately wanted to get up to the 7th seed but a season ending loss to Souhegan put them in the 8/9 game and in Portsmouth’s side of the bracket.
The Bears didn’t win a game against a plus .500 team this season but have played better in the second half of the season. The return of Brody Ashley from an injury plus the production the Bears (they’ll always be the Comanches to me…) have gotten from Sam Luppinacci (13.9), Jayson Cleveland (11.4) and big man Dylan Andrews earned them home court for a rematch of an opening night contest Timberlane won 48-47.
The Owls were able to survive the loss of Jason Hughes (12.6) late in the season to earn a Top 10 seed. John Dolan, Ryan Doherty and Drew Siemering have all played 'glue guy' roles that have helped lead the social media giants to the tournament for the first time in years.
Chad Ripley has been productive all season long and Jeff Baumann’s team has been at its best when they are slowing the pace and winning with their defense.
(13) Goffstown at (4) Milford
The Grizzlies have been remarkably consistently inconsistent (try and pretend that makes sense) in year one under head coach Mike Gasper. Goffstown never lost more than three games in a row and never won more than two consecutively. In Milford they play a veteran team looking to get the Spartans back to the Final Four for the first time since winning their second of back to back titles in 2011.
Milford ended the season as the second ranked offense in the division Milford scoring leaders at 64.7 ppg and guard Ryan Banuskevich has been a big part of their success. With Kirk Palladino able to create spacing with his ability to knock down shots Banuskevich and Jack Briggs have had the room to create off the dribble. Goffstown is a big physical team that likes to control the glass and wants to hold Milford to under 55 points for a chance at the upset.
(12) Hanover at (5) Bishop Brady
The defending champs won a pair of very close games with Hanover (54-50 on the road and 54-52 at home) and will have to beat them for a third time to continue their title defense. Cole Etten’s team realized in February they couldn’t win by outscoring teams so they’ve slowed the pace down and in the tournament they’ll work to keep the game close enough for Joe Bell to win in the end.
Tim Winslow’s team comes into the tourney having lost three of their last four games, just as Bishop Brady has. Hanover is a good team defensively behind Asa Berth and Pat Dyrothe. Dom Linehan gives this team scoring while Benny Gantrish & Martin Paulsen can also knock down shots on the perimeter. Like Brady this is a team that wins when they can hold team to less than 50 points.
(15) Oyster River at (2) Lebanon
The Bobcats head west for the second year in a row to face Keith Matte’s unbeaten Raiders.
Oyster River lost eight games in a row before ending the season with two wins in their last three. Colin Runk has been a consistent scorer the past two years and both Griffin Luczek & Max Lewis have had their moments for Lorne Lucas’s team. In Lebanon they face a team that doesn’t turn the ball over and is very disciplined defensively.
Lebanon will apply pressure and try to bury Oyster River early in their first round game.
(10) Windham at (7) Souhegan
Pete Pierce’s Sabers swept the season series from Todd Steffanides Jaguars 49-44 & 67-64. Those numbers tell you Windham was a play or two away from getting a win. Tonight is about extending the season.
The Sabers have done a nice job sharing the basketball and are getting balanced scoring from Jarrell Webster, Raj Gandhi and Gabe Cruz. Pierce’s team has the 8th ranked defense in the Division (50.5 ppg) and players like Ryan Boehm & Ryan Hickey have sacrificed their scoring to help wins games. Souhegan closed the season with wins over Coe-Brown, Hollis-Brookline and Windham so if there is one team riding a bit of momentum coming into tonight it is Souhegan.
Windham will try to slow the pace and turn this into a physical game decided in the paint. Marco Allanach and Cole Gill give the Jaguars enough scoring to win tight games and if Souhegan decides to pressure the Windham guards they can force turnovers.
(14) Kennett at (3) Manchester West
The Eagles have lost 9 of their last 11 games and six in a row while Danny Bryson’s team has gone 16-1 over their last 17 games including a 72-55 win at North Conway last weekend.
With all that information and factual data you still will find a West team that will take nothing for granted tonight. After last season’s upset a win puts that behind them.
(11) John Stark at (6) Hollis-Brookline
Rematch of a game the Cavaliers won 59-31 in the last game of the season.
Do not expect this one to be nearly that one sided. The Generals stayed out of the Portsmouth/Lebanon brackets and have to feel like they can beat Hollis-Brookline if they can hold them into the 40’s. Drew McQuarrie has become one of the best rebounders in the division while Cooper Gorski & Egan Nickerson provide balanced scoring.
Mike Soucy’s team features the 4th best defense in the Division (45.0 ppg.) and has to feel like if they hold John Stark in the low 40’s they are going to be hard to beat. Matt Simco is a player to watch for a team with a lot of underclassman playing big minutes.