Jan 27th Games

Dover @ Londonderry: Londonderry at home coming off a loss. Londonderry.
Merrimack @ Central: Defense vs. Offense. I thought the Super Bowl was on Sunday? Central.
Timberlane @ North: Closer than one would think. Don't make me say it.
South @ Salem: This isn't your standard Salem team. South.
Spaulding @ Winnacunnet: This will be all about the style of play. Whoever gets their style wins. Winny.
Alvirne @ BG: BG is just doing what they do. BG

"Timberlane @ North: Closer than one would think. Don't make me say it."

Bosco


I'll say it........ per chance the Owls end the losing streak 2 days before the 4 year anniversary ??     

According to this link Timberlane boys now own the current active losing streak for boys HS basketball in the United States:


http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_longest_losing_streak_in_boys_high_school_basketball#slide=2&article=What_is_the_longest_losing_streak_in_boys_high_school_basketball

And this for the rarified air of the longest losing streaks in boys HS basketball in the US:


Here are the 3 worst losing streaks in highschool ball:
Losing Streaks
88--Dec 15 1976 - Mifflinburg beat Muncy 56-55 to break 88 game losing streak. Mark Wagner sank two free throws with six seconds remaining to win it. The streak started
in Dec. 1972.(Credit: bud tangert, lititz)
74--1991-WPIAL Longest Losing Streak - Jefferson-Morgan lost 74 Games 1987-1991 before they beat Mapletown High School in 1991. (Credit: Fayette County Guru)
73--2008- Palisades' High School in Kintnersville, PA in Bucks County (with 761 students) finished 0-24, which left them at 73 straight -the streak ended at 85 when they defeated Palmerton 45-35 in Jan 2009. Losing Streak Story HERE (Dom Cosentino, Doylestown Intelligencer)

The streak will continue.... I'll take North for this one...

Even though I think Central will cut down the Nets at the last dance - I am never surprised if Merrimack takes them out. However, at the Simon Gym, I'll take Central. I also hope it's the last time Central meets Merrimack this year. Goody and Doc usually match up well, too well, if you're supporting Central.

I do agree that T&F's Lancers will also get a nice W for the week.

This battle of unbeatens between Mack & Central doesn't have the usual feel of an unbeaten matchup at nearly the midway point of the season. I guess Central beating Trinity by 17 in the Pioneer gym has taken some of the luster off the Simon Gym game. Somehow, I get the feeling Goody doesn't mind having the least publicized team of the only 2 undefeated teams left in D1.

If Central and Merri were meeting in Merrimack - I think it would be even more intense

I know Tully won't be happy to see me say this, but I would LOVE to see Timby get a W over the Titans. It would give a new meaning to:

Remember the Titans !!

     

Say what you want, T&F - you've been wrong before - you won't shock me to repeat that.  

Gee, if I "repeat" the success I had in our COY & POY contest we had between us last season, that wouldn't be good for you  

How would the Mack vs Central game would be more intense at Mack then at Central?

I always like Merrimack and Central and think it's a great battle.

I think at Central I see 55 percent surety Central wins to a 45 percent shot at Merri winning
At Merrimack I might go 51 percent Merrimack winning to 49 percent Central.

Yes, t&f it's the return of Tully's weird percentage guesses

You say weird %

I say Waffling

Not waffling at all - I just like to define my commitment to my picks.
Some say, "close", but I define how close I think it'll be...

Unbeatens Central, Merrimack boys tip off tonight in Manchester

By ROGER BROWN
New Hampshire Union Leader

The number of unbeaten boys’ basketball teams in Division I will be whittled to one tonight when Merrimack hits the road to face Manchester Central.

Both teams are 7-0 and have the only unblemished records in the division. The contest is scheduled to tip off at 6:30.


Merrimack has one of the top scorers in the state in senior guard Eric Gendron, who was New Hampshire’s Gatorade Player of the Year last season. Gendron collected the 1,000th point of his career last Tuesday against Nashua South.


“Huge game for us,” Central coach Doc Wheeler said. “They’re very good. They have the Player of the Year back, and Gendron is just a great, great player. The kid can go off on any night. (Shayne) Bourque is playing well. Austin Franzen can really shoot it. They have a lot of weapons and they’re very good defensively.”


Junior guard Brett Hanson and senior guard Jon Martin have been doing most of the scoring for Central.

Merrimack has shown significant improvement since the Queen City Invitational Basketball Tournament, where it went 1-2. Central beat Exeter to win the QCIBT title.


“It was early in the year and we had only played one game,” Merrimack coach Tim Goodridge said. “I think we’re improving and that’s what our goal is. It doesn’t matter what you do in January. It matters what you do on the date of that first playoff game.”


No team has scored more than 60 points against the Tomahawks in their seven Division I games. Merrimack has held three opponents — Nashua North, Dover and Concord — to 38 points or fewer.

Central has been playing some stingy defense as well. Central hasn’t allowed more than 61 points in any of its Division I games, and the 61 came in a three-point victory against Bedford that went to overtime.


Tonight’s contest will be the first of six consecutive home games for the Little Green.

Great game tonight, "Game - o - Week", "Merri's got a few good Lamb's" Central has more !!!!! and a few wolves as well.........................................

DOVER vs. LONDONDERRY : Nice little win for Dover/Romp's/ and the boy's the other night against North to get off the floor, North not Londonderry and there at home, If Londonderry can hit the Long ball early this game will be over by half, IF not....Londonderry will be in for a fist fight all night and still pull it out LONDONDERRY W.

TIMBERLANE vs. NORTH : At home I would of given Timby a fighter's chance, North lost game they should have won up in Dover, Won't fall asleep in this one, Lates has a big night at home and continue's the Streak for TIMBY.....................................................................................................................................NORTH W.

SOUTH vs. SALEM : South a very good team, worked it's way into the upper echelon and quite possibly a top four team if success continues, Salem has a lot of catching up to do, not ready to threaten a team like south, they'll battle but come up short......................................................................................................SOUTH W.

ALVIRNE vs. BG : ALVIRNE'S taken a "WEEK & A HALF" "Vacation" from league play Courtesy of the continued glowing mind's at the NHIAA, Can't make this poop up!! BG play's 80% of it's games at home this season, Central has a 600 game homestand, Back to back games with travel and week long lay - off's not weather related for many, Hell T & F is going to have to change his handle to M thru S. Will somebody with some Athletic fortitude please let the NHIAA know their ruining a great season. Starting and Stopping these kid's hand cuff's seeing their full potential and developement into nice little teams........ALVIRNE get's back from Disneyland late in the 3rd................BG W.

SPAULDING vs. WINNACUNNET: Nice little match up and a nice Win for Winny the other night traveling to Bedford, This will be a battle of mind's from the get go with two very evenly matched teams, Spauding away not the same team..................................................................................................................WINNACUNNET W.

MERRIMACK vs. CENTRAL: In a very HOO HUUM season to this point with no shocking surprises, Merrimack has been impressive and come together nicely as a unit, Good job by Goody he's got them in Sync, This game showcases two of the elite teams in D1 as well as quite a few excellent player's, You will see GOOD BASKETBALL played in this game as well as some very talented player's showing their skills, It will be a battle and hope Merri has enough lamb's, Central let's face it, win or lose is loaded for bear!!!!!! At Simon in front of the Central faithful................Central has to many wolves and eat the lamb's....................................................................CENTRAL W.

see you on the hardwood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3bouys comment on BGs home vs away schedule made me look at all D1s home vs away schedules. Here is how it breaks down:

BG and Nashua South have 11 home vs 7 away games
Central has 10 home vs 8 away games
Majority of schools are 9 home vs 9 away (Alv,Dover,Exeter,Keene,Lond,West,Salem,Spauld,Timby,Winny,Merri,Pink)
Bedford, Concord,Memorial,North,Trinity are 8 home and 10 away

This is by the schedule on the NHIAA site. I have never attempted to create a 18 game schedule for 20 schools but 11 home vs 7 away is way too unbalanced for me.

I actually kind of like the fact that on any given night you might be able to find a good game to go to rather than just having two nights of hoops... I imagine the folks at the NH Sports Page are "happy" because they can see more games (although their spouses may not be as happy :-)).

I think you'll find layoffs at this time of year are common as students (ahem) are taking exams. Schools (like BG for instance) have policies that there's not practices after a certain hour during exams. If your coach isn't a teacher and usually practices at 6PM - that's probably not going to work.

The next 5 weeks are going to be a mad dash to Durham - hopefully the weather holds out!

Edge:

This is year 2 of the schedulingcycle - BG played 7 at home last year... They "gave up" a home game to Bedford for a B/G double header to start the season... That was reciprocated this year.

Alvirne 3-4 @ BG 7-1.  Broncos are well-rested.  Three losses by a combined 10 points Spaulding, Bedford, Merrimack) Two quality wins @ Memorial and vs. Pinkerton in Hudson.   BG's been good enough, four wins by combined 15 points, three wins by 66.   This will be a battle.

Dover 1-7 @ Londonderry 5-2.  Dover's strength of schedule should be noted.  (seven losses to teams 38-16) Londonderry's five wins vs. teams 21-18.   Romps' team will execute and then execute some more.

Merrimack 7-0 @ Central 8-0.  Everything has been said.  Should be a great game at a great venue in Manch. Central was good before the Martin's arrived from Fla.  They may be too good..... Merrimack has to execute, rebound and play team D.  

Timberlane 0-80 (I forget the actual #) @ North 2-6.   Tim's 2nd trip to Nashua in four days, gets BG and Central in a tough week.

South 4-2 @ Salem 2-3. Salem's three losses to teams who are combined 19-4.  They will be very tough @ home.

Spaulding 5-4 @ Winny 5-2.  Spaulding let Trinity slip through their fingers on Friday.  Winny's last 3 wins, all on the road, were by a combined 12 points.  Home cooking will be nice.   This should be another close one.

71 Bert, but really, who's counting?

Timby actually has 8 home and 10 away, while Salem has 10 home and 8 away. Timby and Salem always play a doubleheader of boy's and girl's varsity that is based on the girl's schedule.

Good, I got some minds and finger's working, Personally I could give a hoot about the Home & away thing (luck -o- draw), Like the games on different night's. It's the long lay - over's and eradict schedule that just kill's the moment/Rythm for these youth's that get's me. Edge, tell the nhiaa to throw out the abacus and get into this century, High tech scheduling disc's are out there that would give them a multitude of scenarios for which they could chose the fairest for all. It's not rocket science or at least it shouldn't be over there. JAF ,I get the Exam thing (One of mi buoy's is a bg grad) but don't think it fly's for every week depending on the team. NO momentum to the season, hopefully it pick's up.

Final Central 62 Mack 59

Great game. Mack made a great comeback after Gendron fouled out with 4 minutes to go and the game seemed to be slipping for the Tomos. There was a lot going on in this one. The Martin bros, especially Jon were great again.

POY battle between Hanson and Gendron ????? Well, maybe, think again..... more on that later.

There was a technical situation which I've NEVER seen before.......more on that later.

Maybe, Mack exposed some chinks in the Central armor....... more on that later.

Just a lot to digest. Speaking of digest, I have to eat before I fall down.

Tuesday and Friday wrote:
Just a lot to digest. Speaking of digest, I have to eat before I fall down.

Translation - T&F is putting his Lancer Gear on to do a victory dance!

Sorry Timby, North wins