Fall League

You used the word "if" with BG in their loss to Memorial. The word if is used a lot with teams that don't move on while teams that move on...... Just move on.

I never said Memorial would be failures if they go 12 - 6 and lose in the quarters. Please don't put your words in my mouth

I'm not hyping them, just being a realist on the landscape of D1. BG will be very good. Bedford is top 4 material. Pembroke will have the biggest front court in D1 and a serviceable backcourt. They will be playing with motivation and a chip on their shoulder which translates for a top 4 finish for the Spartans.

Teams taking 1 or 2 steps back from last season? Many...... Trinity, Winny, Merrimack, Central, Spaulding, South etc etc etc.

Oh and I don't want a bunch of White horses showing up on my lawn with The Edge saying:

CHARGE !!!!

Londonderry, while being weakened with the prep school transfer of Green, will be a team to contend with. Cody Ball is good. Exeter will be intriguing. Pinkerton lost Rosinski to prep, but will be a team that could surprise and disappoint all in the same game week.

T&F -- Without a horse in the race the worst I would do is have the 400 piece Lancer Marching Band play their version of Stairway to Heaven on your front lawn over and over again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDPikXH0gGU

Agree with your Memorial assessment. They seem to be the only team not adversely affected by graduation and/or prep school defection. BG should be good. Can never count Doc out. The Granite State Pembroke Spartan/Raiders should be contenders. Londonderry will be there if they commit to defense like last year.

Edge, my neighbors call me the oldest teenager in the US, so the LHS marching band would be welcome on my lawn anytime. I have to keep my reputation in my neighborhood.

If Pete Tarrier used your new name for the school from the Allenstown area in his broadcast it would take him about a half a quarter from start to finish for pronunciation

I am also throwing TF-1000s at myself for not mentioning Salem and their Perennial COY coach Rob McLaughlin. Even though Salem might not be a Top 4 team this season I always like to mention Coach Rob because he's always been one and always will be one of my coaching Favs in the HS 84s

Agree on of state of D1. Memorial has a legit shot. The assesment of Memorials talent level, time will tell........

In Salem there is hope!!! True Fall League means nothing but they have definitely shown some talent. Undefeated and beat Pembroke (who always has all there horses), Coach Mc has some stuff to work with. Early Dark Horse.

Trinity vs Pembroke Sunday is a cool matchup on Sunday

mehhh.... Trinity vs Pembroke would've been a cooler match up last season. This season it doesn't have the same sparkle.

Nice to know Salem has hope. In Rob (Perennial COY) McLaughlin..... We Trust

On Sunday Oct. 12th at 8:55 Pembroke plays Lebanon in a tasty "old tyme" D2 game.

Clancy, it's ok to root for your Crusaders and not play the "don't want to be disappointed" card. Just follow the could be reality TV show this season that could be called:

"The Quirky Crusaders"

Coming soon to the Bravo channel

An heh, if it doesn't work out for Memorial this coming season and they don't win it, just keep the thought:


It's only HS basketball.



You have your retirement, the car, the house, relatives with health issues and the Ebola virus to worry about. The Ws and Ls of the Crusaders pale in comparison to the aforementioned issues in your life

Heard Pembroke won by 20+ over Trinity - any other scores?

Lebanon beat Alvirne
BG beat Merrimack Valley
Both teams won big.

D2 musings from fall league
West - maybe the best team in Manchester (crazy huh?)
Lebanon - maybe the best player in the fall league
Pembroke - maybe the favorite in D1 (I know they are D1, but should be D2)
Goffstown - look like a good D1 team

Depending on Computer, can be a jumbled mess.


Bracket A Pool Overall Bracket B Pool Overall
Bedford 2-1 3-2 Lawrence 3-0 4-0
Merrimack 2-1 2-3 North 2-1 3-1
Bishop Guertin 2-1 3-2 Central 2-1 3-1
Nashoba 2-1 2-3 Souhegan 1-2 1-3
Merrimack Vly 1-2 1-4 Londonderry 1-2 2-2
Milford 0-3 1-4 Hollis-Brookline 0-3 1-3


Bracket C Pool Overall Bracket D Pool Overall
West 3-0 4-0 Lebanon 3-0 5-0
Salem 2-1 3-1 Pembroke 3-0 4-1
Goffstown 2-1 2-2 Trinity 2-1 2-3
Groton 1-2 1-3 Chelmsford 1-2 2-3
South 1-2 1-3 N. Middlesex 0-3 2-3
Conant 0-3 1-3 Alvirne 0-3 1-4

I heard Pembroke beat Lebanon by about 20...

Anybody see the game?


Any other big matchups?

Pembroke led the entire game. 29-15 at the half and ended up winning by 15 . After leading by nearly 20 with 5 minutes left Pembroke put 3 of their bench in and and Lebanon came to within 9 points. Lebanon never came close ttaking the lead.

Seems like there was two different games, classic PA entourage. win by 20, team cut into lead when subs are in, etc, could it have just been a good game? How did you guys lose to Salem, drugged water bottles.

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don't be discouraged Clancy, We like the updates. Some of the PA people can get a little testy.

Don't all the teams sub the whole game, Does PA not play there bench during games unless it isn't close?

Seems like there was two different games, classic PA entourage.  win by 20, team cut into lead when subs are in, etc, could it have just been a good game?  How did you guys lose to Salem, drugged water bottles.

.
don't be discouraged Clancy, We like the updates.  Some of the PA people can get a little testy.

Don't all the teams sub the whole game, Does PA not play there bench during games unless it isn't close?

Thanks for the updates on the Lebanon game and all the others!

It's really nice to get the first hand "objective" reviews on the on-the-court action!!

Any results/scores to share from Sunday's games?

How about the big Londonderry vs. Salem match-up?

Interesting Article from Jeremy,

Anyone hear about Central vs West????

NH NOTEBOOK

Thursday, October 16, 2014

North Andover Fall Ball 2014 - Week 6 Recap
The North Andover Youth Center Fall Ball is widely considered the region's most competitive and best run high school basketball fall league. The league is in its 10th year, and through the first five weeks of the 2014 season 'The Barn' had already had over 40 college coaches come through to scout the local talent. This was week 6, and both the New Hampshire Notebook and the Boston Herald were on hand to cover the games.

This is a good league for the NH teams to play in. Not only do you get to play against mostly MA teams who you don't have to play during the high school season, but you get to play in a league that in general plays at a higher level, faster speed and more physical than most NHIAA games which raises the level of play of the NH teams. There is no shot clock in the NA Fall Ball, but the MA kids are used to playing with one so they just naturally play a faster, more up tempo style game.

The league has 16 teams, 4 of which have NH players on the roster. On Tuesday night all 4 of those teams took the court. The schedule went:
Game 1: Londonderry vs. Lawrence
Game 2: Salem vs. Medford
Game 3: Pelham vs. Methuen
Game 4: St. John's Prep vs. Tewksbury

The night was highlighted by an overtime, comeback win by Londonderry over Lawrence, Pelham falling to Methuen in a nail-biter and in the game of the night it was St. John's Prep overcoming a tough start to run away with the win over a good Tewksbury team. Local kids who stood out included Cody Ball (Londonderry), Keith Brown (Pelham) and Ben Judson (St. John's Prep). Here's our recap of all the action.

Game 1: Londonderry 61 Lawrence 59 (OT)
This was the battle of the Lancers, as both schools share the same nickname. It was the NH Lancers vs. the MA Lancers. It was a neck and neck ball game, with Londonderry being led by their returning core players Cody Ball, Mark Corey, Jake Coleman and Joey Kwiatowski. Ball drove from the right wing and made a great move, crossing over before spinning into the lane and banking in a tough leaner off the glass. Merrimack College has been going to this league to see Ball play. The 6'2" senior combo-guard had a team-high 28 points in the win.

Then Corey (21 points) hit a tough step-back jumper from 18 feet with a hand right in his face - a good move by the 6'3" senior wing. But then Londonderry was unable to get back on defense quick enough and Lawrence converted a couple layups to take a 42-36 lead late in regulation. Londonderry tried to answer back, and Ball pushed it on the break. He didn't have numbers, it was 1-on-2. But that didn't stop ball, as he took it right at both of them, knifing his way to the rim with a nice move before laying it in.

Corey hit a 3 off the catch to help keep Londonderry in it, as they now trailed 51-46 with 4:32 left in the 2nd half. Kwiatowski finished strong in traffic, and then Londonderry picked up their defensive intensity to try and force turnovers with the clock ticking down. They did just that, picking up some deflections on Lawrence passes, and turning them over. Corey drained a clutch 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the Lawrence lead to 55-53 with 1:15 left.

Then Londonderry had the ball, trailing 57-55 with just 22 seconds remaining. Ball had it in the post, he backed his man down, then tried to kick it out as the double team came. His pass was deflected and stolen by Lawrence. Just then Cole Brittany made the hustle play of the night. The 5'5" freshman pressured the Lawrence player who grabbed the steal, he forced a loose ball and then dove on the floor for it. While still on the floor Brittany knocked it over to ball, who went in for the easy layup to tie the game up 57-57. An outstanding hustle play by Brittany. Londonderry head coach Nate Stanton was looking on and you can bet he was pleased with that one.

Lawrence quickly turned the ball over, so Londonderry had one last chance to win it in regulation. Corey got a good look from the baseline, but his jumper rimmed out and Coleman's tip-in attempt at the buzzer was no good either. We were headed to overtime tied up 57-57.

Right off the bat in OT, Ball buried a 3 off the catch out of the right corner and it was 60-57 Londonderry. Londonderry only scored 1 more point in OT but that's all they would need. Lawrence had a chance late, but Coleman came up with a steal with just 1.9 seconds left in OT. Londonderry missed the front end of the 1-and-1, but Lawrence's last second shot from half court was no good. Londonderry wins 61-59.


Game 2: Medford 55 Salem 50
This was our first look at Salem in awhile. They have another solid team which plays hard. They really get in your face on defense and have a strong inside presence with big 6'5" junior forward Matt Vartanian, one of the state's most improved players. Jake Bosworth is a 6'0" combo-guard with good athleticism, quickness and an emerging skill set on the perimeter. Jared Gott is a long 6'2" wing with a good shooting stroke from the outside. He had a tough shooting night on Tuesday but is doing double duty with cross-country and ran 4 miles before the game so didn't have his legs. Zach Farrar is a tough, physical 6'1" forward who rebounds, defends and does the dirty work inside. Griffen Curtis is another long, athletic wing player. He's 6'3" and is only a sophomore but more than held his own out there. Dan Nugent is a 6'2" senior with a solid inside/outside game and does a little bit of everything.

Bosworth and Vartanian were playing well early as the Blue Devils jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead. Bosworth had a strong take to the rim. Then Vartanian showed good effort by going hard after an offensive rebound and then going up strong with it, finishing the put-back with 2 defenders all over him. Bosworth then drilled a 3-pointer and it was 17-6 Salem.

Vartanian made another strong move inside for 2 more, and then Bosworth made another strong drive to the rim. A Medford stepped in to try to draw the charge, but Bosworth made the bucket and got the and-1. Medford was pressing Salem full court, but the Blue Devils broke the press and Farrar finished strong through contact off a nice feed by Nugent. Gott hit a nice step-back jumper along the baseline, and Salem led 26-24 at halftime.

Gott showed good hustle going after a loose ball, but Medford opened the 2nd half on a 6-0 run to take a 30-26 lead. Again Gott showed good hustle, this time diving out of bounds for a loose ball. Again, it was Nugent finding Farrar inside with a nice extra pass for a layup on the press break. Curtis then hit a pull-up jumper with a hand in his face. Next trip down Curtis hit another smooth pull-up in the mid-range area. However Medford turned up the intensity and was playing at too fast a pace for Salem to handle, as they opened up a 50-38 lead with just 5:26 remaining in the 2nd half.

Salem was hanging tough though and kept battling back. After a layup by Gott they now trailed just 50-45 with 2:30 left to play. Medford was able to hold on from there for the 55-50 final.


Game 3: Methuen 54 Pelham 48
Pelham was playing without their second best player, 6'5" senior wing forward Ryan Cloutier. They still played a good Methuen team tough, and likely would have won if they had Cloutier in the lineup. The Pythons still put out a strong starting 5 with NHIAA D-III Preseason Player of the Year Keith Brown, the fearless and tough as nails Dylan Silvestri, sharpshooter David Rogers, speedy point guard Kyle Frank and Central Catholic transfer Ryan Rondeau.

Still, it was a competitive game with the intensity and physicality running high. Both teams were really going at each other hard on both ends of the floor. It had the feel of a regular season contest, not a fall league one. 6'1" junior guard Keith Brown hit a good turnaround jumper out of the low post, but Methuen still jumped out to a 10-3 lead early. 6'2" Ryan Rondeau hit a 3 to cut the Methuen lead to 10-7. Then Brown made a good baseline drive and finish in traffic to cut the Methuen lead to 10-9. Soon after that Brown made another strong take to the rim before hitting a tough leaner. Brown poured in a team-high 18 points.

Nick Wolfren came off the bench for Pelham and made a strong drive, spin move before hitting a leaner of his own. Brown then made another good dribble-drive move, driving strong left and finishing with his left hand. But Methuen made a run at the end of the 1st half which turned out to be the difference in the game. Methuen was hitting on all cylinders,a nd Pelham was struggling to slow down their momentum. Methuen ended the 1st half on a 15-0 run, and took a 34-17 lead at the halftime break.

Brown hit a 15-footer off the catch to start the 2nd half and put an end to the Methuen 15-0 run and start the Pelham comeback. Rogers hit a 3, and Silvestri ran the floor well, finishing strong on the break with a defender all over him for 2. Brown scored inside and then hit another 15-footer. That capped a 17-4 run by Pelham, and now the Pythons only trailed 38-34. There is no quit in this Pelham team, even with no Cloutier or with no Matt Regan on the sideline.

Rogers hit another 3, and it was 41-37 Methuen. Silvestri leaped up for a tip-in, and it was now just a 2 point game, 41-39 Methuen with 4:33 remaining. Frank hit a clutch 3 pointer to again bring Pelham to within 2, 46-44 Methuen with 2:25 left. But Methuen was able to hold on from there for the 54-48 win.

Newport, Berlin, Conant and Campbell should all have strong teams, but there's no question this Pelham squad will be the favorite in NHIAA D-III going into the season.


Game 4: St. John's Prep 64 Tewksbury 50
They saved the best game of the night for last, as St. John's Prep and Tewksbury came into this game with perfect 5-0 records in fall league play. SJP is led by the dynamic 5'9" senior guard Kareem Davis and 6'5" senior lefty guard Ben Judson (Plaistow, NH). Judson had a strong game from start to finish, playing a key role in the team's win.

Early on Judson broke his man down off the dribble, making a strong move to the rim, drawing a foul and getting to the line. However, Tewksbury would quickly take control of the game. They really buckled down on defense, playing some of the best 'D' I've seen in a long time. All 5 guys just playing tough, hard nosed defense, helping each other out and not allowing SJP to get any good looks. SJP was struggling to find offense, and with 6:00 left in the 1st half it was 18-10 Tewksbury. Soon after that the Tewksbury lead grew to 25-10.

But then St. John's Prep started to get back on track, and they got a spark from Judson who made the best pass of the night. Judson was up top, a few feet behind the arc when he somehow found an open teammate and in the blink of an eye zipped a terrific pass to him underneath for the bucket. Just a great look, and that play really seemed to get SJP going.

Then Judson ran the floor, finishing a layup on the break. On the next trip down the floor head he led the 3-on-1 break and made a good dish to Davis for a layup. That capped a 13-0 run by St. John's Prep, as they now trailed just 25-23. Judson had a team-high 16 points and Davis had 14. Judson buried a 3-pointer with just 4 seconds left in the 1st half and it was 28-26 Tewksbury at halftime.

Prep c=kept that momentum rolling in the 2nd half. Judson continued to shine, driving by his man on his way to the rim for a strong finish. Then Judson hit another 3, this time tying the game 33-33. Next trip down he pushed it hard on the break, blowing right past 2 defenders on his way to the bucket for a strong finish. Davis hit an 18-footer, plus got fouled on the shot. Prep was really playing well now, and they had a 41-35 lead with 10:00 left in regulation.

Prep continued to pull away, playing well on both ends of the floor and now had a 54-44 lead with 4:23 remaining. Judson wasn't done yet, though. He made a strong drive, took the contact and hit a leaner for an and-1. On the next trip down the floor he connected on yet another 3-pointer. That put the icing on the cake. It was now 62-47 SJP with around 3 minutes left. Both teams began pulling their starters and SJP cruised to the 64-50 win.
Posted by Jeremy Leveille at 10:00 PM

Wow - what a complete Recap!

Hope Jeremy gets a chance to travel to Nashua and update us all on the teams competing on Sundays, too!

In fairness of full disclosure, I am a dad to one of the Central players...that being said, they are proving -slowly- they are still the defending champs...They beat West and it was never really close. There were the typical back and forth runs but West never was really in control of the game. They played twice during the summer league at West in which West won both. Joey Martin got hurt in the first half of game one, and him and Evan MacDonald were late to the second game. All of that to say these two teams played full strength for a whole game in this Fall league and Central won. Central will lose this year for sure as undefeated seasons are very hard to come by, however they are learning and growing as a team and have been down, several times, to good teams, ie Londonderry and Lawrence, and came back and won both games. They did lose to North but again learned something from it and carried that into the next week with a good win. And Clancy I could not agree with you more. A lot of these teams are very even as far as talent goes. It will come down to coaching and team leadership...who's got the guts to win the close ones. Again, completely biased here, my money's on Central -Go Little Green.

Anybody out there get to go to the games on Sundays - any results or highlights to share???

All are welcome and appreciated - was Jeremy in the crowd?

anotherhoopfan wrote:Anybody out there get to go to the games on Sundays - any results or highlights to share???

All are welcome and appreciated - was Jeremy in the crowd?

No I wasn't but I will try to make it in next couple weeks. If I do there likely won't be an in depth recap. The folks who run the Riv league have said they don't want any media coverage.

"The folks who run the Riv league have said they don't want any media coverage."

Jeremy L


Well, that's bad news. This means any Forum member that has posted about the Riv Fall League, who goes Trick or Treating this Friday from 6 to 8 pm at Rivier University, will get toothbrushes and pencils instead of Milky Ways and Almond Joys

I think the Riv just wants to avoid the circus. It's great they do this, seems to me the competition is at least similar to the one in Andover. Some of the teams are the same, except you have the good Manchester teams at the Riv, plus some small schools that are good. (for example Conant). Was told there were a lot of college coaches at the Riv last weekend watching the games.


Next week is the playoffs, don't know the matchups. Only some teams make playoffs in Riv league

Anyone have info, games or times??

Well, I could post the playoff schedule, but then by having extra clowns, jugglers and high wire acts attend the Fall League games, then.....


...... Wouldn't this be contributing to a Circus atmosphere down there?  

STANDINGS

MCVEIGH DIVISION SCOLLAN DIVISION

LONDONDERRY 6-1 ST. JOHNS 7-0

CENTRAL 5-2         TEWKSBURY 6-1

NEW MISSION 5-2 METHUEN 4-3

LAWRENCE 4-3 MEDFORD 4-3

ANDOVER 3-4 PELHAM 3-4

NO ANDOVER 3-4 WESTFORD 2-5

TRITON 2-5         LOWELL 1-6

PEABODY 0-7 SALEM 1-6