Division III Boys Tournament

I know the 2/18 Game Thread started going off into talk about tournaments and the 4/5 point system. I found this on the NHIAA site. It's about the new format D3 boys and girls are using this year for their tournament. It is interesting to read the opinion of NHIAA which is in the explanation of the new format:


Welcome to Division III Basketball 2011

Once again the NHIAA is prepared to kick off another season of playoff tournaments. This year in Division III Boy's and Girl's Basketball there will be a different look to the tournament. As part of a one year experiment requested by the athletic administrators in Division III, all teams will have the opportunity to participate in the State Tournament. The top teams will receive a bye while the remaining teams will "play in" for a berth for the remaining openings. After the "play in" game the tournaments will be run as in the past (teams will not be reseeded) with byes awarded for top teams and brackets determined by By-Law Article I; Sect. 16: Tournament Pairings. This "quasi" open tournament format will give administrators, coaches, student athletes, and fans the opportunity to test the waters with a more open format. Timing could be crucial for those teams that have started to peak as the season went on while the opposite could prove true for the early starters. Regardless of the outcomes, this is an effort to see if there is a more equitable and competitive format to possibly be looked at by the NHIAA in the future. Good luck to all of the competitors and best wishes for a hard fought but sportsmanlike tournament.

Girls Basketball Play In Game Schedule
Friday, February 18, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. (unless noted)
Inter-Lakes (10) will host Raymond (23) (62-II ILH)
Stevens (11) will host Mascenic (22) (69-32 STE)
Hopkinton (12) will host Winnisquam (21) (45-30 HOP)
Monadnock (13) will host Franklin (20)
Belmont (14) will host Newport (19) (54-26 BEL)
*Berlin (15) will host Farmington (18) 6:30 p.m. (55-44 BER)
Hillsboro-Deering (16) will host Gilford (17)
(Click on Girls Basketball to the left to see the remainder of the bracket)

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Saw something interesting when looking at the format on NHIAA, and this is hypothetically speaking of course, if the 23 seed Monadnock were to upset the number 10 seed Masenic (again I highly doubt this will happen this is just an example) Monadnock would then play the number 7 seed Raymond. Wouldn't you think that the number 1 seed Mascoma would get the "worst" seeded team available in this instance Monadnock? rather than technically giving number 7 seeded Raymond an easier game?

The post above was about the boys tournament btw.

Raymond in Berlin Friday

Conant in Somersworth

Bow at White Mountains

Stevens at Mascoma

Any idea's, suprises, thoughts, etc.??

I like the tourney only one up set in both boys and girls of the play in game 17 over a 16 seed


I would like all tourneys to be done that way then a final four after of all 4 division winners Friday Sunday type thing

Like Berlin vs. Raymond. Arsenault is quietly one of the best players in the state. One of the hardest workers too. Very impressed with him after last years Semifinal.

Conant vs. Somersworth. This is the game of the quarters. Big matchup. Not sure who wins, on paper its Somersworth I think, but tradition and past glory go to Conant. They've been there and have several returning players from last years Championship squad. They won't go quietly.

Bow vs. White Mountains. WM is tough, on their home floor over an hour from Bow. Could be the difference. I like WM.

Stevens vs. Mascoma. How is Mascoma gonna guard Kaleb Tarczewski? Oh wait... I think he would have gone to Stevens right? Anyway...I have no idea about these teams...

OK did a little research...will anybody beat Mascoma? I saw them last year and came away with Torrey as an emerging player. He's really taken off this season. I would love to see a Torrey/Arsenault battle next Saturday...

I see Conant beating Somersworth...then beating Berlin in the semi's...matching up in the final's against Mascoma (who'll have to beat Bow in the semi's)...a rematch of a game Mascoma won @ home earlier this year...

D3 Quater Finals Predictions

Berlin over Raymond by 5............Too much Curtis Arsenault and a LONG bus ride do in Raymond

Mascoma over Stevens by 14..............'Scomas on a mission

Bow over White Mtn by 7......................Bow's guards are the difference

And in the "Game of the Night" in D3.................Conant over Somersworth by 2 in OT

Results

Mascoma over Stevens 73-62 - Stevens led by 2 after 3 quarters.

Berlin over Raymond 76-56

Somersworth over Conant 64-61 - Fosters & Sports Page will have write-ups on this tomorrow.

I don't know much about D3 at all, but it sounds like this game was crazy from what I've read on twitter. Back and forth all game tied in the closing seconds and Somersworth banked a buzzer beater 3 to win the game.

Yep, NHSportsPage will have a write-up in the morning on this one. Somersworth wins 55-52 on a buzzer beating bankshot 3-pointer.

Got it up already: http://www.nhsportspage.com/display_full_story.php?story_id=599

Any word on Bow and Mascoma?

Last post on twitter says Mascoma was down 26-16 at half lol I know that doesn't help but all I have unless someone went.

Thanks

NHSportsPage.com DIII Championship preview. If anybody wants to watch a game with me - I'll be at this one. Covering for NHSP. I'll probably sneak onto press row...come say hi.

http://www.nhsportspage.com/display_full_story.php?story_id=601

Does anyone know the outcome of the Div III Final held today?

Somersworth won

Well I covered the Finals tonight between Somersworth and Bow. Pretty good game.

Somersworth won the Title 45-39, they led start to finish.

The diference in this game was the 3 point shooting. Despite having a huge size advantage inside, Bow went 3/18 from outside, and neglected going inside. Why, not sure. Somersworth played their game. Their 3 senior guards are all decent players. This game had 36 turnovers, 20 for somersworth, 16 for bow. Pretty sloppy, but it was both sides. Congrats to the Hilltoppers!

Full Story: http://www.nhsportspage.com/display_full_story.php?story_id=610