MANCHESTER, NH – In what has turned out to be an especially eventful postseason for Manchester high school varsity sports teams, with many teams flexing their prowess on their respective playing surfaces, four teams remained standing heading into the final week of the playoffs.
One of those teams fell in a tight battle Monday night, leaving three Queen City squads still vying for state championships.
Here’s a glance at all the local tournament action:
Boys basketball
Division I
The Trinity High School boys basketball team entered the postseason as the third seed in the D-I tournament following a 15-3 regular season.
The Pioneers began their postseason run with a convincing 60-46 home victory over 14th-ranked Londonderry on March 4 and three days later, edged upstart Alvirne, the No. 7 seed, 62-60 in overtime, to advance to the D-I semifinals. They’ll face second-ranked Bedford Wednesday at 530 p.m. at the Rochester Recreation Center, with the winner advancing to the state championship game at the University of New Hampshire at 4 p.m.
Across town, 12th-ranked Manchester Memorial (8-11) had to go on the road for its first-round playoff game on March 4 and nearly pulled off an upset against No. 5 Bishop Guertin before ultimately falling, 45-41. The good news is the Crusaders are expected to bring back the full team that played in that contest, now with playoff experience in a hostile road environment.
Division II
The Manchester West boys put together an impressive regular-season resume, including a 14-4 record.
In the playoffs, the Blue Knights earned a 58-46 first-round victory over No. 14 Milford on March 3 and then won their quarterfinal matchup with No. 11 Souhegan, 48-38, on March 7.
However, they finally met its match in the form of No. 2 Pelham Monday night when they fell, 54-49, in the D-II semifinals at Rochester Recreation Center. Max Houde and Germain Gonzalez led West with 15 points apiece in the losing effort.
Divison III
Missing a couple key players for disciplinary reasons, the eighth-ranked Derryfield School boys basketball team hosted a first-round playoff game but were defeated by ninth-seeded Kearsarge, 41-32.
Division IV
The 7th-ranked Holy Family boys basketball team was tested at home in the first round, but pulled away late for a 56-46 victory over No. 10 Moultonborough on Feb. 24. Two-days later, the Griffins fell to second-seeded Hinsdale, 59-47, in the D-IV quarterfinals.
Girls basketball
Division I
Following a 12-6 regular season, the seventh-ranked Manchester Central/West girls basketball team hosted a first-round playoff game on March 2 but fell to No. 10 Salem, 39-24.
The same night, about 20 miles south, the No. 9 Trinity High School girls battled on the road at No. 8 Bishop Guertin, but were edged, 44-40.
Division II
The Derryfield School girls basketball team earned a 16-2 regular season to secure a the No. 2 seed and first-round bye in the D-II playoffs. In the Cougars’ first game, a quarterfinal clash with No. 7 Souhegan, they avenged an regular-season setback against the Sabers by pulling away for a 38-31 triumph on March 7.
Next up for Derryfield is a semifinal contest against No. 6 Merrimack Valley at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Rochester Recreation Center.
Division IV
The third-ranked Holy Family girls kicked off the postseason in dominant fashion, taking down 14-seeded Pittsfield, 52-19, on Feb. 24.
In the quarterfinals, however, the Griffins were upset in overtime, 51-47, against No. 7 Farmington.
Boys ice hockey
Division I
Despite entering the Trinity High School boys ice hockey team entering the playoffs with a 15-2-1 regular-season record and first-round bye, the Pioneers were upset in the quarterfinals by No. 10 Hanover, 5-2, on March 7,
Girls ice hockey
Division I
The fifth-ranked Bishop Brady-Trinity-Bow (Brinity) girls ice hockey team is one win away from the state championship game. That, after earning a 4-1 victory over No. 4 St. Thomas/Winnacunnet/Dover on March 6.
Brinity is scheduled to play No. 8 Hanover in the state semifinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday night at the Everett Ice Arena in Concord.
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