With the postseason rapidly approaching, it’s time to take a look at how teams around the Upper Valley have fared on the hardwood in pursuit of a state championship.
Boys
NHIAA Division II
Hanover
The Hanover Bears, who are 11-3, sit in fourth place in Division II and have been on a tear as of late, winning six of their last seven games. While the Bears opened the season with a victory over Pelham, they have since lost to the two other teams that are currently ahead of them in the standings — Hollis-Brookline and Manchester West.
The Bears have four games remaining before the close of the regular season. Hanover was scheduled to take on local rival Lebanon on the road on Thursday, and will eventually end the season at home against Oyster River on Feb. 24.
With 20 teams in the division, only 14 will make the playoffs, and the Bears will have to move their way into one of the top two seeds to earn a bye.
Lebanon
The Lebanon Raiders, which have had an up-and-down season so far, are in 13th place, just holding on to a spot in the postseason at 5-7. Unlike their upcoming opponent, the Bears, the Raiders have had a bumpy last few games, dropping four of their last five.
The Raiders have their work cut out for them to stay in postseason contention, as after their battle with the Bears, four of their remaining five games are against opponents ahead of them in the standings.
Lebanon will close its season on Feb. 27 when it hosts Bow.
The NHIAA Division II boys’ basketball playoffs are slated to begin on March 3.
VPA – Division II
Hartford
The Hartford Hurricanes, who have not won a state title in almost 100 years, sure look like they’re on a mission to win one this year as they sit atop Division II with a perfect 16-0 record. Not only have the Canes been perfect, but they have also done their fair share of blowing teams out. Their closest game this season was a 10-point win against Rutland at the end of January.
Hartford has four games remaining in the regular season. The Canes are scheduled to face Otter Valley on the road on Thursday. They close the season on the road Feb. 26 against Bellows Falls.
Up to 16 teams can make the playoffs, according to the Vermont Principals’ Association’s website. With that said, the Canes, who are in first in the 15-team division, are locked into a playoff spot.
The VPA Division II boys’ basketball playoffs are scheduled to begin March 3/March 4.
NHIAA – Division III
Mascoma
The Mascoma Royals have been on fire this season, as they have a 14-1 record and sit in second place in the division standings. The Royals started the season with 10 straight wins before suffering their first loss at the end of January against Hopkinton.
Since that loss, the Royals have begun another streak, winning their last four. The are scheduled to close out the regular season on Thursday at Newport.
Since Division III has 22 teams, 15 teams will make the playoffs. Despite a strong season, Mascoma does not appear likely to surpass defending state champion Belmont, which is 17-0, to earn the only bye.
Stevens
The Stevens Cardinals have had a strong regular season as well, sitting in third place at 15-2. The Cardinals won their first three games before suffering their first loss of the season to Gilford in December.
Stevens then proceeded to rattle off 12 straight victories before suffering its second loss Tuesday against the Royals.
With its current standing, Stevens is locked into a playoff spot. The Cardinals close the regular season Friday when they host Hopkinton.
Newport
In contrast to their Upper Valley counterparts, the Tigers have not had as much success this season. The Tigers are just 2-15 this season and are in 21st place.
Newport’s wins this season came against Monadnock and Sunapee. While playoffs seem to be out of the picture this season for the Tigers, they will look to close their season with a win when they are scheduled to host Mascoma on Thursday.
The NHIAA Division III boys’ basketball playoffs are set to begin on Feb. 17.
VPA – Division III
Woodstock
After starting the season 2-3, the Woodstock Wasps have solidified themselves as a contender in the division, now at 11-3 and in fourth place. Following its loss to Twin Valley at the beginning of January, Woodstock has won nine consecutive games.
The Wasps have six games remaining in the regular season and will host Mount Anthony on Friday. They close the regular season on the road against Springfield on Feb. 28.
Thetford
The Thetford Academy Panthers have been up and down lately, winning three and losing three in their last six games. Thetford, which is 8-5, is in sixth in the division and is the defending Division III state champions will aim to pick up some momentum as the playoffs draw closer with six games remaining in the regular season.
The Panthers were scheduled to travel to U-32 on Thursday and finish the regular season on Feb. 26 when they host Lake Region.
White River Valley
Neck-and-neck with the Panthers is the White River Valley Wildcats, who are in seventh in the division at 8-6. The Wildcats, who have won four of their last five games, have recovered from a tough 2-4 start to the season.
White River Valley has six games left in the regular season. The Wildcats will next travel to Brattleboro on Friday. Their last game is on the road against Mount Anthony on Feb. 26.
Oxbow
The Oxbow Olympians are ninth in the division at 9-6 and appear to be gaining momentum, having won their last two games. The Olympians have five games remaining to keep that momentum going.
Oxbow was scheduled to host Richford on Thursday and close its season Feb. 28 when it hosts Stowe.
Windsor
The Windsor Yellowjackets have had a tough season so far in the wins and losses department, as they are 3-13 and 13th in the division. The Jacks have lost their last four games and have wins over Bellows Falls, Otter Valley and Green Mountain Union.
Despite the record and placement in the division, up to 16 teams can make the playoffs, according to the Vermont Principals’ Association’s website, and there are 16 teams in Division III.
The Jacks have four games remaining and will host either Sharon Academy or Mill River on Feb. 26 to close the season.
The VPA Division III boys’ basketball playoffs are scheduled to begin March 3/March 4.
VPA – Division IV
Rivendell
The Rivendell Academy Raptors are 7-8 this season, which is good for 10th in the division. The Raptors have won four of their last seven games, most recently defeating Poultney on Monday.
Rivendell will attempt to continue picking up wins in its five remaining contests. The Raptors were scheduled to travel to Twin Valley on Thursday and will close their season out at home on Feb. 26 against Woodstock.
Since up to 16 teams can make the playoffs, according to the Vermont Principals’ Association’s website, the Raptors seem poised for the postseason.
Sharon
The Sharon Academy Phoenix are on the outside looking in for postseason qualification, sitting at the bottom of an 18-team division at 2-13. The Phoenix have dropped nine straight games and have wins over Poultney and Long Trail.
The Phoenix do still have some time to make up ground and get into the top 16 with six games remaining. They were scheduled to travel to Proctor on Thursday and finish the regular season Feb. 28 on the road against Grace Christian.
The VPA Division IV boys’ basketball playoffs are scheduled to begin March 3/March 4.
Girls
NHIAA – Division II
Hanover
Hanover is right in the middle of the pack in the division, in 10th place at 7-7. The Bears have recovered from a tough 2-5 start to the year and, as of late have won three straight contests.
With 20 teams in the division, just 14 will make the postseason, so the Bears will have to keep the winning going to avoid sliding out of playoff contention.
The Bears have four games remaining in the regular season, all of which are on the road. They take on Lebanon on Friday and finish the season on Feb. 24 against Oyster River.
Lebanon
Lebanon is also among the middle-of-the-pack teams in Division II, fighting for a playoff berth. They are currently 5-7 and are in 11th place. The Raiders have turned things around since starting the season 1-5 and have picked up three straight wins.
The Raiders have six games remaining to solidify their postseason position and will next host Hanover on Friday. They close the season Feb. 27 at Bow.
The NHIAA Division II girls’ basketball playoffs are slated to tip off on March 4.
VPA – Division II
Hartford
Hartford has been a powerhouse this season, with a 15-1 record that ranks second in the division. The Canes started the season on an eight-game winning streak before suffering their only loss to Rutland in mid-January.
That loss did not stop the Canes, though, as they have ripped off another winning streak, this time seven games, since then.
Hartford has four games remaining in the regular season to continue its dominance before the playoffs. The Canes travel to Burr & Burton on Friday and close the season Feb. 20 when they host Mount Anthony.
According to the Vermont Principals’ Association’s website, up to 16 teams can make the playoffs. With that said, the Canes’ spot in the tournament is solidified in the 15-team division.
The VPA Division II girls’ basketball playoffs are set to begin Feb. 24/Feb. 25
NHIAA – Division III
Stevens
Stevens, who are 8-8 so far this season, are working towards making the postseason, now in 12th place in the division. The Cardinals started the season 4-8 but have since righted the ship, winning four straight games.
The Cardinals will look to end the regular season on a high note when the were scheduled to travel to Hopkinton on Thursday.
With 21 teams in Division III, 14 squads will make the postseason, and Stevens will attempt to hang on to a playoff spot.
Mascoma
Mascoma is right on the playoff line in 14th place at 6-9. After a nice 5-2 start to the season, the Royals have stumbled, winning just once in their last eight games.
However, with the teams below them in the standings having just three wins, the Royals may be just fine to sneak into the tournament. The Royals were scheduled to close their season on Thursday when they host Newport.
Newport
Newport looks like they will miss the postseason as they are just 3-13 on the season, which is 16th in the division. Two of the Tigers’ wins came against Sunapee and the other against Hillsboro-Deering.
With just one game remaining against Mascoma and three games back in the wins column, a tournament appearance for the Tigers does not appear to be in the cards.
The NHIAA Division III girls’ basketball playoffs are slated to begin on Feb. 18.
VPA – Division III
Oxbow
The Oxbow Olympians, who came up just short in the state final last year against Windsor, are aiming to right last year’s wrong. They are currently 13-4, which is third in the division. The Olympians look to be hitting their stride, too, as they have won five of their last six games.
Oxbow has just three games remaining in the regular season. The Olympians host Hazen on Friday and end the regular season Feb. 18 on the road against Montpelier.
Windsor
Right behind the Olympians in the standings are the defending state champions. The Jacks are 10-5 this season and in fourth. But unlike the Olympians, the Jacks are trending in the opposite direction, having lost their last two contests.
The defending champs have plenty of time to right the ship with five games remaining in the regular season. The Jacks host Woodstock on Friday and close the regular season on the road against Otter Valley on Feb. 21.
White River Valley
White River Valley is also making some noise in the division at 9-8, which is good for eighth. While the Wildcats have split their last six games, they still have time to build momentum.
White River Valley has three games remaining in the regular season. It will host Rivendell on Friday and end the regular season Feb. 20 at Arlington Memorial.
Woodstock
Woodstock is not far behind the Wildcats at 7-9, which is 12th in the division. The Wasps have recently battled back from a seven-game losing streak to win two of their last three games.
The Wasps have four games to play in the regular season. They travel to Windsor on Friday and end the regular season on the road against Twin Valley on Feb. 21.
Thetford
Thetford is towards the bottom of the 15-team division in 14th with a 4-14 record. Thetford had dropped five consecutive contests, but picked up a win over Randolph on Wednesday.
The Panthers have two more games to go: the first is Feb. 20 at home against Peoples Academy, and the other is Feb. 21 on the road against Montpelier.
Despite its placement, since 16 teams are eligible for the postseason per the Vermont Principals’ Association’s website, Thetford and other Upper Valley teams appear locked in for postseason play.
The VPA Division III girls’ basketball playoffs are set to begin Feb. 24/Feb. 25
VPA – Division IV
Rivendell
Rivendell is 9-8 this season and sit in sixth in the division. The Raptors appear to be another squad hitting their stride, having won four of their last five games.
The Raptors’ regular season ends in three games. They will travel to White River Valley on Friday and finish out Feb. 20 when they host West Rutland.
Sharon
Sharon Academy is in 13th in the division at 7-11. They have gone back and forth in the wins and losses column, going 3-3 in their last six games, but have come back from a tough 3-6 start to the season.
The Phoenix have just two games remaining: first Friday on the road against Twin Valley, and Feb. 16 on the road against Blue Mountain.
Since 16 teams are eligible for the postseason per the Vermont Principals’ Association website, and there are 17 teams in the division, both Upper Valley squads appear poised to make the postseason.
