Division II girls basketball preview

The Division II girls basketball season gets underway on Friday. Here’s a look at how the division could shake out.

Favorites

• Portsmouth (20-1 last season): The Clippers were on their way to a title a year ago before losing their first game of the season to Hanover in the semifinals. Portsmouth’s biggest loss might have been the retirement of longtime coach Dan Parr, but assistant Tim Hopley slides over into the head coach’s seat. Libby Underwood, the reigning division Player of the year, returns to lead the Clippers, as does sophomore Abbe Laurence.
• Hanover (17-5): The Marauders looked like they’d be at the top of this list at the end of last season, with a long list of players returning. But then Caroline Merguerian and Silke Milliman opted to go to prep school, and while Hanover will be one of the top picks to get back to the final four, it may not be as quite a lock.

Challengers

• Lebanon (17-4): It’s never a good idea to count out the Radiers and head coach Tim Kehoe, who returned to the semifinals last year. Look for senior Joslin Wainwright (second-team all-state) to lead the way for Lebanon this season.
• Goffstown (16-6): The Grizzlies entered last season with championship aspirations, but stumbled to the seventh seed before going on a run to the division title. Gone are five seniors, including Kathryn Howe and Molly McQueeney, along with coach Deanna Goodwin, but Goffstown returns point guard Sarah Doherty, and has proven the last two years, all you have to do is get in the tournament.
• Merrimack Valley (18-2): The Pride, who were upset by Goffstown in the quarterfinals, return two all-state performers in Megan Johnston (second team) and Carly Huckins (honorable mention).
• Pembroke (14-6): The Spartans advanced to the final four in 2015, but lost Karli Loiselle to graduation from the team that made the quarterfinals last year. Still, Pembroke should have enough talent returning to make some noise.

Dark Horses

• Hollis Brookline (11-9): The Cavaliers return on of the top players in the division in Cassandra Stapelfeld (first-team all-state), but how far HB goes depends on how the rest of the team develops around her.
• Bishop Brady (9-10): The Giants are in a similar situation as HB with guard Sam Will, who was second-team all-state last season. 
• Souhegan (15-5): The Sabers lost a lot of experience, but will look to junior guard Mia Len (honorable mention) to lead the way.

The rest of the field: Bow, Coe-Brown, ConVal, John Stark, Kennett, Kingswood, Laconia, Manchester West, Milford, Oyster River, Pelham, Plymouth, Timberlane, Windham.

Final four: Portsmouth, Hanover, Merrimack Valley, Lebanon.

Championship: Portsmouth over Hanover.

Playoffs

Starting with the 2016-17 season, the NHIAA is implementing a 70-percent rule, meaning no more than that amount of teams will make the postseason. With 23 teams in Division II, that means 16 will make the playoffs.

• Preliminary round: Tuesday, February 28
• Quarterfinals: Friday, March 3
• Semifinals: Tuesday, March 7 at Southern New Hampshire University
• Final: Friday, March 10 at Southern New Hampshire University