Five Games to Follow: Clash of unbeatens

Here’s a look at five key boys and girls basketball games scheduled for Monday night.

No. 1: Merrimack (7-0) at Manchester Central (8-0) boys basketball, 6:30 p.m.

The last two undefeated teams in Division I meet in Manchester to renew one of the best rivalries in the state. Since 2000, the teams have combined for seven Class L/Division I championships, including Merrimack’s win over Central in the 2012 championship game.

The Little Green were expected to be here and Brett Hanson, Jon Martin, Dawson Dickson and Joey Martin have not disappointed. While everyone knows the name Eric Gendron, what the Tomahawks were going to get from the rest of their roster was an unknown, but players like Shayne Bourque and Austin Franzen have stepped up as other scoring options for Merrimack.

Defense has also been a key for the Tomahawks, as they’re giving up just 41.9 points per game. They’ll be tested against Central, which has scored an average of 71.3 points in its eight wins.

No. 2: Profile (6-1) at Colebrook (6-2) boys basketball, 7 p.m.

Unlike some years, the top teams in Division IV appear to be split between the North and the South this season, and these two schools fall in the former category.

Colebrook’s only losses this season have come against Littleton (9-1). In those games, the Mohawks allowed 62 and 55 points, while in their other six games, they’ve given up an average of 46.3.

Profile is coming off its first loss of the season, a 43-33 setback against Moultonborough. Before that game, the Patriots had been outscoring opponents by an average of 21.2 points. Ian Baker, Bailey Johnson and Zach Knowlton have all averaged better than 10 points per game this year for Profile.

No. 3: Nashua South (4-2) at Salem (2-3) boys basketball, 6:30 p.m.

Prior to the season, many would have reversed the spots these two currently hold in the standings. But South, behind the scoring of senior Yordy Tavarez and a suffocating fullcourt press, has put itself in position to be a contender in Division I. The Panthers are never out of game, with last Wednesday’s loss to Merrimack a prime example. South trailed by 14 with six minutes left, but cut the deficit to one before ultimately falling by six.

Some thought Salem would be a top eight team in the division this year and the Blue Devils haven’t been helped by the schedule. Their three losses have come against teams with a combined record of 19-4. The problem for Salem has been defense, as its allowed almost 58 points in those three losses.

No. 4: Pembroke (7-2) at Souhegan (7-1) girls basketball, 6:30 p.m.

This game is an added bonus to the slate, after getting rescheduled from last week. With no clear favorite in Division II this year – Hanover is the only unbeaten at 7-0 – both have the potential to contend, as both are top five teams as of Monday.

Pembroke opened the season with its best win to date, a one-point victory over Lebanon, the one team to defeat Souhegan this year. On the flip side, the Sabers have wins over the two teams – Oyster River and Goffstown – to beat the Spartans this year.

Both teams come in allowing under 40 points per game, with Pembroke giving up 36.3 and Souhegan just 30.5. Don’t be surprised if these two teams meet again in March.

No. 5: Bishop Guertin (6-3) at Alvirne (4-2) girls basketball, 6:30 p.m.

Its been 10 days since Alvirne nearly pulled off what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the year, losing to Bedford on a last-second basket, 46-44. In fact, the Broncos are only 10 points away from being one of four undefeated teams left in Division I, but they also haven’t beaten any team that currently has a winning record.

That could change Monday against a Bishop Guertin team that has lost two in a row to Londonderry and Manchester Memorial; both games were decided by three points. The Cardinals certainly aren’t the same team they’d been the last two years and they’ve struggled to score at times, which could be a problem against an Alvirne team that hasn’t allowed more than 48 points all year.