Oyster River, Pembroke lead the field into the D2 boys basketball season

Last winter’s Division II boys basketball semifinal thriller between Oyster River High School and Pembroke Academy appears to have foreshadowed the preseason pick for this season’s championship game.

Oyster River beat Pembroke in overtime of that semifinal meeting, only to lose in the final to Hollis Brookline. The latter isn’t completely out of the championship conversation despite just one starter, junior guard Grant Snyder, returning this winter. But the Bobcats and Spartans are the odds on favorites to meet at the University of New Hampshire in Durham at noon on March 16.

Led by the trio of Joe Morrell, Kyle Landrigan and Max Lewis, Oyster River will be aggressive on both ends of the floor with an up-tempo offense and quick-shifting defense. Pembroke slowly worked Sean Menard back into the fold last winter after he tore his ACL the previous campaign. Menard, paired with Noah Cummings, keeps the Spartans among the division’s elite.

HB coach Cole Etten knows defending the title won’t be easy, but he doesn’t want to hear the noise either. He’s just focused on his Cavaliers improving as the season progresses in preparation for the tournament.

“We’re not concerned with what other teams are doing, or where we stand in preseason rankings or discussions,” Etten said. “We’re focused on coming together as a team and working on things that will put us in the right spot at the end of the season.”

HB, Bow and Lebanon are all expected to challenge OR and Pembroke this season.

For Lebanon it will be speed that does the trick. The Raiders are small, and they’ll rely heavily on the talents of guards Logan Falzarano, Hunter Bienvenu and Wade Rainey to score points and stabilize things defensively.

Interim coach Dave Faucher thinks his squad has as good a shot as anybody to hoist the title plaque in March.

“We definitely have our warts,” Faucher said, “but I don’t think anybody is that great or real bad. I think there are many teams that will be competing for the title as the regular season winds down. I think we’ll be in that mix.”

Favorites

Oyster River: The Bobcats up-tempo offense will remain, and they’ll be mixing up defenses just as aggressively this winter. OR can get away with this style of play thanks in large part to the smart-and-speedy trio of Joe Morrell, Kyle Landrigan and Max Lewis.

Pembroke: Noah Cummings and a healthy Sean Menard make for a backcourt D1 teams wish they had to work with.

Contenders

Hollis Brookline: Coach Cole Etten has a strong group jumping to varsity after posting 16 wins on JV last season. With junior guard Grant Snyder, the Cavaliers’ lone returning starter, the JV talent will help fill multiple holes left by graduation. Also expected to play a key role in the post is 6-2 senior forward Dhruv Miglani.

Lebanon: Veteran coach Dave Faucher steps in as interim head coach after two seasons as an assistant in Lebanon, and likes what he’s been seeing at practice. The Raiders are small, but they have speed and agility in the perimeter trio of Logan Falzarano, Hunter Bienvenu and Wade Rainey.

Bow: The Falcons have size and leadership in returning starters Ben Harris, Steve Guerrette and Shaun Lover.

Dark Horses

ConVal: Senior Ben Henry and junior Mather Kipka have opposing coaches looking in the direction of Peterborough.

Milford: A strong core of Gavin Urda, Jake Greska and Mike Fortin make these Spartans relevant.

Pelham: Drew Brown opted out for prep school, but the Pythons still have a solid backcourt of senior Blake Woekel and junior Derek Crowley.

Rest of the Field

Bishop Brady, Coe-Brown Northwood, Hanover, John Stark, Kearsarge, Kennett, Kingswood, Laconia, Manchester West, Merrimack Valley, Plymouth, Sanborn, Souhegan and Stevens.