Seacoast holds key to D1 boys basketball this winter

Snow, freezing rain and bitter cold. There’s no place like the Seacoast in the winter – well, at least inside the gymnasiums that are home to the region’s top Division I boys basketball programs.

Exeter, Spaulding, Dover, Winnacunnet and Portsmouth were the five teams repeatedly called on by coaches to be fighting for spots in the semifinals by season’s end.

Then there’s Salem, Alvirne and Concord – all three with rosters that make them legit shots at finding a way into the final four, according to opposing coaches.

Certainly the main focus is on Exeter – a reality that coach Jeff Holmes believes his Blue Hawks are ready for.

“We have a lot of veterans back,” said Holmes of his Blue Hawks, who have eight seniors on the roster. “We have a lot of depth with guys capable of stepping up.

“We’re not going to change too much. We’ll be the same up-tempo team that got into the semifinals last season.”

With preseason Player of the Year candidate Josh Morrisette pacing the Blue Hawks, reaching the final is a real possibility.

The team that eliminated Exeter in last season’s semis, Dover, is back just as strong. Nashua South coach Nate Mazerolle is high on the Green Wave’s chances of a return trip to the final.

“Dover had the best player on the court to end last season,” Mazerolle said of Dover senior Ty Vitko. “If he starts as strong as he finished last season, they will be a force and hard to beat.”

Spaulding and Winnacunnet also are high on the radar of coaches statewide. The Red Raiders and Warriors have guys who offer a strong post presence in seniors Arie Breakfield (6 feet, 5 inches) and Jack Schaake (6 feet, 6 inches).

And don’t forget Alex Tavares and his Portsmouth Clippers. The senior forward and his teammates are looking to secure a third straight title.

Nashua North coach Steve Lane offers advice for the rest of the coaches and players in DI.

“Don’t overlook Portsmouth,” Lane said. “They’re two-time defending champs for a reason. They have one of the state’s best players back for one more run. They should still be on everybody’s radar.”

The Titans coach also was quick to point the finger in Exeter’s direction, highlighting the trio of Morrisette, a sophomore swingman, senior forward Kevin Henry and junior guard Ryan Grijalva.

“They’re my big three,” Holmes said of the Blue Hawks’ trio. “Our offense and defense runs through them.”

Stopping this Exeter triumvirate will be a tough task for opposing teams this winter. Portsmouth gets the first crack in Tuesday night’s season opener.

Favorites

Exeter: Josh Morrisette, Kevin Henry and Ryan Grijalva lead the way in hopes of a return to the final four and more for the Blue Hawks.

Spaulding: Ari Breakfield in the post and Keegan Calero at the point is a title-contending combo for the Red Raiders.

Dover: Ty Vitko came on strong during the Green Wave’s 2017-18 postseason run. He’s back for his senior campaign and another shot at a title.

Contenders

Winnacunnet: Senior Jack Schaake does the heavy lifting in the paint, while junior guard Ben Allen gets it done on the perimeter.

Portsmouth: Senior guard Alex Tavares is a force on both ends of the court.

Dark Horses

Salem: Rob McLaughlin’s Blue Devils snuck into the playoffs last season. Led by returning starters Zack Caraballo, Trevor DeMinico and Kyle Poulin, Salem isn’t sneaking up on anybody this winter.

Alvirne: The Broncos lost New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year Max Bonney-Liles to graduation, but they still have three returning starters – Ryan Weston, Joe Canelas and Paul Manzi – to keep hope alive.

Concord: The Crimson Tide have their own trio of returners – senior guard Scott Lampron, senior forward Tyler Bruns and junior guard Rylan Canabano – that make them relevant in the title talk.

Rest of the Field

Bedford, Bishop Guertin, Goffstown, Keene, Londonderry, Manchester Central, Manchester Memorial, Merrimack, Nashua North, Nashua South, Pinkerton Academy, Timberlane, Trinity and Windham.