Talented teams chasing defending-champion Hollis Brookline in D2 girls basketball

The Hollis Brookline High School girls basketball team is looking to clean the glass and protect the paint on its quest for a third straight final appearance and attempted defense of the Division II championship.

Leading that charge down low are 6-foot-1 senior center Elizabeth Atkinson and 5-foot-10 junior swingman Elizabeth Bonnette.

Coach Bob Murphy doesn’t think it will be an easy run to repeat.

“We have a lot of volleyball players,” Murphy said. “We’re not in game shape yet, so we have to be careful not to start slow this winter as we form into a basketball team.”

Putting up the biggest fight to knock the Cavaliers from the top spot are Hanover, led by sophomore standout Maddie McCorkle, and Lebanon, led by reigning D2 Player of the Year Becky Wright.

Favorites

Hollis Brookline: While the Cavaliers are looking to win from the inside out, with Atkinson and Bonnette, junior point guard Christina Balsamo and senior shooting guard Brodie Kelley will be there for kick-out passes on the perimeter. The four returning starters are top notch, but depth will play a big role in the Cavaliers’ title defense. Included in that depth are a pair of talented freshmen – Elizabeth Stapelfeld and Maggie Crooks. “We don’t take freshmen on varsity unless we plan on playing them,” Murphy said.

Hanover: McCorkle is already being talked about in POY conversations. The Schwarz sisters, Lois and Diana, return, as does center Julia Golder. The Marauders are the one team with the height to compete in the paint against HB.

Lebanon: The Raiders are young, but with Wright posting up and senior guard Anna Wolke working the perimeter, Lebanon is still in the title hunt.

Contenders

Pelham: The Pythons will lean heavily on senior Olivia Gagnon.

Bishop Brady: The backourt of junior Kaylee Smith and sophomore point guard Ami Rivera will pace the Green Giants efforts this winter.

John Stark: Senior guard Autumn Nelson and junior forward/center Chelsea Woodsum are a solid foundation to build on coming off last season’s surprise run to the championship game.

Dark Horses

Souhegan: New coach Mike Vetack has two returning starters – senior Molly Driscoll and sophomore Emma Parrott. Despite losing eight to graduation, talk around Division II is that you can’t sleep on the Sabers.

Bow: The defensive-minded Falcons are led by senior guard Lauren Goyette and senior forward Julia Landcastle.

Rest of the Field

Coe-Brown Northwood, ConVal, Kearsarge, Kennett, Kingswood, Laconia, Manchester West, Merrimack Valley, Milford, Oyster River, Pembroke Academy, Plymouth, Sanborn, Spaulding, Stevens and Timberlane.