Division II

What could be a wild Division II boys basketball tournament about to get underway

The No. 1 seed lost to the No. 2 seed, and the No. 2 seed lost to the No. 15 seed, and the No. 3 seed lost to a team that didn’t make the playoffs.

And then there’s the team seeded fourth, which went undefeated with its full lineup, and 0-4 without.

While those top four seeds in the Division II boys basketball tournament could very well all end up reaching the final four at the University of New Hampshire next week, it would be a surprise to no body if one – or more – don’t make it.

One of those top seeds – No. 1 Hollis Brookline – got a bye into the quarterfinals, while everyone else plays when the tournament gets underway on Tuesday. Here is a look at the first-round matchups.

No. 9 Milford (10-8) at No. 8 Timberlane (10-8)

These teams split two regular-season games this year, with each winning big on its home floor. The Owls picked up a 71-49 win at home on Jan. 16 and the Spartans returned the favor with a 60-46 victory on Feb. 9. That win for Milford was part of stretch run that turned the Spartans season around, as they went 5-2 over their final seven games. Timberlane had a rough final week of the year, losing at Windham by 29 points and by 10 to Coe-Brown.

No. 13 Souhegan (8-10) at No. 4 Keasarge (14-4)

These teams were in different places when they met on Jan. 30. Souhegan had won six of seven to get to 7-4 on the year, while Kearsarge had won two straight to get over .500 after a four-game losing streak. The Cougars won 73-68, part of an 11-game winning streak to end the regular season. The Sabers got a win in their next game, but injuries hampered Souehgan, and the team then lost five in a row to end the year.

No. 12 Windham (9-9) at No. 5 Merrimack Valley (13-5)

Windham enters the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the division. Heading into February, the Jaguars were an afterthought for the playoffs, but winning six of their final seven – with the one loss by three points at Hollis Brookline – vaulted Windham up the standings. Of the Jaguars’ nine losses, seven were by nine points or less, including a 45-39 loss at Merrimack Valley on Dec. 19. That was part of an 8-1 start for the Pride, as they struggled down the stretch.

No. 15 John Stark (7-11) at No. 2 Lebanon (15-3)

How often has a No. 2 seed entered the playoffs having lost to the 15th seed its going to play in the first round? In fact, the Generals and Raiders played two games this year decided by a total of eight points, which each team winning on its home court. John Stark lost a number of close games this year, but in the final week of the season, fell to Pembroke and Hanover by an average of 16 points. Meanwhile, Lebanon hasn’t lost since the setback against the Generals, ending the regular season with eight straight wins.

No. 10 Kennett (10-8) at No. 7 Oyster River (12-6)

When the two teams met in Durham back on Jan. 8, Oyster River came away with a five-point win; when they played in North Conway about a month later, the Bobcats cruised to a 20-point win. Oyster River struggled down the stretch, losing three in a row before ending the year with a 63-55 win over Kingswood. Kennett finished out the regular season with three straight wins and four in their final five games, with the lone loss a two-point defeat against Merrimack Valley.

No. 14 Hanover (8-10) at No. 3 Pembroke (14-4)

These teams weren’t far apart in the standings when they played on Jan. 29, but a 64-46 win by Pembroke helped the Spartans finish the year by winning 10 of their final 11 games, including six in a row to the regular season. For Hanover, it was the first of five straight losses, and the Marauders needed a win in their regular-season finale against John Stark to secure a playoff spot.

No. 11 Pelham (9-9) at No. 6 Coe-Brown (13-5)

The only first-round game that features teams that didn’t play during the regular season. After a six-game winning streak had Coe-Brown battling for a top four seed, the Bears stumbled a little over the final two weeks to drop back to sixth. Pelham’s regular season looked a lot like a roller coaster ride, featuring two winning streaks of at least three games along with a five-game skid in early February. The Pythons had five wins against playoff teams, but also lost their finale to a Goffstown team that was tied for last.

Bye: No. 1 Hollis Brookline (16-2)

The Cavaliers will get a full week off before hosting either Milford or Timberlane in the quarterfinals on Friday. HB survived two intense contests with Milford, including a five-point win in the regular-season finale. The Cavs also held Timberlane to a season-low 23 points in a win on Jan. 26.