Staff Report
The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) announced pairings for tournament play on Monday as four local teams will be rewarded for solid seasons.
Starting on Tuesday, Ray Curren’s Stevens Cardinals boys will be heading to face Mascoma while Fall Mountain’s Matt Baird-Torney, Steven’s Steve Condon, and Newport’s Ross Dole take their teams onto the next step starting on Wednesday.
No. 10 seeded Stevens boys travel to No. 7 Mascoma
With a few days of rest, the Cardinals (9-7) should be ready to hit the floor running on Tuesday.
Dylan Chambers and company are an athletic team without as much height as other teams but with a deep bench and a team built to run, this could be an interesting match-up against Mascoma (13-4).
No. 2 seeded FM girls host No. 15 Belmont
The Wildcats (14-1) open tournament play at home on Wednesday in what should be a prep for a deep run.
Nora Dunnigan’s addition this year has given the likes of Avery Stewart and Makenna Grillone some space to light it up from outside against Belmont (6-12).
No. 7 seeded Stevens girls host No. 10 Hopkinton
This is a tough first round match-up for both teams.
Stevens (12-4) won at Hopkinton (11-7) earlier this year, 42-35, and playing at home should help Stevens especially with a balcony full of fans.
Zahna Rice has been a four-year starter for the Condon’s and her leadership will be invaluable if the Cardinals are going to make a deep run.
No. 13 seeded Newport girls travel to No. 4 Newfound
Newfound (15-3) better not look past the Tigers (7-10).
Dole’s team is coming together at the right time and won three of their last five games in a six-day span to grab the 13th seed.
With Riley Skain on the court, her can do attitude can give any team fits. This could be the upset of the year if the tournament spotlight isn’t too bright for the Newport freshman.
The Division IV pairings weren’t announced before press time but expect Tim Puchtler’s Sunapee boys (8-8) and Stephanie Larpenter’s Sunapee girls (9-7) to be ready.
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