NHIAA Division I Quarterfinals Preview

March is undoubtedly the best basketball month in New Hampshire and year in and year out, one of the state's best tournaments is that of the Division I Boys.   Last week brought the start of the tournament and after the conclusion of the first round, we are down to a final eight that will take part in the state quarterfinals this weekend.   The eight remaining teams are listed below in order of their quarterfinal matchups, with the higher seed appearing first and the lower seed appearing second in each grouping - Portsmouth will take on Exeter, Pinkerton hosts Bishop Guertin, Bedford battles Nashua South, and Trinity takes on Alvirne.   Portsmouth   How They Got Here: The top overall seed in the tournament, Portsmouth received a bye into the quarterfinal round after an outstanding regular season in which they posted a 17-1 record.   Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='2594613' first='Derek' last='Swartz'], only a sophomore, just wrapped up a regular season in which he averaged 17.6 points per game. At 6'4" with a big frame and plus athleticism, he has the ability to impact a game in a variety of ways on the offensive end of the floor. He can score it at all three levels, makes plays for his teammates off the bounce, and is arguably the top rebounding guard in the state.   Exeter   How They Got Here: The 8-seed in the tournament, Exeter hung on for a 55-53 victory over Goffstown in the first-round. Exeter had a 10-8 record in the regular season.   Player to Watch: Jackson McDonald, a junior guard, does a little bit of everything for Exeter. He averaged 10.2 points per game during the regular season and does a nice job of controlling the pace of the game in the half-court. He can score it at all three levels, has a little wiggle to his game off the bounce, and does a nice job of using shot and pass fakes to keep defenders off balance.   Pinkerton   How They Got Here: The 4-seed, Pinkerton knocked off Dover in the first-round, winning that matchup by the score of 90-74. Pinkerton finished the regular season with a 15-3 record.   Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='2964819' first='Josh' last='Phanor'], another one of the state's impressive sophomores, just finished a regular season in which he averaged 17.1 points per game. The guard is a good athlete that has the ability to finish plays with his length around the rim, but also shows the ability to create in the mid-range out of isolations and to also score from behind the arc in catch and shoots. He's really good in transition, particularly off of his own defensive rebounds and is hard to guard when he gets a head of steam going to the rim.   Bishop Guertin   How They Got Here: The 5-seed, Bishop Guertin took care of business against Manchester Memorial in the first-round, winning their game 45-41. Bishop Guertin had a 14-4 record in the regular season.   Player to Watch: Conor McGowan, a senior guard, wrapped up the regular as the leading scorer in Division I, averaging 23.3 points per game. McGowan has a strong frame and shows the ability to play through contact both as a driver and as a scorer. He gets to his spots off the bounce, finishes over size around the rim, and can really light it up from behind the arc. He's super competitive and does a nice job of setting the tone with his effort and energy on the defensive end of the floor.   Bedford   How They Got Here: The 2-seed in this tournament, Bedford was victorious against Merrimack in their first-round matchup, winning 74-42. Bedford wracked up a 16-2 record in the regular season.   Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='2964830' first='Ryan' last='O'Rourke'], a terrific two-way forward, played a major role this winter while averaging 12.1 points per game. The 6'6" forward had a breakout campaign season, asserting himself as one of the state's top rim protectors. He terrific on the defensive end of the floor where he gobbles up rebounds and has the mobility to switch onto the perimeter when needed. Offensively, he runs the floor hard in transition, has a big catch radius, and even shows the ability to attack the rim as a straight line driver.   Nashua South   How They Got Here: The 7-seed, Nashua South was a first-round winner against Windham, winning that game 59-36. Nashua South posted an 11-7 record in the regular season.   Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='2470901' first='Daniel' last='Karavanic'], one of the standouts in the junior class, took his game to another level this season and averaged 16.2 points per game. A big, 6'7" forward, he's really improved with the basketball in his hands, particularly when making decisions in transition. His frame is an asset as a scorer around the rim, but he also shows the ability to make shots in the mid-range and to operate as a roller or pop guy out of screens. Few prospects in the state can control the defensive glass like he does when his motor is all the way up.   Trinity   How They Got Here: The 3-seed in this year's tournament, Trinity knocked off Londonderry in the first-round by a score of 60-46. Trinity finished the regular season with a 15-3 record.   Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='2568381' first='Jordan' last='Torres'], maybe the best two-way wing in the state, took on a leadership role for Trinity this winter while averaging 16.1 points per game. The 6'4" wing has a great combination of positional size, length, mobility, and athleticism, all of which allows him to be an elite defender in space. He makes plays on the ball and in passing lanes and rebounds it at a high level in traffic and in space. Offensively, he's got a quick first step off the bounce, the ability to finish above the rim in space, and has improved the consistency of his perimeter jumper.   Alvirne   How They Got Here: The 6-seed, Alvirne won their first-round game by a score of 55-43 over Keene. Alvirne had a 12-6 record in the regular season.   Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='2898403' first='Garrett' last='Hall'], a double-double machine for Alvirne, finished the regular season by averaging 16.3 points per game. The 6'6" forward has a big frame, plays with good footwork, and has a nose for the ball on both the offensive and defensive glass. He alters shots around the rim, does a good job of walling up without fouling in the paint, and is a really good rim runner in transition. His ability to score it with his back to the basket stands out, as does his willingness to pass out of trouble in the low block.

March is undoubtedly the best basketball month in New Hampshire and year in and year out, one of the state's best tournaments is that of the Division I Boys.