Midseason Division 1 Basketball

Midseason Division 1 Basketball

By Grace Goodreau

Boys: A little over halfway through the 2026 season, top teams include Portsmouth, Bedford, and Pinkerton. According to the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA), Portsmouth is the only team still undefeated this season at 11-0. Bedford is close behind at 11-1, followed by Pinkerton at 10-2. The current top ten teams are those three followed by; Trinity, Bishop Guertin, Goffstown, Windham, Alvirne, Exeter and Merrimack at seed 10. From New Hampshire sports page, the top scoring leaders in NHIAA are Conner McGowan (Bishop Guertin 27.2 PPG), Nate Johnson (Merrimack 22 PPG), Chris Guma (Manchester Central 18.6 PPG), Isaiah Reis (Portsmouth 17.5 PPG), and Brady Sullivan (Pinkerton 17.3 PPG). Since the past week Exeter topped Winnacunnet with a final score of 59-44, Windham overcame a slow start to top Salem 55-47, and Portsmouth topped Keene 82-59. 

Girls: So far this season, Concord Chirstian, a team formerly playing in Division 4, holds top seed with a record of 11-0. Bedford follows at 10-1, with Nashua South and Londonderry close behind. The current top ten teams include Portsmouth, Timberlane, Nashua North, Keene, Manchester Central Manchester. West, and Windham. Top scoring leaders are Harper Zalaski (Keene 21. 6 PPG). Sammite Sullivan (Londonderry 21.2 PPG), and Emma Smith (Con. Christian 21.2 PPG). Recent games include Exeter coasted past rival Winnacunnet on the road to a 49-30 win, Dover eases past Spaulding with a 44-31 ending score, and Concord Christian went on the road and earned a huge 59-52 win against Londonderry. 

Despite these rankings though, anything can happen through the final moments of the season. Maybe the predicted winner will win it all but it doesn’t end until the final seconds on the clock run out. Every team has their strengths and weaknesses, and within each game anything can happen.