Class L
LONDONDERRY
Record/Seed: 8-13, No. 13
Opener: Tonight, at No. 4 Manchester Central
Recent Tourney History: Lost in Class L quarters last four years.
Leaders: Matt Sanborn, 12.8 ppg.; David Feinstein, 11.6 ppg.; Chris Crutcher, 6.9 ppg.; Mike Colby, 6.9 ppg.
Players' Perspective: "If we play our best, and we match (Central's) intensity, there's no reason we can't win. In all the games we've had our backs against the wall, we've played our best. The last three years we've played Central, we haven't beaten them. We have to believe we can beat them. We have to be the aggressor, we have to be ready to push them right back." — Londonderry senior David Feinstein
PINKERTON
Record/Seed: 15-6, No. 5
Opener: Tonight, host No. 12 Alvirne
Recent Tourney History: Reached Class L quarters last year for the first time since 2000. First round win snapped a run of six straight playoff losses.
Leaders: Zach Mathieu, 14.7 ppg.; Beau Cassidy, 13.9 ppg.; Colby Verge, 11.0 ppg.; Ben Proulx, 9.3 ppg.
Players' Perspective: "I think we'll bear down. I don't think we'll underestimate teams like we have. Every team has their streaks. We've lost the last two but I think we'll turn it around. We have to play defense. That's our problem. We can score with anyone. But if we're going to do anything, we have to go out and play hard defense and prove we can stop somebody." — Pinkerton junior Zach Mathieu
SALEM
Record/Seed: 16-5, No. 2
Opener: Tonight, host No. 15 Timberlane
Recent Tourney History: Two-time defending state champs.
Leaders: Mike Kimball, 16.3 ppg.; Josh Jones, 16.2 ppg.; Alex LaRosa, 12.1 ppg.
Players' Perspective: "We're excited and ready to defend. I think we're playing our best basketball at the right time. The win at Manchester Central (in the season finale) says a lot about what this team can do. Now, we just have to go out and prove it." — Salem senior Josh Jones
TIMBERLANE
Record/Seed: 7-13, No. 15
Opener: Tonight, at Salem
Recent Tourney History: Has only made playoffs once in last seven years, a first round loser in 2006. Last postseason win was a play-in game back in 1999.
Leaders: Erik Hatton, 17.8 ppg.; Taylor Vondrasek, 9.6 ppg.; Riley Cassidy, 7.6 ppg.
Players' Perspective: "We're looking to win. We're not just coming to show up. We know we can play with (Salem). We played with them a good quarter and a half before their press got to us. We have no pressure at all. They're going for a three-peat. We're going for just another game of basketball. We can just go all out with 100 percent effort and play with nothing to lose." — Timberlane senior Erik Hatton
Class M
SANBORN
Record/Seed: 8-13, No. 14
Opener: Tonight at No. 3 Campbell
Recent Tourney History: First playoff appearance since 2001.
Leaders: Robby Ficker, 12.4 ppg.; Rob Verreault, 11.8 ppg.; Joe Eudenbach, 9.2 ppg.
Class L Boys Breakdown
Hector Longo's Final Four: Trinity, Pinkerton, Salem, Exeter.
The Champ: Trinity — When coach Dave Keefe spreads the floor, c'est Laguerre. Point man Jordan LaGuerre operates, and no team in Class L can stop the Pioneers.
Hidden gem: Exeter — Fab frosh Mike Thorpe is a freshman no more. Love the draw for the Blue Hawks. No. 3 Memorial is vulnerable.
(Non-area) Players to Watch: Alex Burt, Dover, 20.1 ppg.; Jordan LaGuerre, Trinity, 19.5 ppg.; Mark MacGregor, Spaulding, 19.2 ppg.; Brian Troy, Keene, 18.4 ppg.; Jason Chevrefils, Memorial, 18.2 ppg.; Will Bayliss, Manchester Central, 15.0 ppg.; Jamison Zajac, Bishop Guertin, 14.8 ppg.
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