Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
There are probably a handful of teams capable of winning the Class I boys basketball championship this season, but only one has a chance to go undefeated.
Oyster River established itself as the favorite in Class I and raised its record to 11-0 by beating Portsmouth, 40-36, Tuesday night in Portsmouth. The Clippers, who were upset by Hanover in last year's Class I championship game, entered Tuesday's contest with a 9-1 record.
Portsmouth's other loss also came against Oyster River. The Bobcats beat the Clippers 65-48 on opening night.
"They beat us twice and they're undefeated, so they're the favorite," Portsmouth coach Jim Mulvey said. "I would love to play them again though -- and the kids would too."
The 36 points Portsmouth scored was its lowest offensive output of the season. Oyster River's opponent has failed to reach the 50-point mark in eight of 11 games this season.
"We're not exclusively a half-court team, but we're pretty close," Oyster River coach Don Maynard said.
Class I has seven teams with at least nine victories: Oyster River (11-0), John Stark (11-1), Lebanon (10-2), Hanover (9-2), Hollis-Brookline (9-2), Portsmouth (9-2) and Pelham (9-3).
Oyster River hasn't won a Class I championship since 1996, when it won its second title in as many years with a 58-49 triumph over Bishop Brady.
If Oyster River and Portsmouth meet again this season that matchup will come in the Class I tournament.
"Obviously I'd like it to be the last game of the year," Maynard said. "Portsmouth is an outstanding team. I'd be scared to death."
Football: Timberlane Coach Steps Down
Football made headlines last week when Timberlane coach Mike Pariseau announced his resignation.
Pariseau, 65, coached Timberlane for 15 seasons and guided the Owls to an 80-71 record during that time. Timberlane won the Division II state championship in 1999 and 2001.
Pariseau will also retire as a physical education teacher at the end of the current school year.
"I think it's time, but it's not something I'm completely comfortable with," Pariseau told the Lawrence Eagle Tribune. "It's hard to give up something (coaching football) you've been doing for 42 years."
Pariseau is perhaps best known for steering Timberlane to a victory over previously unbeaten Exeter in the 1999 Division II championship game. That victory ended Exeter's 25-game winning streak.
"That '99 season was very rewarding for sure," Pariseau said. "Those seniors had never won more than three games on any level, so to win it all was a great feeling."
Pariseau's coaching career included stops as an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island, Syracuse, West Point and Youngstown State.
Timberlane had one winning season in nine years before Pariseau took over the program in 1993.
"I love the kids I've been around, and the school and community have been great," Pariseau said. "Plus, I've had a great staff and we've had a lot of fun. I've tried to make it enjoyable while winning.
"A long time ago I had a kid tell me that if he wasn't having fun he wouldn't keep playing. I've tried to remember that."
Field Hockey: Winnacunnet's Glynn Honored
Winnacunnet senior Courtney Glynn recently learned that she was named to the All-American Northeast Region Field Hockey Team.
I'm thrilled," Glynn said. "I had no idea that this was going to come."
Glynn, a midfielder, collected nine goals and 17 assists during her four years with Winnacunnet. She led the Warriors in assists during her junior and senior seasons.
Glynn will continue her field hockey career at the University of Maine.
Girls Basketball: Hogan Nominated for All-American Team
Nashua North's Kelsey Hogan has been nominated for the McDonald's All-American Girls Basketball Team.
Hogan, a 5-foot-7-inch guard, is among 1,000 nominees competing to fill 24 spots on the girls team, which will play an East vs. West game March 26 in Milwaukee. The roster will be announced later this month.
