Prep Playoff Picture Heading into Final Weekend

As NE Prep season comes to a close this weekend we breakdown the current playoff picture and key matchups that could shake things up. Who will be in the Elite 8? Who is on the outside looking in? Who needs who to win? We have it all here for you.

Elite 8

Not much has changed in this pool excpet for the #8 from last week was Brunswick who lost to Gunnery and saw their ranking drop while Berkshire moved into the final spot with wins over Trinity Pawling, Westminster and Millbrook in the past week.

#1 Lawrence (21-2-2) One game remaining against Tabor (sub .500). They are 3-2-0 against Elite 8 teams and enter playoffs on a 10 game unbeated streak going 8-0-2 since January 25th.

#2 Avon Old Farms (22-2-0) One game remaining against Loomis (Top 16). They are 3-1-0 against Elite 8 competion and riding a 9 game winning streak headed into their final contest. Win over Loomis could propel them to #1.

#3 Salisbury (20-3-1) One game remaining against Canterbury (sub .500). They are 4-2-0 against Elite 8 competition and had a 15 game unbeaten streak through the middle part of the season before going 8-2-0 in their last 10.

#4 Dexter (23-4-0) No games remaining in the schedule. They are 2-2-0 against Elite 8 competition and heading into the playoffs with an 8-2-0 record in their last 10 games.

#5 Hotchkiss (17-5-2) One game remaining against Taft (sub .500). They are 2-4-1 against Elite 8 competition and were riding a 11-0-2 run before their most recent lost to Salisbury (third time they lost to Salisbury this season).

#6 Kimball Union (21-6-2-) One/Two games remaining depending on Lakes Region playoffs; they’ll face Proctor Academy (+.500) in the semi-finals and if they win they’ll face the winner of Tilton/New Hampton. KUA is 0-1-1 against Elite 8 competition and posting an 11-1-1 record in their last 13 games.

#7 Nobles & Greenough (18-5-2) One game remaining against Milton (+.500). They are 2-3-1 against Elite 8 competion and 10-1-1 in their last 12 games.

#8 Berkshire (18-7-2) One game remaining against Gunnery (+.500). They are 2-3-1 agianst Elite 8 competition and have a 13-1-1 record in their past 15 games including wins over #2 Avon and #3 Salisbury.

On the Bubble:

Cushing Academy (20-7-3) They need to beat Governors and Berkshire to lose to Gunnery. They would also benefit from Winchendon win over Williston (for RPI) and Exeter win over Andover. Still might not be enough but not impossible.

Loomis Chaffee (15-6-3) They need to beat Avon Old Farms and have Berkshire lose to Gunnery. They’d want Cushing to lose to Governors or the reverse of what they want on Saturday’s games in regards to Winchendon and Exeter.

Large School

#1 Cushing Academy (20-7-3) One game remaining against Governors (sub .500); they are 6-7-1 against playoff bound teams and 12-1-1 in their last 14 games.

#2 Loomis Chaffee (15-6-3) One game remaining against Avon Old Farms (Elite 8); they are 3-5-3 against playoff bound competition and 7-3-1 in their last 11 games.

#3 Brunswick (18-7-2) One game remaining against Trinity Pawling (sub .500); they are 7-4-0 against playoff bound competition and 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.

#4 Thayer (14-8-1) One game remaining against St. Sebastian’s (Large School); they are 4-6-1 against playoff bound competition and 9-2-1 in their last 12 games.

#5 St. Sebastian’s (14-9-1) One game remaining against Thayer (Large School); they are 3-6-1 against playoff bound competition as well as 3-6-1 in their last 10 games.

#6 Deerfield (11-9-4) One game remaining against Westminster (sub .500); they are 6-7-1 against playoff bound competition and 5-4-1 in their last 10 games.

#7 Kent (12-11-1) One game remaining against Choate (sub .500); they are 5-8-1 against playoff bound competition and 3-6-1 in their last 10 games.

#8 Milton (15-11-1) One game remaining against Nobles (Elite 8); they are 5-9-0 against playoff bound competition and 7-3-0 in their last 10 games.

On the Bubble

Northfield Mount Hermon (15-10-2) They need to win against Hoosac and losses for the bottom three teams (Deerfield, Kent and Milton). They would also benefit from Belmont Hill and Winchendon winning their games on Saturday.

Exeter (14-13-2) They will need to beat rival Andover on Saturday and hope for losses to the bottom 3 teams (Deerfield, Kent and Milton). They’ll benefit from NMH losing to Hoosac and a Winchendon win.

Small School

#1 St. Mark’s (19-4-2) One game remaining against Groton (Small School); they are 2-3-0 against playoff bound competion and 8-2-0 in their last 10 games.

#2 New Hampton (21-8-3) One game remaining against Tilton (Small School) and if they win they’ll play winner of KUA/Proctor for Lakes Region Championship. They are 3-7-2 against playoff bound competition and 8-2-2 in their last 12 games.

#3 Millbrook (20-9-1) One game remaining against Trinity Pawling (sub .500); they are 5-8-1 against playoff bound competition and 8-2-1 in their last 11 games.

#4 Groton (21-6-0) One game remaining against St. Marks (Small School); they are 3-2-0 against playoff bound competition and 12-1-0 in their last 13 games.

#5 Gunnery (16-12-3) One game remaining against Berkshire (Elite 8); they are 5-8-2 against playoff bound competition and 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.

#6 Tilton (15-5-4) One/Two game(s) remaining for Lakes Region Playoffs; they’ll face New Hampton in the semi-finals and if they win they’ll play winner of KUA/Proctor. Tilton is 1-3-2 against playoff bound competition and 10-1-3 in their last 14 games.

#7 Rivers (11-10-1) No games remaining; they are 1-8-0 against playoff bound competition and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

#8 Pomfret (12-10-3) No games remaining; they are 3-9-0 against playoff bound competition and 3-7-3 in their last 13 games.

On the Bubble

Proctor (14-10-2) One/Two games remaining as they head into semi-finals of Lakes Region Tournament against KUA. If they win they’ll advance to the finals against winner of New Hampton/Tilton. Proctor is 0-8-2 against playoff bound competition and 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. A Lakes Region Championship would propel them to Small School playoffs; a win and a loss will likely do the same but a loss to KUA will likely mean their season is over.

What are the key games to end the season ?

Avon vs. Loomis Chaffee -> A win for Avon could put them at the #1 seed heading into the Elite 8 playoffs. A win for Loomis Chaffee could propel them into the Elite 8. Other factors are at play but overall this is likely the biggest game left on the calendar.

Proctor vs. Kimball Union -> Proctor needs a win here to get into the Large School playoff picture; KUA looks to repeat as Lakes Region champions and potentially make a move up the Elite 8 ladder.

Thayer vs. St. Sebastian’s -> Neither of these teams can make the Elite 8 at this point but they are both trying to position themselves for home ice in the playoffs. If the season ended today these two squads would face eachother in the first round of the Large School playoffs; the winner here could decide who is home and who is away.

Nobles & Greenough vs. Milon -> Nobles is secure in the Elite 8 but could climb a spot in seedings and Milton is trying to stay in the Large School and move up and a win here would solidify that.

Berkshire vs. Gunnery -> Berkshire is trying to stay in the Elite 8 field after beating Millbrook earlier this week; Gunnery is trying to get home ice for the small school playoffs.

Groton vs. St. Mark’s -> St. Mark’s is the top seed in the playoffs and looking to sustain that and Groton is sitting at #4 but a loss could potentially knock them out of home ice advantage for the first round.

Exeter vs. Andvoer -> Exeter has an outside chance of sneaking into the 8 seed of the large school but a lot of things would have to happen after their most recent loss to Winchendon.

Where will NZ be the next two day?NZ will be covering 5 games over the next two days

Friday

Proctor vs. KUA

Saturday

Gunnery vs. Berkshire

Avon vs. Loomis

Groton vs. St. Mark’s

Nobles & Greenough vs. Milton

**Maybe St. Sebastian’s vs. Thayer