By Marc Thaler
Managing Sports Editor

Since the Neighborhood now includes 18 towns stretching from Hopkinton to Salem, there’s no question enough individual and team talent exists in our coverage areas to conduct the following festivities.

Welcome to the first-ever Neighborhood Noddies.

In honor of months of memorable feats and the craziest contraption associated with athletic competition – the bobble head – this column recognizes the remarkable during the recently completed winter sports campaign.

All winners are 100 percent my selections – completely. However, every decision was based on what I witnessed during the winter months and colleagues’ reports and conversations.

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Perhaps you’ll find these winners worthy. Of course, you might find them questionable. Either way, please know this: The accomplishments of every candidate were weighed heavily.

• • •

In the category of Top Team, the candidates include Class L boys hoops champion Manchester Central; plus Pelham High’s Class I boys hoops champion, and Pelham’s Kiwanis and state spirit competition champ.

The Neighborhood Nod goes to the Central boys hoops team. CHS completed its championship season unbeaten at 25-0 in the state’s toughest league. But Central truly earns the Nod for becoming just the fourth Class L club in more than 40 years to finish flawlessly.

• • •

The nominees for Ultimate Upset include Manchester West’s girls hoops team for a mid-season win against defending champ Trinity of Manchester; Salem High’s hockey team for downing Division I power Bishop Guertin of Nashua in early February; and BG’s girls basketball team for taking out Londonderry and Trinity in the playoffs en route to the Class L title game.

The Neighborhood Nod goes to the West girls hoops squad for working a wonderful win.

Salem’s hockey triumph was mighty impressive, but the Blue Devils were also legitimate title contenders. The No. 6 ladies of BG nearly won the Nod for their postseason victories against the No. 3 Lancers and No. 2 Pioneers.

Still, considering West was 2-5 when posting a 48-42 victory against a 6-0 Trinity team on Jan. 13, the Nod went to the Blue Knights.

• • •

The following individuals were finalists for Coach of the Campaign. The candidates include Pelham High’s boys basketball coach Todd Kress for leading the Pythons to a one-loss season and the crown; Goffstown High wrestling coach Todd Lavallee for leading the Grizzlies to the Division II title; and Central boys hoops coach David “Doc” Wheeler for experiencing perfection.

The Neighborhood Nod goes to Goffstown’s Todd Lavallee.

It’s hard to argue with the accomplishments of the two basketball mentors. However, both led well-established programs to greatness this winter. Lavallee brought the crown to Goffstown by helping a program still in relative infancy come of age quickly.

• • •

Last but not least, leading the list of Premiere Performers were two hoopsters and a trio of grapplers.

On the court, Central’s Tyler Roche was just plain awesome in the Little Green’s march to excellence. Meanwhile, the Derryfield School’s Stacie Foote of Bedford netted a program-best 44 points in her team’s Class S tourney opener.

On the mat, Salem’s Andrew Lacroix, a Roger Williams University junior, finished third in the nation among 141-pound grapplers at the Division III championships; West’s Lance Mailloux of Bedford recorded a 40-0 record in the D-I heavyweight division, earning an

invitation to the New England Regional Tournament; and Bow High’s DJ Meagher was the New England champ at 140 pounds.

The Neighborhood Nod goes to Salem’s Andrew Lacroix. All were worthy of the win for what they meant to their teams, but Lacroix earns the Nod for ranking among the country’s finest. That’s off the charts.

With that, I leave you to engage in the best part of any awards ceremony, best said in four words.

Let the debate begin.