Tom King

Question, readers: What are the two most blah months of the year?

Answer: November and January.

November, it gets dark well before 5 p.m. and in January it’s just a frustrating stretch of cold with seemingly no end in sight.

But first, November isn’t all that bad, because there’s some great local, regional and even national sports of interest going on.

So let’s take a look at some key dates this month that’s nearly a week old. Yes, we’ve already missed a few:

SATURDAY, NOV. 5

It’s championship Saturday for high school volleyball and prelim day for some football teams. In volleyball, at least one local, Hollis Brookline was slated to be in action vs. top ranked, unbeaten Bedford in the Division I finals; this is the third straight shot the Cavs have had at the Bulldogs as they both are clearly the two best Division I teams. Thing is, you had to get up early to see it, 10 a.m. start. In Division II, Campbell was hoping to get to the finals as well as of this writing.

In football on Saturday, you could get out to Stellos Stadium for a 2 p.m. Division I playoff game between Bishop Guertin and Dover, or over to Amherst for 1 p.m. (as of now) tilt between Souhegan and Kennett. Or, if you’e a cross country fan, over to Alvirne for the Meet of Champions, girls at 2:30 and boys at 3:20 p.m.

Oh, and Rivier University may be going for the GNAC women’s volleyball title, and Division III NCAA tourney berth that goes with it, at the Muldoon Center.

Busy day.

SUNDAY, NOV. 6

A mix of high school and pro action, as the state boys soccer championships are being held, Division III at 1 p.m. at Manchester Memorial, with Campbell as of this writing having a shot at being in its fourth title game in five years. Meanwhile, Nashua South was hoping to be in the finals at Exeter in Division I, as were the Hollis Brookline Cavaliers in Division II.

Local teams or not, there’s nothing like tournament soccer, and they are at 1 and 4:30 p.m. at Bill Ball Stadium. Good take.

Of course, that might take you away from what rules Sundays – the NFL. Your New England Patriots will be hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium at 1 p.m. Two teams that really have quarterback issues, among others. The Colts really don’t have one, and the Patriots have two they can’t really be sure of.

TUESDAY, NOV. 8

That’s this Tuesday, fans, and the Rivier men’s basketball team will be in action to open its season at Rhode Island College. The Raiders under coach Lance Bisson had their best season in recent years last year, and optimism for a further step forward reigns supreme.

THURSDAY, NOV. 10

And, not to be outdone, the Raider women, scheduled to open up this Tuesday vs. Fisher College in a game being played at Hellenic College (remember, the old Celtics practice site?) in Brookline, have their home opener vs. Nichols at the Muldoon.

The Raiders have one of the best Division III players in New England in Lyric Grumblatt, plus former Guertin standout Hannah Muchemore. A good take at 7 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 11

Playoffs? Yup, the high school season rolls on, and we do know as of this writing Nashua North will be playing on this night at Stellos Stadium in the Division I quarterfinals against either Windham or Bedford. Not a great draw for one of the top seeds, because the Bulldogs are one of the best defensive teams in the state and Windham is clearly competitive. Should be a good game.

Bishop Guertin, if it wins its prelim, would land at Pinkerton Academy, and that could be a night game as well. Merrimack, should it have won last weekend, would be playing at Londonderry. Gulp.

Also, right down the street from Stellos, it’s the long awaited home opener for the Rivier men’s hockey team, as they take on SUNY Canton at Conway Arena. The puck drops at 7 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 12

It’s likely the Division II football semifinals, and Souhegan we think will be there vs. either Gilford-Belmont or St. Thomas. And we think the scoring machine that is the Sabers offense will carry them to the finals.

It’s also the day of the Division III title game, likely between Trinity and … Campbell? Remains to be seen.

TUESDAY, NOV. 15

More local college hoop, all New Hampshire style as Rivier will be hosting Plymouth State at the Muldoon at 7 p.m. Good barometer for the Raiders.

SATURDAY, NOV. 19

Football Finals Day in Division II, and we say the Sabers will be there, likely against Pelham, time and site to be determined.

Meanwhile, it’s also the day for the Division I semis, we expect either Nashua North or possibly Guertin – maybe both – to be there, At this time, North, if it advances, would host against either Exeter (likely) or Timberlane (just as likely) or Concord. Guertin would likely have to play Londonderry if the Cards were to get that far.

SUNDAY, NOV. 20

It’s Patriots-Jets, Part Deux, at Gillette Stadium. Will the Jets self destruct like they did last weekend? Should be a really good one, right after the bye week, for the Patriots.

THURSDAY, NOV. 24

Of course it’s Thanksgiving Day, but we’re looking at Thanksgiving night, when the Patriots are at the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings can put up points, people, and it’s going to take supreme defensive effort for the the Patriots to hold off this Minnesota team at home. Hopefully the tryptophan effect won’t settle in by then.

FRIDAY, NOV. 25

The Boston Bruins, who are on fire these days, have a TD Garden matinee vs. the Carolina Hurricanes, a 1 p.m. affair. What can we say, it’s a really busy sports weekend.

SATURDAY, NOV. 26

Yes, we know it’s after Thanksgiving, but there still, for the first time maybe ever, there’s high school football being played, and it could be local.

Today’s the day for the Division I championship game, and we say it will be Nashua North vs. Londonderry, time and place to be determined.

Let’s see if we’re right.

And if you’re not into high school football, the intriguing college game of the day is Michigan at Ohio State at noon. OSU will win this one.

Enjoy the holiday leftovers.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30

With the high school fall season all done, we close out the month with the NBA (yawn), the Boston Celtics hosting the Miami Heat. There weren’t a lot of compelling games this month for the C’s, which is what the NBA is like the first couple of months. 

Wow, November doesn’t seem that blah anymore, does it?

Tom King can be reached at tking@

@Telegraph _TomK.