The keyword for the 2005-06 boys’ high school basketball season is change. The KVAC has brought the five remaining members of the former Big East conference into the fold, plus Erskine Academy from Class B, and divided itself into two divisions, North and South. While the North is generally considered the stronger group, its qualifying members will have to travel south in February to the Augusta Civic Center, which the Eastern A tournament will call home for the first time this year.

Western Class B bids farewell to reigning regional champion Gorham, which is moving up to Class A, and says hello to Lisbon as its newest member, and the Cumberland County Civic Center as its new tournament home.

Not much has changed in Western C, except maybe the rules of coaching, as Gavin Kane, who has led the Dirigo girls to six state championships in the last 12 years, takes over as the boys’ coach while retaining the girls’ job. In Western D, Valley may face the toughest challenge yet to its eight-year stranglehold on the regional title.

Here’s an overview of what to expect in each class:

Class A

Defending state champion Hampden Academy tops the list of former Big East teams absorbed into the KVAC, which also includes Bangor, Brewer, Nokomis and Old Town. With 6-foot-10 University of Maine bound center Jordan Cook entering his senior year, the Broncos are the favorites to win the East again. Bangor suffered a major blow to its hopes of challenging Hampden when 6-foot-7 star Mark Socoby went down with a knee injury in the off-season. He’s expected to miss the entire year, but the Rams will still be a tough out, even though the tournament isn’t in their back yard any longer. Mt. Blue, which joins the new additions in the North, figures to compete for a bye into the quarterfinals. In the South, Brunswick and Gardiner are the favorites. After that, it’s a bit of a crapshoot, with Edward Little, Lewiston and Oxford Hills all figuring prominently in the race for the division. Deering and Cheverus are the favorites in Western Maine, but don’t be surprised if Gorham makes a big splash in its first year.

Class B

Winners of five of the last six regional crowns, Gorham leaves quite a void with its foray into Class A. Among those hoping to fill it is Mountain Valley, which welcomes new coach Dave Gerrish. The Falcons are happy to have another Class B school join the Mountain Valley Conference. Well, actually, Lisbon has been in the MVC for awhile, but the Greyhounds are back in B and, with four of five starters returning, could make noise in the tournament.

Falmouth, Greely, Cape Elizabeth, York, Poland and Fryeburg Academy will vye for Western Maine Conference supremacy. If Camden-Rockport hopes to defend its state championship, it will have to fend off Presque Isle, a rapidly-maturing Maranacook squad and Medomak Valley, which has moved down from Class A.

Class C

Dirigo and Mountain Valley aren’t the only MVC school adjusting to a new coach. Telstar, Livermore Falls, Monmouth and defending state champion Hall-Dale all have new faces on the sideline. Boothbay, which didn’t lose its coach or a single player off last year’s Class C semifinalists, is the favorite. Kane inherits an experienced nucleus at Dirigo that will push the Seahawks, along with Winthrop and Wiscasset. Jay and Mt. Abram should be in tournament contention, too. North Yarmouth Academy, which is moving up from Class D, and Traip Academy are the teams to beat in the WMC, with St. Dom’s and Old Orchard both vying for a spot in the tournament. Calais, Penquis, George Stevens Academy and Madawaska are getting the most buzz in Eastern Maine.

Class D

Valley of Bingham has reached nothing but peaks for the last decade, and while the Cavaliers have shown a few chinks in their armor over the last couple of years, they’re still the team everyone will be gunning for in Western Maine. They’ll be challenged by a number of tournament-tested teams.

Both Richmond and Buckfield return all of their major contributors from last year’s tournament squads, and Hyde has most of its nucleus back as well.

Defending state champion Central Aroostook heads the list of Eastern D contenders, along with Bangor Christian and Katahdin.

– Randy Whitehouse