A brief look at the prospects of local boys’ basketball teams 

Class A

  Once again, the balance of power is in the KVAC North, but as Edward Little proved last year, that has little to do with who will win the Eastern A championship. With two starters back, James Philbrook and Yusuf Iman, the Red Eddies will try to defend their title as the favorites in the South again. Brunswick and Oxford Hills figure to be the teams pushing EL. The Vikings have eight seniors and a lot of quickness to give teams trouble at both ends. Lewiston will be without leading scorer Ronnie Turner for much of the season due to a football injury, but the Blue Devils hope to bounce back from a rough 2008-09 season with a lot of new personnel and improved defense.

In the North, there must be something in the Penobscot River water because Bangor, Brewer and Hampden Academy are the favorites. Messalonskee, Skowhegan and Mt. Blue will also be vying for a spot in the shrinking playoff field (just eight teams make the tournament this year, compared to 11 last year). Mt. Blue will shift from a backcourt-oriented team to a more balanced unit with the emergence of big men Cam Sennick and Adam Wiles-Russell.

Class B

 The addition of Leavitt and Maranacook to Western Class B will only make it more difficult to reach the narrowed tournament field. The Western Maine Conference will likely dominate the bracket again, with Falmouth, Greely, York and two-time defending regional champion Cape Elizabeth battling for the top half. Gray-New Gloucester has the balance to return to Portland and the inspiration. The Patriots are dedicating their season to the memory of teammate Josh Libby, who was killed in a June car accident. Poland returns four of its top 5 scorers from last year and could give the top teams in the conference problems with its size.

Mountain Valley is the most likely candidate to represent the Mountain Valley Conference with a new coach and a new hyper-tempo offense. The Falcons boast eight seniors and one of the top players in the MVC in Cameron Kaubris. Lisbon remains in rebuilding mode with a new coach of its own. Leavitt drops down to KVAC B after reaching the playoffs in Class A last year. The Hornets are young but have four starters back from last year and are hoping to carry over some momentum from their state title run in football. Oak Hill hopes a new coach and improved chemistry can help get it back on the road to playoff contention.

Class C

Long regarded the best basketball conference in Class C, the MVC gets stronger this season with the addition of St. Dom’s. The introduction of the Saints also brings about some realignment as the league has been split into two divisions. The Saints should make an immediate impact as one of the favorites in the South, along with Boothbay, Georges Valley, Wiscasset, Winthrop and Hall-Dale. The Ramblers graduated seven seniors and changed coaches a little more than a month before the preseason started, but they could be deeper and more run-oriented than last year.

In the North, Dirigo lost Mr. Basketball Thomas Knight to Notre Dame and coach Gavin Kane to the University of Maine, but the Cougars still have Tyler Chiasson, one of the top guards in the MVC, and are still among the top teams in Class C. Dave Gerrish, who led rival Mountain Valley to two Western B championships and a state title, inherits a team that may lack a big man but does not lack speed, shooters or toughness. Livermore Falls returns four starters, including all-conference guard Chandler White, and is being picked by some to dethrone the Cougars. The Andies will have more than Dirigo to worry about, however, because arch-rival Jay brings back three-year starter Austin Clark, who transferred out of state prior to last season but is back to man the middle. Madison will also battle for a playoff spot. Mt. Abram has a balanced, experienced nucleus that is looking to finish closer to .500 and tournament contention. Telstar doesn’t have a senior on the roster, but the Rebels could make some inroads towards contention next year.

 The WMC lost St. Dom’s but could present a greater challenge to the MVC’s Western Class C dominance this year, with Waynflete, Old Orchard Beach and Traip all looking for a spot in Augusta.

 Class D

Richmond is threatening to close the decade with a Valley-like run of dominance in Western Maine. The Bobcats are favored to win their third straight regional title and fourth in the last five years. The Bobcats should be challenged by Hyde, which returns to D after a brief stint in Class C.  Elan is usually a factor in the tournament, and Greenville and Valley should both be improved from last season. New Rangeley coach Matt Clark has a young nucleus with just one senior and expects some growing pains early, but the Lakers could be dangerous by the end of the year, especially if junior center Zeke Hall (knee) gets healthy. Buckfield is more stocked in the senior department (five), but still lacks varsity experience.