Players to watch

Ray Bessette, Brewer guard; Dom Drake, Brewer guard; Yusuf Iman, Edward Little guard; Bo Leary, Edward Little forward; James Philbrook, Edward Little center; Zach Blodgett, Bangor forward; Clark Noonan, Bangor forward; Jacob Moore, Hampden forward; Graham Safford, Hampden guard; Rashon Edgerton, Brunswick guard; Stephen Carter, Brunswick forward; Jake Lachance, Cony guard; Ryan Minoty, Cony forward; Ryan Backus, Mt. Blue forward; Cam Sennick, Mt. Blue center; Nate Thistle, Skowhegan guard; Paul Verville, Skowhegan forward. 

Favorite

A strong case can be made for any of the top four seeds — Brewer, Edward Little, Bangor and Hampden Academy. Brewer is the top seed and has the quickness and full-court pressure to give opponents fits. Edward Little, the defending regional champion and two-time KVAC champ, is playing its best basketball of the year, led by KVAC South Player of the Year Iman and the formidable frontcourt duo of Leary and Philbrook.  Bangor has the size to match up with EL, and is the only team among the top four to beat the other three this season. Hampden boasts KVAC North Player of the Year Jacob Moore and has greater depth and balance than perhaps any other team.

Darkhorse

Brunswick posted an impressive record for a No. 5 seed, 16-2, and it handed EL one of its two losses. But the Dragons avoided the iron of the KVAC North. They won’t be so fortunate with Hampden due up in the quarterfinals. No. 7 Mt. Blue could be a formidable first round opponent for Edward Little. The Cougars were tested in the North all season. They knocked off Hampden once and gave both Brewer and Bangor a scare.

You need to know

The two teams to win the Eastern A regional tourney prior to Edward Little’s win last season were Bangor and Hampden Academy, and each of those schools won back-to-back titles.