PARIS — It’s beginning to look a lot like last year for the Oxford Hills girls’ basketball team. And that’s not such a bad thing.

A year ago, the Vikings started slow, going 1-3 but won 13 of its last 14 games to earn the third seed. Oxford Hills then survived an overtime game in the quarterfinal before winning the Eastern A title.

So far this year, the Vikings started 1-2,  won 14 of their last 15 games and enter the Eastern A tourney ranked third. Oxford Hills also has experience in the unpredictability of the tournament.

“You get a couple rolls and get through a four-overtime game,” Vikings coach Nate Pelletier said. “You win it and you never know what can happen. The good news is that we know that in any game we’re going to compete with anybody.”

The defending Eastern A champs are putting it all together at the right time once again. They’ve lost to both the top seeds, Bangor and Lawrence respectively, but the Vikings have been in all three games they’ve lost.

“I think the girls are definitely ready to go,” Pelletier said. “Ever since the loss in the state championship game, the girls have wanted to get back there. Obviously, it’s a tough road this year with the teams that are up there, but we feel we can compete with anybody.”

The Vikings will play Brunswick in next Friday’s quarterfinal at the Augusta Civic Center. Oxford Hills beat the Dragons, 35-32 and 35-28, in the regular season.

“We’re a totally different team than we were the first half of the year,” senior forward Anna Winslow said. 

Oxford Hills began the season with three starters on the bench with injuries. Winslow, Mikayla Morin and Tianna Sugars were out in the season-opening loss against Edward Little. They weren’t full strength in the early loss to Lawrence either. It took the first part of the year for the Vikings to get healthy and then get in sync. Now Oxford Hills feels its peaking at the right time.

“I think we’re just starting to crest that hill,” Winslow said. “It’s all up from here. I think it’s the perfect time to be heading into the tournament.”

Eastern A won’t be an easy field. The only losses Bangor or Lawrence had were to each other. Edward Little, which lost to Oxford Hills in the regional final last year, is fourth at 14-4. Mt. Blue, which has also been competitive with the top four teams, is seeded fifth at 11-7. The Red Eddies and Cougars play in a quarterfinal Friday. The teams split in the regular season. EL has won eight of its last nine, the lone loss coming to the Cougars. It is the second time in three years that Mt. Blue has been ranked fifth.

Another team that reached a championship game and is primed for another run is Rangeley. The Lakers earned the second seed in Western D, going 17-0. Rangeley went 17-1 last year but lost in the regional championship at the buzzer to Forest Hills. Pine Tree (17-1) is the No. 1 seed this year. It’s only loss was to Richmond.

The Lakers have dominated their regular season schedule, averaging 65 points per game while allowing just 20. Rangeley’s closest win was a 17-point victory against Richmond.

Rangeley awaits the preliminary game winner between Valley (7-11) and Seacoast (8-10).

Also in Western D, Buckfield finished eighth and earned its highest ranking since being the top seed in 2009. The Bucks have the chance to return to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2012 but must beat Vinalhaven in a prelim game Tuesday. The Bucks split with the Vikings at Vinalhaven, losing 51-47 and then winning 57-41.

Another local undefeated team is Spruce Mountain (18-0). The Phoenix are the top seed in Western B after extending their streak to 63 straight regular season wins. Spruce Mountain reached the semifinals last year but lost to Wells. The Phoenix return most of that team and hope to extend their tourney stay this year.

“We’ve been looking for consistency,” said coach Chris Bessey, whose team will play the prelim winner between Cape Elizabeth (9-9) and Fryeburg (9-9). “If we’re playing our best, we’re going to be tough to beat, but we have a tendency to let down and not go for the jugular and put teams away. When you get down to Portland against the Western Maine Conference teams, that could hurt you. Hopefully, it doesn’t.”

Gray-New Gloucester (17-1) earned the second seed. It’s only loss was to Fryeburg. The Patriots lost to Wells in the quarterfinals last year but should be a tough foe this time around. Gray-NG draws the winner of the prelim between Oak Hill (12-6) and Poland (9-9).

The Raiders finished the season with a pair of wins after losing five straight. Oak Hill lost to York in the prelims last year. The Knights lost five of its last six games. Poland also lost in the prelims last year, losing to Fryeburg.

In Western C, Maranacook (15-3) claimed the top seed. The Black Bears were second last year but lost in the Western C semifinals to Carrabec. Maranacook won six of its last seven and then beat undefeated Spruce Mountain in the KVAC Championship game Saturday.

“I love what we’re’ doing,” Maranacook coach Jeannine Paradis said. “We’re playing teams tough. We’re playing a tough schedule. I think we’ll be more relaxed in the tournament. We’ve put a lot of pressure on ourselves and have come back from some big deficits. I think we just refuse to lose. We just keep fighting until there’s nothing left because the buzzer goes off.”

Boothbay (17-1) is the second seed. Dirigo (16-2) is ranked third. The Cougars were the ninth seed last year but won a prelim, beating top-seeded St. Dom’s before losing in the semifinals. Most of that Dirigo team returns. The Cougars have won seven straight and their only losses came against Boothbay.

Mountain Valley (13-5) is seeded fifth. It’s the highest ranking for the Falcons since being sixth in Western B in 2010. Mountain Valley’s only playoff game since then was a prelim loss to Gray-NG in 2012. The Falcons will host Sacopee Valley (9-9) in a prelim.

Monmouth (13-5) holds the sixth seed. The Mustangs won four of their last five games and will host Traip (8-10) in a prelim. Monmouth lost in the prelims at Dirigo last year.

St. Dom’s finished 6-12 and play a prelim at Old Orchard (14-3). The Saints won three of its last five games to get the final playoff spot.

kmills@sunjournal.com

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