Here is one observer’s shot-in-the-dark at how things might shake out in Augusta and Portland:

Class A East

Hampden has an easier path to the final than Edward Little, despite the supposed advantage for the No. 1 seed in that department. Brewer beat Hampden, gave EL fits, and has five interchangeable, 6-foot-3-ish parts on the floor at any time. The Witches are a nightmare to defend. If the Red Eddies survive that, they will encounter either an angry archrival in Lewiston that they’ve barely beaten twice, or Cony, which pushed EL to the brink in an 81-80 overtime classic just over a week ago. Hampden appears to match up well with Brunswick, Messalonskee and Oxford Hills in its half of the bracket. But having made the perfect case for why the Eddies aren’t smart money, it’s just foolish to pick against them. They win all the close games. They’re senior tough. No team in the state has been better in the fourth quarter of games this season. Pencil in the Eddies for their third regional title in seven years.

Prediction: Edward Little.

Class B West

Nobody outside of Poland picked this region correctly a year ago. Unlike that arrangement, with Greely as a clear No. 1, there is no head-and-shoulders favorite this season. The KVAC is guaranteed at least one team in the semifinal party, by virtue of the Morse-Lincoln matchup. Spruce Mountain could make it two. After going in as a top-four seed in the past, the Phoenix are in the position of sliding in relatively unnoticed, and it might help them. Ultimately, though, the top two teams in most preseason polls are seeded first and second, and it will take a titanic effort to keep them from colliding in the final. Yarmouth’s seniors saw what it was like to hoist a Gold Ball when they were freshmen, and they have tasted success in other sports, as well. Tough to bet against them.

Prediction: Yarmouth

Class C West

This region is talked up almost as glowingly as Eastern A, and it’s easy to understand why. Tournament fields don’t usually have a 16-3 team (Madison) in the five hole. Hall-Dale and Old Orchard Beach are perennials capable of inflicting damage, and No. 8 Maranacook merely made it to the final a year ago. None of the top four look particularly vulnerable, however. Boothbay beat Winthrop with disarming ease late in the season, and Dirigo’s 11-game winning streak, combined with a flair for fourth-quarter dramatics, suggest that form will hold. It’s a risky pick until we see how Riley Robinson’s back responded to two weeks of rest, but the Cougars have looked like a team of destiny in January and early February. After back-to-back semifinal exits, they’re hungry, too.

Prediction: Dirigo

Class D West

The mix of schools always makes this a fun bracket, even when there is an overwhelming favorite. Forest Hills could face three private schools (NYA, Seacoast and Hyde) on its path to the title, or it could run into age-old EWC rivals Richmond and Valley in the semifinal and final, respectively. Searsport is a tough opponent for Hyde in a first-thing-in-the-morning game, but generally the top four seeds look safe. No matter how the early rounds unfold, you win with seniors, and one team has them in abundance.

Prediction: Forest Hills

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