The Class D tourney at the Augusta Civic Center will have a different look than the Western D playoffs of the past.

Gone are Richmond, Buckfield, Searsport and Hyde. That leaves the Class D South tournament featuring just the 13 smallest schools on this side of the state.

The defending regional champs from Rangeley should be a contender once again. The Lakers lost great talent from a team that lost in the Class D state game. Taylor Esty, Seve Deery-DeRaps and Valerie Roy-Lessard all graduated. Still, Rangeley has a seasoned group returning. Juniors Blayke Morin, Michaela Shorey and Maddison Egan are veteran players. Morin should be one of the top post players. Young players like Celia Philbrick,Natasha Haley and Sydney Royce all showed great promise with their play last year.

Rangeley won’t be as dominant, but there’s talent and experience there. As the younger players adjust to larger roles, the Lakers should emerge as a contender.

Vinalhaven graduated just three seniors and returns most of its team from a club that beat Buckfield in a prelim and toppled top-ranked Pine Tree in the quarterfinals. The Vikings have a young promising group that could help make them a team to watch.

Pine Tree went 17-1 before losing to the Vikings in the first round, graduated just two players. The Breakers, led by guard Alex Goodman, should earn their share of wins and be in the playoff hunt.

Forest Hills and Valley each graduated a couple of players and should be in the tourney mix. Greenville has the nucleus of its team back, making them a team that could be a tourney team.

The rest of Class D South includes Islesboro, North Haven, Temple, Greater Portland Christian, Seacoast and Highview Christian.

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