Gray-New Gloucester coach Mike Andreasen recognizes the harsh reality of Class B South.

“We can have a better team than a year ago, but have a lesser chance of winning the South,” Andreasen said.

“Everybody will be better this year, everybody will be elevated.”

The Patriots (17-5) captured the B South championship in 2016-17 before falling to Houlton in the B state championship game.

“I think it’s going to be a dogfight every night,” Poland coach Mike Susi said. “(B South) is pretty deep, from top to bottom.

“The road to the state championship still leads through Gray.”

In the North region, it’s a similar story: to reach the title game, a team has to go through Houlton. But that team also will have beat out MDI, Winslow and Presque Isle. Hermon had the seventh seed in the North playoffs last year, but managed to reach the region championship by upsetting MDI and Presque Isle before falling to Houlton.

Susi isn’t alone among B South coaches who see Gray-NG as the preseason favorites to conquer the region. The Patriots lost a lot of size, but still maintain many contributors from last season’s run to the title game. Their style might be different — Andreasen hopes it will be less plodding — but should still be effective.

Mountain Valley (18-2) claimed the top seed at the B South tournament and reached the semifinals.

The Falcons were second in scoring offense (51.7 ppg) and in scoring defense (27.8 ppg) in the Mountain Valley Conference last season, but they lost Sydney Petrie, who was among the conference’s leaders in scoring, rebounds, assists, steals, free throw. However, they bring back senior Ashley Russell, who was herself among the leaders in scoring (a team-high 10.5 ppg), assists (3 per game) and steals (team-high 3.24 per game).

Four-year starter Liza White also is back for Mountain Valley as part of a large senior class that was experienced last year’s success.

“Mountain Valley is going to bring back enough players to be competitive,” Susi said.

Susi adds that Lake Region, which finished third in the Heal point standings, and Lincoln Academy, which was fourth, can’t be counted out.

Nor can Poland, Andreasen said.

“Poland has Nathalie Theriault,” Andreasen said. “With her on the court, they’re good just because of her presence.”

The South’s fifth-place team, Wells, returns most of its players. Freeport and Yarmouth also are tough, Andreasen said.

Lisbon (7-11), which finished 12th last year, could be a sneaky team in B South. A couple of Class C Mountain Valley Conference coaches, Dirigo’s Rebecca Fletcher and Monmouth’s Scott Wing, are on the lookout for the Greyhounds.

“Lisbon, we saw them in the summer, they were tough,” Fletcher said.

Wing said: “I think Lisbon is going to surprise a lot of people. They had one senior and have been improving.

Spruce Mountain (7-11), typically a region power, had a down year last year, but brings back star Alex Bessey. The Phoenix’s success will depend on how well the young players developed.

Oak Hill (8-10) reached the regional playoffs, but lost a lot with the graduation of Grace Sabine. The Raiders probably have the most rebuilding to do among the local teams in B South, but they still have a shot at the postseason.

And once a team gets there, a new battle begins.

“Whoever gets to the tournament, they’re not going to have an easy path,” Poland coach Mike Susi said.

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