KVAC Class A

Edward Little and Bangor have met in the Eastern Class A three consecutive seasons, with the Red Eddies winning the last two en route to back-to-back regional titles. It’s a safe bet this winter’s February vacation won’t be complete without another crimson-colored collision at Augusta Civic Center.

Graduation cost the Red Eddies their inside-out tandem of James Philbrook and Yusuf Iman. But don’t feel sorry for EL, which welcomes back tournament MVP Bo Leary and point guard Timmy Mains. Quin Leary should make a seamless transition to the starting lineup after seeing crucial playoff minutes as a freshman. The Eddies also will count on Brandon Giguere, Cody Nicholas, Omar HajI-Hersi and 6-foot-9 Ben Armstrong to play an increased role.

Bangor was rated the favorite in a preseason coaches’ poll. Zach Blodgett, Luke Hetterman and Tristan Thomas return to the starting lineup, and football star Josiah Hartley is expected to emerge as an impact player after sitting out basketball last winter.

Mt. Blue and Hampden join Bangor as the only teams to make the Eastern Class A quarterfinals every year since the tournament moved from Bangor to Augusta. Look for that streak to continue this year.

The Cougars’ hopes hinge on a strong junior class that features Cam Sennick, Eric Berey and Blake Hart. Adam Wiles-Rosell, a senior and four-year varsity contributor, combines with Sennick to give Mt. Blue the size in the low post that many conference rivals lack.

With its backcourt of Graham Safford and Christian McCue returning intact, Hampden is rated a team to watch along with Brewer and its own standout guard, Ray Bessette.

Aside from EL, the strength of the conference is thought to be in the North division. Lewiston and Oxford Hills join Cony and Brunswick in hoping to change that perception and are among the teams jockeying for the South’s available playoff berths.

Big man Corbin Hyde is the lone returning starter for Lewiston. But the Blue Devils have enjoyed a strong preseason, showing improvement on defense and with perimeter shooting. Oxford Hills will lean on 6-foot-3 forwards Matt McVety and Josh MacDonald to anchor a promising, young group.

KVAC Class B

From the What Else Is New Department, Camden Hills is the favorite. Winner of five state championships and eight regional titles since 1998, the Windjammers have a 6-foot-6 center in Tyler McFarland and a 6-foot-6 point guard in Keegan Pieri. Camden already defeated Edward Little in an exhibition game.

In some corners, Leavitt is mentioned as the team that might have the best chance of hanging with the Windjammers. Jordan Hersom, hot off a terrific summer of AAU hoop and an all-state autumn in football, leads the Hornets. Lucas Witham and Tyler Allen join Hersom as three-year starters. Kyle Smith and Tim Dow bring an extra year of experience and strength to the court.

Medomak Valley, Gardiner, Lincoln and Maranacook are considered part of the playoff race in the sprawling league, which includes teams in both East and West. Nokomis also will be a factor on the shoulders of Chris Braley, one of the state’s top all-around players.

Oak Hill enjoyed its most successful season in terms of wins since the mid-1990s. Those seven victories weren’t quite to get the Raiders into the tournament, however. They hope to join Leavitt as a Western B playoff threat with three-year starting guard Cam Morin leading the way. Brian Bradstreet and Trever Samson join Morin as returning starters in the Oak Hill backcourt.

MVC

Employing a run-and-gun style borrowed from the playbook of Grinnell (Iowa) College, Mountain Valley went undefeated and won the conference championship last season. Armed with five senior starters, Dirigo reached its third consecutive Western Class C final and successfully defended the regional title.

It’s not unthinkable that the 2010-11 campaign could produce those same results along Route 2, but the Falcons and Cougars each will rely on a new look in their quest to uphold tradition.

Mountain Valley was a team of interchangeable parts last season, but guard Cam Kaubris emerged as the go-to player down the stretch. With graduation taking a heavy toll on the Falcons, Kaubris will be the centerpiece of the offense from day one of his senior season. Junior Izaak Mills hit his share of big shots a year ago and makes a splendid second option.

You’ll need a program to keep tabs on Dirigo for a while, at least. Former Cougars star Rebecca Fletcher is the team’s third coach in three years and becomes one of the few women ever to coach a boys’ varsity team in Maine. She’ll have no shortage of playmakers at her disposal, with senior guard Spencer Ross and junior center Cody St. Germain among the leaders expected to make the Cougars a co-favorite in the north.

With a vote on their possible merger scheduled for three weeks before the tournament, Jay and Livermore Falls each harbor strong playoff hopes.

The Andies reached the regional final last February and will step up to the three Mikes — Armstrong, Anctil and Castonguay — in their quest to perform an encore.

It has been five years since the Tigers were a factor in Augusta, but the return of juniors Zach Bonnevie and Jake Bessey at guard and James Barker in the frontcourt along with senior Kyle Storer puts Jay in the conference conversation.

Sheer numbers and experience fuel the optimism at Telstar, where all-conference forward Dan Vaughn leads a starting lineup that returns intact. Five new starters and a new coach, 23-year-old Trevis Knapp, headline a youth movement at Mt. Abram.

Just as the power in the North appears to lie with two sets of neighboring rivals, longtime coastal nemeses Boothbay and Wiscasset are considered one-two in the South.

From third place back, coaches expect the division to be wide-open. Point guard Tim Whitmore and forwards Robby Neal and Roger Bachelder give Monmouth playoff hopes for the second straight year.

Lisbon, Winthrop and St. Dom’s could sneak into the picture, especially if they gain confidence with an early-season win or two. The Greyhounds ended a lengthy losing streak last year with the help of Mike Degou and Tobey Harrington. Billy Gordon is the lone returning starter at Winthrop, where numbers are down but seniors dominate the roster. And the Saints are seeking a replacement for leading scorer Peter Keaney, who transferred over the summer.

WMC

Gray-New Gloucester and Poland turn to new coaches as they seek upward mobility in a rigorous Class B division.

The Patriots’ boss, Tony DiBiase, brings more than 300 wins and state championships at three different schools to the bench. The Knights’ new head man, Tyler Tracy, is a rookie with solid credentials that include a four-year career at UMaine-Farmington and a stint as assistant coach at Livermore Falls.

Nick Farynaz will be one of the top point guards in the league for G-NG. Poland is battling early-season injuries, but Logan Nichols and Jacob Farrington bring experience.

The schedule, of course, is no picnic. Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Greely are perennial favorites and tournament fixtures. Falmouth is the defending state champion.

Traip and NYA are likely tournament teams from the Class C division.

EWC

It isn’t quite the grip that Valley once held over the league, but Richmond has won five consecutive titles. Four of those seasons, including the last three, ended with the Bobcats winning the Western Class D title.

Richmond graduated a couple of its battle-tested go-to players, but any team hoping that the Bobcats will slide back to the pack this year still must deal with Kyle O’Brien, Tom Carter, Mike Christie and Ben Carver.

Vinalhaven, Valley and Greenville jockeyed for position as Richmond’s chief challengers last season.

The two local schools hope to add their names to that race.

Kasey Robertson gives Buckfield one of the top big men in the league. The Bucks also have skill in the backcourt with the junior trio of Austin Dooley, Alan Hedrick and Trevor Averill.

Almost the entire team returns for Rangeley. The Lakers will look to senior forward Zeke Hall and a large junior class in its bid to end a recent tournament drought.