Bangor and Edward Little high schools have been the dominant teams in Eastern Class A over the last five seasons. So dominant, they have identical regular-season records of 81-9 between 2007 and this season, when both went 17-1.

Each has won two Eastern Maine titles in the last four years, Bangor in 2007 and 2008, and Edward Little the last two seasons. The tie will break tonight, when they tip off for the regional championship at the Augusta Civic Center. The game will start at approximately 8:45 p.m.

With a win tonight, Edward Little becomes the first team to win three consecutive Eastern A titles since Stearns did it from 1963-65. Bangor is playing for its fourth Eastern Maine crown in the last 10 years.

The Rams and Red Eddies did not play in the regular season, but this is the fourth consecutive season they’ll meet in the playoffs. Edward Little has won the last two, both in the semifinals. The Eddies came away with a 60-57 overtime win last year, and in 2009, beat the Rams 44-39. In 2008, Bangor won a regional final over Edward Little, 61-54.

This game features one of the top offenses in the league against the very best defense. Edward Little averaged 63.7 points per game in the regular season, behind only Hampden Academy. Bangor surrendered a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference low 37.7 points per game in the regular season, and in two tournament games, the Rams have allowed a total of 72 points, or two more than the Red Eddies scored in their 70-65 semifinal win over Hampden.

The Rams haven’t allowed more than 45 points in a game since a 65-52 loss to Hampden on opening night. Edward Little has been held under 55 points just twice all season.

The Red Eddies are led by senior Bo Leary. A 6-foot-4 forward, Leary led the conference in scoring (23.1 ppg) and rebounds (10.9 rpg) this season, but he’s not a one-man show. Edward Little had five players score in double figures Wednesday against Hampden, including sophomore Quin Leary, who had 17, and senior guard Tim Mains, who added 14.

Mains led the league in assists, averaging 6.1 per game.

Bangor had no players ranked in the league’s top 10 in scoring or rebounds, and the Rams have arguably the most balanced starting five in the state. Patrick Stewart, a 6-6 forward, scored 14 points to lead the Rams in Wednesday’s 41-34 win over Mt. Blue. Forward’s Zach Blodgett and Josiah Hartley each scored 14 points in the Rams’ quarterfinal win over Brunswick.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com