EASTERN CLASS A

FAVORITES: No. 1 Hampden Academy proved to be the best in the regular season. The Broncos are tall and talented. No. 3 Mt. Blue has all of its starters back from last season. The Cougars led the league in scoring at 62.8 points per game. Overall, though, it’s the most wide open tournament since the early 1990s, said Coach Todd Hanson of Brunswick.

WATCH OUT FOR: Defending state champion Bangor has the tradition. Lewiston has been one of the most consistent teams in the KVAC. Lawrence is another team with a rich tourney history.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Christian McCue, senior, guard, Hampden Academy (17.2 ppg); Cam Sennick. senior, forward, Mt. Blue (16.1 ppg); Mitch Black, senior, guard, Brunswick (13.7 ppg); Quin Leary, senior, forward, Edward Little (16.4 ppg); Spencer Carey, junior, forward, Lawrence (13.8 ppg)

DID YOU KNOW: Coaches Mike McGee of Lawrence and Roger Reed of Bangor both started coaching at their schools in the 1985-86 season. Their teams opened against each other that season with Lawrence winning, 50-37.

EASTERN CLASS B

FAVORITES: No. 1 Mt. Desert Island (18-0) is unbeaten, but the favorite’s nod could go to No. 2 Medomak Valley, which was an impressive team during the season. No. 3 Gardiner won the KVAC title. With a lot of good teams, this has the makings of a wide open tournament.

WATCH OUT FOR: No. 8 Camden Hills, the defending Class B state champion, had to play a preliminary-round game to reach the quarterfinals. The Windjammers are a formidable opening-round opponent for MDI.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Issac Greenrose, senior, guard, Medomak Valley (17.3); John Murray, senior, center, Medomak Valley (15.0); Ben Walls, junior, forward, MDI (14.0 ppg); Aaron Tolman, senior, forward, Gardiner (16.6 ppg).

DID YOU KNOW: Mt. Desert Island has its best record in school history. The previous best was a 15-3 regular season in the 1990s.

EASTERN CLASS C

FAVORITES: Top-ranked and defending state champion Lee Academy is the slight favorite in a very closely bunched pack. All but two returning starters are new. “I feel 1 through 7 is a threat to win it,” said Tony Hamlim, coach of No. 4 Penquis Valley.

WATCH OUT FOR: Penquis beat Lee in the final regular-season game. No. 2 Sumner has a 16-2 record, just like Lee and Penquis. Calais is 14-2. Three quarterfinal games stand out: Penquis vs. Fort Kent; Mattanawcook vs. Calais and Houlton vs. Sumner.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: D. J. Johnson, senior, guard. Lee (14.4 ppg); Kyle Bouchard, freshman, senior, Houlton (21.0 ppg); Isaiah Besst, sophomore, guard, Penquis Valley (23.0 ppg); Gabe O’Brien, senior, guard, Sumner (15.0 ppg)

DID YOU KNOW: The marquee players in the tournament are underclassmen.

EASTERN CLASS D

FAVORITES: No. 1 Jonesport-Beals and No. 2 Central Aroostook, the defending state champion, played in last year’s regional final won by Central Aroostook. This could be a rematch although No. 3 Washburn could have something to say.

WATCH OUT FOR: No. 3 Washburn has an impressive 16-2 record and could win it all. There’s little to choose among the top three, which all return most of their teams.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mike McClung, senior, center, Central Aroostook (14.0 ppg); Garrett Beal, junior, forward, Jonesport-Beals (22.5 ppg); Matt Alley, senior, guard, Jonesport-Beals (20.0 ppg); Mitch Worcester, junior, guard, Washburn (27.0, ppg) Jordan McLaughlin, senior, guard, Washburn (25.0 ppg)

DID YOU KNOW: Central Aroostook held Jonesport-Beals to 26 points in last year regional final after the Royals came in with a 70-plus per game average.