The Bangor Rams return 10 players from last season, the Stearns Minutemen of Millinocket feature All-Maine first-teamer Trisha Ripton with two returning starters, the Winslow Black Raiders have improved, and the Cony Rams of Augusta again have quick, fast players.

All of these schoolgirl basketball teams should be a tourney contender with a shot at the ’92-93 Eastern Maine Class A title. All of these teams, however, have to get past the Lawrence Bulldogs and junior standout guard Cindy Blodgett, who has already surpassed the 1,000-point scoring mark.

Blodgett averaged 24 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.8 steals a game last season while helping the Bulldogs of Fairfield capture their second straight state championship, finishing with a 22-0 record. For this season, the 5-foot-9 Blodgett is even a better player, according to fourth-year coach Bruce Cooper.

“I don’t see her not getting better just because she has such a great work attitude and because she loves the game,” Cooper said, adding that Blodgett has added more power to her game.

Like the past two seasons, the Bulldogs do not feature much height and will rely on an uptempo attack along with pressure defense.

Seniors Erin Bennett and Danielle Baty, both 5-9 forwards, will handle the rebounding and inside scoring duties while the Bulldogs again opt for a three-guard offense with Blodgett and twin sisters Jill and Wendy Atwood.

Juniors Janet Francoeur and Karen Weymouth, along with freshman Michelle Clark, should also contribute inside for the Bulldogs.

Stearns, which lost in the EM final last season to Lawrence, should again challenge behind the 5-9 Ripton, another fine all-around player who averaged 21.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 4.5 steals last season.

Adding to the Stearns attack are returning lettermen Cory Santerre, Melissa Leino, and Sarah Marshall.

While Winslow and Cony should challenge Lawrence in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, Stearns will face some tough battles from Bangor, Old Town and Nokomis of Newport.

Bangor Coach Tom Tennett wants his team to take the one-game-at-a-time approach as it aims for another tourney berth.

The Rams feature great team depth and will look to run the ball. How far they go, Tennett said, depends on getting a good mix of team chemistry and senior leadership.

Bangor will be led by four seniors: point guard Courtney Parker (5-5), forward-guard Leah Thistle (5-10), and forwards Jeanne Englebrecht (5-9) and Mary Estey (5-8).

Juniors who will contribute for the Rams include Shari Nye (5-9), Laura Jordan (5-9), Tasanee Briggs (5-6), Mandy Ingalls (5-7), and Michelle Puls (5-7).

Tennett expects tough games against Stearns, Old Town, and Nokomis.

The Brewer Witches are young this season while the Hampden Acadmey Broncos, Caribou Vikings and Presque Isle Wildcats will have to battle for tourney spots as EM Class A again features parity.

“I see Eastern Maine as pretty much as a mirror of last year,” Cooper said. “A couple of positions may move up and down, but most of the same teams should be right up there.”

Other KVAC teams also battling for tourney spots will be the Gardiner Tigers, the Medomak Valley Panthers of Waldoboro, the Messalonskee Eagles of Oakland, the Mt. Blue Cougars of Farmington, the Skowhegan Indians, and the Waterville Panthers.