Bangor Christian coach Gary Colson knew that his team would be among the contenders for the Class D title after a strong performance in last year’s tournament, where it upset its way to the semifinals.

But the Patriots have far exceeded Colson’s expectations, running up a 16-2 record for the top seed in the Southeastern Division.

“I would have been happy if we’d gone 13-5. … I didn’t anticipate 16-2, but the kids stepped up and played defense and shared the ball,” Colson said.

Bangor Christian has thrived with a withering defense that holds opponents to an average of 53 points per game. All five Patriots starters are averaging in double figures.

Bangor Christian will be aiming to unseat defending champion East Grand of Danforth, which has compiled a 16-2 mark and is ranked third in the Southeastern division. The Vikings’ two losses have come against Washington Academy of East Machias, the top-ranked team in the Class C Southeastern Division.

Other top challengers include Greenville, Central Aroostook of Mars Hill, Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook, Katahdin of Sherman Station, and Fort Fairfield. And, of course, perennial tournament master Jonesport-Beals, even with a 10-8 mark and the fourth-place rank in the Southeast, can’t be counted out.

The winner that emerges from the East will likely have to get by four-time defending state champion Valley of Bingham if it is to earn a state title. The Cavaliers, winners of 101 straight games before dropping their last game of the season to Class C Piscataquis of Guilford, may now be hungrier than ever to keep the crown.

Colson says Bangor Christian has been sustained by its half-court man-to-man defense.

“Our goal is to limit our opponents to 55 points and under, and the kids have bought into that philosophy. … It’s a mental set. You have to buy into the defense and want to play defense,” Colson said.

Offensively, junior guard David Chrisos paces the team with 19 points per game. Senior Ed Carey is scoring at a 16 ppg game clip, followed by Josh Madden (12 ppg), 6-5 senior center Pat McCleary (11 ppg), and sophomore point guard Kyle Bradford (10 ppg), who also leads the team in assists.

McCleary and Carey are averaging double figures for rebounds.

Greenville has turned heads this year, compiling a 13-4 mark and the second seed in the Southeast. Greenville earned a season split with Bangor Christian.

Coach John Jardine has seven seniors on an experienced club that relies on the strength of its inside game and the skills of versatile 6-3 swingman Tyler Muzzy. Muzzy is averaging 23 ppg and 15 rpg.

Muzzy has played every position at some point this year.

Jon Eithier and freshman Bobby Gilbert have both contributed 12 ppg. Gilbert is also hauling down 8.5 rpg.

Jardine goes eight deep but said he is concerned because his team lacks a pure point guard and experienced ballhandlers.

“We really have seven small forward-type players. … So we’ve got to be smart with the ball and smart as far as taking shots and getting the ball to scorers in the right spots,” Jardine said.

East Grand will bring a pressing, high-scoring brand of basketball to Bangor in its bid to repeat.

Senior guard James Godley, who now holds East Grand’s all-time scoring record with 1,576 points, leads the Vikings with 24.1 ppg. He made 90 assists and 90 steals on the year. Cilley said that Godley anchors the defense as well.

“If I put him on someone … that person pretty much catches the ball when [Godley] wants him to,” Cilley said.

Sophomore point guard Darius Parker, who missed the first two games of the season with an ankle injury, is back to full strength and posting 13.1 ppg. Junior forward Richard Byers provides 12.8 ppg and 10 rpg. Rhett Mortland (13.5 ppg) and 6-4 Jim “the Wall” Zugelder give the Vikings athleticism and size.

Cilley said his team must improve its defense and free throw shooting in the tournament.

The Vikings have also not had the chance to play in many close games this year, winning most by double figures. Cilley said a mid-season test against Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook may have proved his team’s ability to survive under pressure.

“We had an 18-point lead but Southern Aroostook got it down to four points with five and a half minutes to go. A couple of our guys were nervous. … But it was a good learning experience,” Cilley said.

Central Aroostook emerged from its Aroostook County battles with the top rank in the Northeast and a 13-5 mark.

Coach Tim Brewer’s Panthers go 10 deep and play a controlled, half-court game.

It’s a style that Brewer, who was a captain on Central Aroostook’s 1994 state championship team, said is unfamiliar for his alma mater.

“We don’t really press. We’re not like past Central Aroostook teams,” Brewer said.

Senior forward Lance Bradstreet has a deadly touch from 15 feet in and leads the team in scoring.

Bradstreet missed five games midway through the season with a sprained ankle. The younger brother of former University of Maine star Julie Bradstreet, he scored more than 400 points as a junior.

Dan Codrey, a 6-4 senior center, gives the Panthers a strong presence inside. Sophomore Bryan Grew and freshman Jason Woodworth are a solid backcourt. Sophomore forward Patrick Walsh provides defense and hustle.

Southern Aroostook earned the second rank in the Northeast with a 9-9 record.

Coach David Gordon’s Warriors boast one of Class D’s top post players in 6-4 junior center Corey Shields. Shields has put up 27 ppg and 15 rpg this year.

“Corey has several excellent post moves: He has a good baseline spin move and he can turn on the block and face the basket. … He’s also very strong and in outstanding physical shape,” Gordon said.

Junior point guard Corey Edkins provides the team with leadership and is an outside scoring threat.

“He’s the team enthusiast, he gets the team pumped up. He’ll be hootin’ and hollerin’ and everything else,” Gordon said.

Southern Aroostook relies on 6-3 forward Luke Nadeau to take pressure off Shields inside. Sophomore guard Griffin Hardy and senior Matt McClusky also contribute.

Gordon said McClusky’s work ethic has been an inspiration to the team.

“He never started a game in his life – whether peewee, junior high, or JV – until this year. But he’s started every game for us and that’s a tribute to his unbelievable drive,” Gordon said.

Jonesport-Beals posted a 10-8 record despite a tough schedule that included Bangor Christian and Class C teams Washington Academy, Sumner of East Sullivan, and Narraguagus of Harrington.

The Royals have relied on a half-court game this year – a style that coach Ordie Alley’s teams have never played before.

“All my life my teams have run and gun and pressed. But this year we haven’t been able to,” Alley said.

The Royals have been paced by senior forward Alvin Beal (20 ppg, 10 rpg), sophomore Abraham Beal (12.5 ppg), and senior Kyle Mitchell (10 ppg, 12.5 rpg).

Katahdin finished as Eastern Maine runner-up last year but graduated its entire starting line-up. That meant this year’s team would be young and inexperienced. Even so, coach Bill McAvoy’s club managed to ride its half-court defense to the third seed in the Northeast.

The Cougars are sparked by Thomas Rodgerson, a 5-9 junior guard who is averaging 16.5 ppg. Senior Glenn McNally contributes 10 ppg and 9 rpg.

Fort Fairfield, ranked fourth in the Northeast at 10-8, is paced by junior guard James McLaughlin (20 ppg) and junior forward Aaron Kenneson (15 ppg and 10.5 rpg).

The Tigers have lost four in a row heading into the tournament, but hope to clamp down on defense and limit turnovers in order to turn their fortunes around. Coach Shawn Manter’s team will utilize a mix of full- and half-court presses.