When you’re a two-time defending state champion who graduated just one starter, it’s not a stretch to make you a favorite.

That’s the situation MDI will be in this year. Another year of a tough schedule – the Trojans will face Class A power Nokomis twice, along with most of the better PVC Class B and C teams – doesn’t necessarily mean an undefeated season, but sentiment is strong that the Trojans will be back as the Eastern Maine champs.

Belfast, which didn’t lose anyone to graduation and even gained an immediate contributor through a transfer, will likely lead the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference and the rest of the teams trying to knock off MDI.

Three of the five Trojan starters – 6-foot-1 point guard Bracey Barker, and guards Shelley Gott and forward Kara Horton are all back for their third year as starters. Leah Joy started at a guard position last year, while Jenna Gordius, and Jessica Norwood and Abbie Willson made valuable contributions last season.

Those seven players will see the bulk of the playing time, said coach Burt Barker, Bracey Barker’s father.

“That rotation will be enough to make us highly competitive with anyone in Class B, I should think,” he said.

MDI’s biggest question mark will be in replacing Tanya Kane, who came on last year as a big factor inside.

“One thing that will be helpful is Willson,” Burt Barker said. “She’s very physical. She’s only about 5-7 but she can sky and she’s rugged so that will help us on the boards because we don’t have a true post player.”

University of Maine-bound Bracey Barker, one of the top players in the state, has been rebounding more this year, her father added.

Although Belfast didn’t have any seniors last year, the Lions did lose point guard Morgan Crandall, who wanted to focus on getting ready for the softball season. Still, the Lions have four starters back from an 11-9 team.

“So far we’ve been very balanced in scoring,” Belfast coach Ted Rioux said. “It’s really a different team from last year. We’re more of a halfcourt team than the running team we tried to be last year.”

Belfast did add a key component – Danielle Mayer, who was a standout at Mount View of Thorndike before transferring to Belfast. Not only has the 5-9 Mayer stepped into a starting position at one of Mount View’s biggest rival school, but Rioux has her in the point guard role.

“No doubt she had a bit of a rough time in adjusting,” he said. “But I think she’s helped the team chemistry. … I’ve never seen a player control a game without scoring the way that she does. [In a recent game] she scored five points, but she had seven assists and five rebounds.”

Last year, two of Belfast’s top three players stats-wise were sophomores, guard-forward Kate Ross (about 13 points per game) and forward-center Kaitlyn Murphy (11 rebounds per game). Guard Ashley Bryant averaged 15 ppg last year. Joanna Mehuren came off the bench last year.

Guard Sam Ellis, 5-9 Emily Brown, and 6-1 Cassedy Groening and guard Sam Ellis will be the first players off the bench. Groening may get a few starts as the year goes on.

Caribou lost its top guard, Jessica Cyr, but has starters Leah Drew, Amy Bouchard, Lauren Harrigan and Lindsay Burlock back for another year. Monica Selander, a 5-8 center, supplied the Vikings with key minutes off the bench last year and will be in the starting lineup this year.

“We really finished strong last year and we looked good in our preseason this year,” coach Jeff Jose said. “Even in our summer program, we went down and went 11-0 at Husson camp. They’ve just kept it going. I’m looking for us to have a good season.”

What Camden Hills lacks in experience this season – the Windjammers lost four starters from last year’s 16-2 team – it may make up in speed and athleticism.

Top returners include guards Charlotte Croce (11 points per game last year) and Nesli Orhon, guard-forward Brittany Laite, 5-8 forward Claire Neville and 6-1 forward Stephanie McIntyre.

Maranacook of Readfield went 14-6 last year and is expected to contend with Belfast in the KVAC. The Black Bears will be without guard Kasie Mason, who graduated, but have 5-9 forward Christine Bardaglio back as well as 5-11 center Erica Brennan. Maddy Edwards and Toby Martin, guards who started in the tournament last year, also return.

Winslow features one of the top players in Eastern Maine Class B, athletic 5-9 sophomore forward Sarah Roderigue. But Roderigue, a sophomore, is the only returning starter on a very young Raiders team – 5-11 forward Sharmaine Clement is the only junior on a roster that has no seniors. But Winslow does have two freshman who are 6-0 or taller, and guard Brittany Morin, who came off the bench last year.

Orono also has a stellar Class B player back for her senior season in 6-0 forward Jessica Wagner, as well as seniors Hilary See and Sulian Shay, and juniors Marie Lint and Olivia Alford.

Houlton, the EM Class B runner-up to MDI last year, lost two of the area’s top players in Hannah Socoby and Sarah Beasley, but still starts point guard Kasey Cleary and 5-10 forward Katherine Cole. The Shiretowners are loaded with height at the forward position in addition to Cole – Alyssa Foster and Nicole Beals are listed at 5-10, while Anna Lenentine is 5-9.