One of the happier moments in Bangor Christian history occurred on Dec. 6 when the Patriots hosted Schenck of East Millinocket in their season opener.

There, running the basketball court again, was David Chrisos. The 6-foot senior has made it all the way back from a car accident he was involved at the beginning of the Eastern Maine Class D tournament last year.

The Patriots went on to lose to Valley of Bingham 67-66 in the state championship game.

BC coach Gary Colson said that senior Greg Patterson picked up the slack when Chrisos went down. “Greg had a great tournament. At 6-4, he plays point guard for us and that will create some matchup problems.”

Junior Josh Madden has become a player who Colson said can do it all. At 6-1 was primarily a 3-point shooter last year. Colson said he will now take the ball to the basket.

Returning to East Grand in Danforth to start for his third year is 6-0 junior point guard Darius Parker. Parker has also been a tournament regular having played in the last three EM Class D tourneys. Last year the Vikings lost to Bangor Christian in the semifinals.

Coach Troy Cilly describes 6-3 senior Richard Byers as a player who, “Can do it all. Handle the ball, play the post, step outside and shoot the three.”

The Vikings also have good size, particularly for a Class D school. Cilly can boast of Byers being joined inside by 6-4 sophomore Matt Scott, 6-4 junior Josh Faulkner and 6-5 senior Jacob Smith.

Coach Shawn Manter in Fort Fairfield admits to being excited about his Tigers.

“We have a strong senior class with a good mix of younger players. We are very athletic and talented,” Manter said.

Manter said that 5-11 shooting guard James McLaughlin is a “great 3-point shooter,” and that 5-8 senior guard Kyle Cunningham is “quick and explosive.”

Central Aroostook of Mars Hill coach Tim Brewer is another EM D coach who believes in his team. “We’re actually not going to be too bad this year. We are young but we have a good group of juniors,” Brewer said.

Look for Bryan Grew to put up big numbers. The 5-11 junior scored 30 in the Panthers’ recent win over Ashland.

The Hornets also have a scorer in 6-4 senior Buck Pineau.

One team receiving attention from Class D coaches is coach Mike Look’s Woodland Dragons. Woodland went 3-15 last year and is ready to turn things around. “The Dragons took their lumps last season and look to be very competitive this season… All five starters can and will shoot the 3-pointer. Any of them could have a 20-point night on any given night.”

Look indicated that 5-10 senior Chad Look will scorer and that senior Weston Kochendoerfer is a “tenacious rebounder” at 6-0.

Andrew Scott, a 6-3 junior, has a “soft touch” in the lane and Look said that senior Billy Smith is a good leaper despite his 5-11 height.

Ask who’s the team to beat and you get an answer that includes four or five schools. Each coach mentions Jonesport-Beals.

“I don’t think you can ever look past Jonesport-Beals with [coach] Ordie [Alley] down there,” BC’s Colson said.

Alley has won nine state championships and 13 Eastern Maine titles. Last year’s Royals squad reached the Eastern Maine final before losing to Bangor Christian.

The Royals will miss the departed Alvin Beal but can count on junior guard Abraham Beal to try to fill the void. Beal scored 27 points in the Royals’s recent win over Class C Washington Academy of East Machias.

J-B can also look to 5-6 senior Ben Durkee and 6-3 junior Jeremy Chandler for offensive help.

Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook can expect big numbers from seniors Corey Shields and Corey Edkins.

Shead of Eastport can boast of having 6-1 senior Ben Maloney and 5-11 senior Darrin Constant to put up big numbers.

Greenville lost Tyler Muzzy to graduation but returns three starters in Griz Aucoin, Ron Douglass and Danny Campbell.

Highview Christian of Charleston is counting on Devon Philbrook to lead them. Philbrook had 39 points and 15 rebounds in a win over Greater Houlton Christian Academy.

Matt Hathaway, a 6-2 junior, is Greater Houlton Christian’s top scorer.