To take a look at the roster of returners for the Dexter girls basketball team, it would seem the Tigers are a lock to repeat as Eastern Maine Class C champions.

And why not? Dexter has what could be the tallest starting lineup in the state, plus quick, athletic guards to feed the ball inside, and a heady group of young players on the bench.

But there are several teams looking to give the defending regional winners some good competition in the regular season and more tough games in the tournament.

Still, most coaches concede, the Tigers are the team to beat, as they were last year.

Dexter lost one starter, 6-foot forward Ashley Foster. For most teams losing a 6-footer would hurt. But not the Tigers, who gained 6-6 freshman Mallory Ames, the sister of 6-4 junior Ashley Ames. Both girls will start inside and will play a style similar to that of the two Ashleys from last year – it’s hard to stop two girls of that height passing the ball to each other in a high-low game.

Senior Brittany Veazie will again start as the point guard, with senior Keriann Patterson at the second guard position. Both guards are listed at 5-7, while Sabrina Cote, who will start this year after getting a lot of playing time off the bench last season, is a 5-9 sophomore who can play several different positions.

Cote is comfortable inside, too, which could be an asset if the younger Ames sister gets into foul trouble while learning the ropes.

“I have it all,” said Dexter coach Margaret Veazie. “I don’t know of a better starting five.”

Forward Meagan Fogarty and guard Nikki Chapman will be the first two players off the bench.

Margaret Veazie knows what’s coming. If you’re an opposing coach, you might think, run at the Tigers because they’re so tall.

“Let’s go,” she said with a laugh. “We can run the floor with anybody. You want to run, we’ll run.”

The Tigers play mostly man-to-man defense and are very comfortable in a press. Their size isn’t a hindrance there, either.

“Height only takes you so far on offense,” Margaret Veazie said. “With our defense, other teams are smothered.”

So what about all that pressure of being a preseason favorite? No problem. Many of the girls who play basketball are members of the Tiger field hockey team which recently won its fourth straight state title.

Plus, Dexter played a very tough preseason schedule with games against Class A McAuley and Deering of Portland, defending Class C state champ Dirigo of Dixfield, Eastern Maine Class D runner-up Lee, Class C contender Houlton, and Class D Valley of Bingham.

Calais, the Eastern Maine runner-up last season, isn’t only looking to return to the final this winter, but is building for the future. There are no seniors playing for the Blue Devils – but there are a group of experienced juniors to go with some freshmen who should have an impact.

Calais lost standout guard-forward Crystal Martin, but returning starters include junior guard Danielle Feck and junior forward Danielle O’Brien. Both girls started last year, and O’Brien saw a lot of starting and playing time in her freshman season. Quick guard Emily Smith will also start.

From there, other starters could include guard-forward Tracie Eagan, forward Darcey Gillespie, and 5-10 forward-center Sarah Mahan. It all depends on the opposition’s matchups.

The Blue Devils are also awaiting freshman guard Ashley Allen, who is still rehabilitating a broken leg she suffered during the fall soccer season. Calais coach Bob McShane said Allen has excellent ball-handling skills.

Freshman 6-footer Jesse Brown and sophomore guard-forward Courtney Taylor will also get some playing time.

“We’re pretty much about the same,” said McShane, whose Blue Devils haven’t finished lower than third in the Heal Point standings since 1987. “We don’t have Dexter height, but we’ll be tall for us. Other than that, we won’t be too different.”

The Central of Corinth Red Devils will likely be Dexter’s toughest regular-season competition. Central graduated center Katie Ahearn but with four starters back the Devils are a contender.

Central is implementing a new offense this year to get more shooters open.

“It entails more screens, being more patient, and more movement on the inside and more kick-outs,” Devils coach Diane Rollins said.

Guard-forward Jenny Rollins, who can score from anywhere on the floor, will lead the way along with guards Casey Davis, Shawna Bell, Traci Underhill and 5-10 guard-forward Caitlin Elliott.

Guard Danielle Collins will also play, and Central can go even taller with 5-9 Jennifer Griffiths and 6-1 Teresa Libby on the bench.

“I may change it a little bit when we play Dexter, maybe have Teresa in there to try to match up with one of the Ames girls,” Diane Rollins said.

Woodland has moved up from Class D, where the Dragons won three straight Eastern Maine titles and two state championships since 2001.

Last year’s Class D tourney MVP Kaitlyn Leeman will run the point again, but the 5-2 senior has never shied away from taking the ball to the hoop despite her small stature. Lauren Troiani, a lanky 5-7 guard-forward, also started last year. Sophomore Michelle Ferry, a 5-9 forward who turned a lot of heads at the tournament last year, and the quick Lacie Gillespie are also back.

Other returning players include forwards Kayla Kochendoerfer and Jessica Murphy, and guard Heidi Graceffa.

Houlton is playing in Class C after moving from Class B last year, and the Shiretowners should be successful considering they lost just one starter, guard Kasey Cleary.

The Shires probably won’t be too deep, but do have several standout returning players in 5-10 forwards Katherine Cole and Alyssa Foster, 5-9 forward Anna Lenentine, and guards Aimee Guy, Rebecca Skehan and Danielle Sewell.

Stearns of Millinocket, which got to the regional quarterfinals last year, welcomes back several of last year’s top players, including 5-8 forwards Trisha MacDonald and Leslie Osborne. Returning guards include Janessa Nason, Hilary Arsenault and Dayna Somers. Johnna Michaud and Mary Hale, both 5-7, will play at the forward positions.