With about a month to go before tournament time, a check of the latest Heal Point ratings provides an answer as to the deepest division in Eastern Maine boys basketball.

The top 11 teams in Eastern D all have records of .500 or better through weekend play, and those teams combined to go 5-2 on Monday night – the only losses coming in head-to-head matchups as top-ranked Lee Academy defeated No. 3 Katahdin of Stacyville and No. 4 Washburn topped No. 11 Greater Houlton Christian.

Who’s the favorite to emerge from the pack?

“I think any of the current top eight teams could win it this year,” said Washburn coach Larry Worcester. “I don’t think you could have said that in years past. Usually there are three or four dominant teams.”

That was the case last winter, when eventual state champion Calvary Chapel of Orrington and Eastern D runner-up Central Aroostook of Mars Hill proved to be the best of the lot.

Both of those teams are major contenders again this winter, with Central Aroostook out to a 10-1 start and Calvary at 8-1. Central Aroostook features the talented trio of Andrew York, Jason Woodworth and Tim Carlson, while Calvary may have the division’s top player in junior guard Brock Bradford, who’s averaging more than 30 points per game.

“I think last year we and Calvary stood out,” said Central Aroostook coach Tim Brewer. “But this year you can look at any of the top 10 teams. Whatever eight teams make it to the [Bangor] Auditorium, all of those quarterfinal games are going to be really good.”

Indeed, plenty of challengers abound. Take Lee, which recently ended Calvary Chapel’s 29-game winning streak. The 8-2 Pandas are one of the most balanced teams in the division with Gerry Worster, Tom Bird, Neil Cowan and Matt Scott among the statistical leaders, and coach Randy Harris’ club also is solid defensively.

Or consider Washburn, at 10-1 the only team to defeat Central Aroostook so far this winter. The Beavers feature good size and senior forward Jason Thompson, who’s on track to become the school’s all-time scoring leader.

Katahdin (7-3) is another strong challenger from the northern tier of Eastern D, as is Hodgdon (6-4). And Greater Houlton Christian (6-5) boasts one of the higher-scoring teams in the region. Down East Maine is represented among the top contenders by two programs with great basketball tradition, Jonesport-Beals and Deer-Isle Stonington.

Jonesport-Beals is 7-4 after defeating Sumner of East Sullivan on Monday night, while Deer Isle-Stonington is 8-2 under first-year head coach Glenn Billings. Head inland, and not only will you find Calvary Chapel among the league leaders, but 7-2 Greenville and 5-5 Bangor Christian are also threats.

Greenville has been boosted by the addition of junior guard Joe Jardine, who transferred from Class C Piscataquis of Guilford. Bangor Christian has played a rugged schedule but has won four of its last five games.

So who’s the favorite?

“I think top to bottom, Class D has more depth this year than any other in recent memory,” said Worcester, who also recognized the likes of Machias, Van Buren, Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook and Fort Fairfield as potential sleeper teams. “A lot of great teams should make for an exciting Class D tourney in February.”

Adams resigns East Grand posts

The SAD 14 board of directors has accepted the resignation of Jerry Adams as boys varsity basketball coach and athletic director at East Grand School in Danforth.

The resignation was read to the board Jan. 11, said superintendent William Dobbins. Adams had been on administrative leave since late in the fall due to a school-related incident, with junior varsity coach Scott Hanington also coaching the boys varsity squad this winter.

Dobbins said the incident that led to Adams being placed on leave has been resolved. Adams, a former coach at Houlton and Central Aroostook of Mars Hill, went to East Grand in 2003 as girls basketball coach. He became the athletic director and boys basketball coach last summer after Troy Cilley’s coaching contract was not renewed.

Adams also coached the East Grand girls soccer team last fall. Judy Thompson, an educational technician in the school district, has been hired to handle athletic director’s duties for the remainder of the school year, Dobbins said.

Ellsworth’s Burns reaches 100

Ellsworth High senior Tom Burns has become the sixth wrestler in school history to reach 100 career victories. Burns, the reigning Class B state champion at 135 pounds, recently reached the milestone while improving his career record to 100-31. For the season, the two-year Eagles’ captain is 23-2.

The son of Ellsworth coach J.F. Burns, Tom Burns also is active on a number of other fronts in school. Ranked fourth in his class of 137, he is a two-year member of the National Honor Society and a four-year student council member.

Burns also was Ellsworth High’s nominee for the 2004 Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, and is the student representative to the Ellsworth school board. Burns plans to study forensic psychology in college.

Ernie Clark can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net