And now time for a little prognostication.

It’s always a precarious undertaking, particularly when the topic is Eastern Maine schoolboy basketball and even more so when the new season has yet to begin – that happens tonight.

No team is ever the same from year to year, and the impact of graduation, maturation, transfers, injuries, and coaching changes on this year’s basketball landscape all have yet to be seen in a countable setting.

So many factors play into a team’s performance level, and that special chemistry that spawns most championship marches is something that will come into focus over the long term, not from just a few weeks of preseason preparation.

But let’s not let that stop us.

There’s good reason to believe Bangor will return to the Class A state championship game for the first time since 2003. The Rams return the bulk of their roster from a year ago, a talented and now experienced cast led by senior forward Alex Gallant and senior point guard Troy Jellison.

Coach Roger Reed’s club also boasts considerable depth and a measure of hunger – Bangor was ousted in the quarterfinals each of the last two years.

Bangor’s primary challengers should come from the more southern enclaves of Eastern Maine Class A, such as Brunswick, Edward Little of Auburn, Messalonskee of Oakland, and Mt. Blue of Farmington.

In Class B, Maranacook of Readfield has the guard play to win back-to-back titles, but the Black Bears will have to fend off a challenge from perennial KVAC power Camden Hills of Rockport to return to the top.

Maranacook is led by Bangor Daily News first-team All-Maine honoree Ryan Martin and backcourt mates Will Bardaglio and Mike Poulin. Camden Hills returns two top players of its own in sophomore forward Gordon Fischer and junior guard Paul Campbell.

Ellsworth, with its own premier guard tandem in seniors Corey DeWitt and Demetrios Katsiaficas, could be another strong contender. A good darkhorse candidate is steadily improving Caribou, which has gone from 1-17 to 6-12 to 9-9 and an Eastern B quarterfinal over the last three years and may be poised to take another step.

Calais begins this season as it ended last season, as the class of Eastern C. The state champs return plenty of key performers from last year’s 22-0 procurer of the gold ball, including BDN All-Maine swingman Brandon Tomah, one of the more versatile players around.

A veteran Piscataquis of Guilford team led by senior guard Mike Wharff should be ready for a deep playoff run. Houlton, under new coach Mike Fogarty, is among several other teams that may power its way into Bangor Auditorium prominence come February vacation.

Class D could be the most competitive division of all at the top, with two-time defending state champion Central Aroostook of Mars Hill fielding another talented squad despite the graduation of BDN All-Maine guard Andrew York.

An experienced cast familiar with success led by senior Tim Carlson will contend for a third straight regional title – and perhaps a third consecutive state crown. Coach Tim Brewer’s club certainly won’t go unchallenged as Deer Isle-Stonington boasts a strong returning lineup of its own led by brothers Bryant and Collin Ciomei. Lee Academy and Schenck of East Millinocket also should figure prominently in the title picture.

So let the games begin, and good luck to all.

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