Recent history suggests the Eastern Maine Class B boys basketball champion will come from the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference.

In fact, not since 2000 has the KVAC failed to produce the state champion.

Camden Hills of Rockport owns three state titles in the decade (2001, 2002 and 2005), while Winslow (2003), Erskine Academy of South China (2004) also had successful runs before Maranacook of Readfield broke through for its first state title last winter.

There’s reason to believe the KVAC may produce another champion this winter, but which team?

Maranacook was the preseason favorite, and remains a top contender despite losing twice in recent weeks. The Black Bears feature 2006 first-team Bangor Daily News All-Maine guard Ryan Martin, and point guard Mike Poulin, 3-point specialist Will Bardaglio, and shot-blocking 6-6 center Kevin Leary are other key players for the Black Bears.

But the balance in the KVAC is best reflected in several late-season game results. Maranacook was undefeated until losing at home to Camden Hills, and later fell at Western B’s Lincoln Academy of Newcastle. In its next game, Lincoln Academy lost to Medomak Valley of Waldoboro, a team that defeated Camden Hills earlier this season.

Camden Hills boasts its championship tradition, as well as a talented yet still youthful roster featuring 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Gordon Fischer. He leads a balanced attack that also includes Paul Campbell, Christian Pieri, Paul Draper and Nick Wootton. Medomak Valley has one of the stronger frontcourts in the region, led by explosive senior Colin O’Donnell.

Another KVAC team to watch is Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield, which has put together a solid season under coach Mike Brown. Veteran Victor Quint has been injured throughout much of the season, but returning players Pat McGrady and Hunter Nichols and transfers Troy Murray and Benson Mensah-Bonsu have combined to lead the Huskies to contender’s status.

Several Big East Conference schools hope to break the KVAC’s hold on the Eastern B title.

Ellsworth enters postseason play having won its last 15 games after a 3-3 start. Coach Jay Brown’s uptempo Eagles feature one of Eastern Maine’s most talented and versatile backcourt combinations in 6-2 seniors Corey DeWitt, Demetrios Katsiaficas and Chris Archer. DeWitt is the conference’s leading scorer, and both he and Katsiaficas can take taller defenders out on the perimeter while working smaller defenders closer to the basket.

And with Archer handling more of the point guard duties as the season has progressed, that’s enabled DeWitt and Katsiaficas to focus more on other duties.

Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln and Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor both have hovered in the upper echelon of the standings since getting off to hot starts this winter. MA relies on a perimeter-oriented attack led by junior guard Derek Libbey, while Andrew Veilleux and Wes Chipman give MDI strength up front.

Caribou, led by junior guard Kyle Corrigan, is another challenger from the Big East, as are Hermon and John Bapst, both of whom had long midseason winning streaks.