Here’s one view of the Eastern Maine boys’ basketball tournament, which begins today.

CLASS A: Preseason favorite Bangor remains among the top contenders in what should shake out as a three-team race with undefeated Edward Little of Auburn and Mt. Blue of Farmington.

Mt. Blue was the only team to defeat Bangor, and came within a halfcourt shot of beating the Rams twice.

EL edged Bangor last Saturday in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference final, but while that homecourt win provided a good confidence boost for the Red Eddies, it was essentially an exhibition game.

EL boasts a game-breaker in Troy Barnies, the co-KVAC Class A South player of the year. Bangor has the KVAC Class A North player of the year in Alex Gallant to lead a tall and rangy roster.

Mt. Blue has a veteran lineup and the collective speed and quickness to cause both Bangor and EL problems.

But I don’t think Bangor has played its best basketball yet. That time is now, so the Rams are the pick.

CLASS B: The KVAC has won the last six EM and state Class B titles. That likely will remain the same this year, with defending champion Maranacook of Readfield and Camden Hills of Rockport the top contenders.

The teams split two regular-season meetings. Maranacook features its three-headed junior guard tandem of Ryan Martin, Mike Poulin and Will Bardaglio, though Bardaglio has been ill in recent days and sat out Maranacook’s win over the Windjammers in the KVAC championship game.

Camden Hills has a strong backcourt of its own led by junior Paul Campbell, and a versatile big man in 6-5 sophomore Gordon Fischer.

Ellsworth brings a 15-game winning streak to the Auditorium, and one of the best players around in 6-2 senior guard Corey DeWitt.

But can anyone contain Martin? Camden Hills did it once, but I wouldn’t bet on it again. The pick is Maranacook, narrowly.

CLASS C: Defending state champ Calais dominated this field during the regular season, extending its winning streak to 40 games.

Coach Ed Leeman has done a good job of not letting his team be content with last year’s success, and with Brandon Tomah and fellow senior Chris Taylor leading the way, the Blue Devils are in strong position to return to the state final.

The primary competition should come from No. 2 Piscataquis of Guilford, a senior-laden team featuring 6-foot-5 center Roy Burdin and guard Mike Wharff.

Calais is the pick to win it all, with Dexter a darkhorse to advance deep into Tourney Week.

CLASS D: This has been seen since day one as the most competitive of the classes.

The field begins with two-time defending state champ Central Aroostook of Mars Hill, which brings a 41-game winning streak into the tourney, and fellow unbeaten Deer Isle-Stonington, with a rematch of last year’s EM final a distinct possibility in the semifinals.

Then there’s Schenck of East Millinocket, the division’s top-ranked team, a talented Lee Academy club, and some solid sleepers in Calvary Chapel of Orrington, Limestone/Maine School of Science and Mathematics and Van Buren.

Schenck may be best-positioned of the contenders, with two wins over Lee and not matched to face either Central Aroostook or Deer Isle-Stonington until the final.

But it’s hard to go against the champ, so Central Aroostook is the pick.

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