For the last two seasons, the Eastern Maine Class D ranks arguably had some of the most appealing tournament match-ups once action moved to the Bangor Auditorium.

And although there were talented teams in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth slots capable of knocking off a higher seed if those higher seeds came in with a bad game, it was the concentration of talent near the top that made those tourney games so tantalizing.

In fact, some argued that last season’s semifinal game between three-time defending East D champ Central Aroostook of Mars Hill and eventual 2007 champ Deer Isle-Stonington was the real championship game.

The Mariners dethroned the Panthers and went on to win regional and state titles as well.

“Overall, I think Class D lost a lot of talent. It’s been pretty deep, talent-wise the last two years, but I don’t think there will be as much,” said CAHS coach Tim Brewer. “That should make the tournament more competitive.

“I thought last year it basically came down to those top four. I think it could be wide open from one through eight.”

That elite four included Central Aroostook, Deer Isle-Stonington, Schenck of East Millinocket, and Lee Academy.

“I think last year Class D was as tough as it’s ever been,” said second-year Woodland coach Troy Cilley. “Not to say this year it’s down, but some of the schools have moved up in class and some good kids have graduated.”

One thing that likely won’t change is the inclusion of the Panthers and Mariners among the teams to beat, whether they’re two, four, or eight.

“We’ll be all right. We’ll be competitive,” Brewer said humbly.

With two key starters back, an athletic lineup and a rotation that will go eight or nine players deep, the Panthers should be better than all right.

Senior 5-foot-11 shooting guard Cameron York and 5-9 junior point guard Manny Martinez lead the way for the Panthers, who will return to their trademark transition game fueled by man-to-man defensive pressure, turnovers, and fast-break points.

The rest of the CAHS rotation features senior 6-1 forwards and fraternal twins Logan McCarthy and Blake McCarthy, 5-11 small forward Casey Brewer, sophomore guard Mitchell Folsom and freshmen Logan McLaughlin and Caleb Kelley.

“Our strengths are our depth and defense, even though a lot of people probably don’t think we play any,” Brewer joked. “And with our size, our weakness will be rebounding, but I don’t think there’s a lot of size overall in ‘D’ this year.”

There’s a little of it on the Mariners’ roster with the return of 6-4 senior center Colin Ciomei and 6-0 junior forward Eben Powers, but Deer Isle-Stonington graduated four starters and six of its top eight players, so experience and depth are now concerns.

“As long as I’ve got one Ciomei, we should be in good shape,” head coach Glenn Billings said with a chuckle. “The raw materials are there. It’s just a matter of maturating. Our guards are younger, but they’re coming along.”

Those guards include 5-10 Joe Carter and 5-7 Evan Rollins, both sophomores. Carter is a good outside shooter who transferred from George Stevens Academy, and Billings calls Rollins “one of the fastest kids I’ve coached in awhile.”

They’ll be trying to find ways to work the game plan inside out with Ciomei, Powers and 6-2 senior Doug Boutilier.

The trick will be finding ways to free up Ciomei from double teams.

“That really makes passing a key factor for us,” said Billings.

“We want to get the ball in his hands as much as we can, and I think he’ll play positions based on what defenses are doing,” he added. “If they go zone, he’ll play multiple positions and if they go man, he’ll be running our motion offense.”

With many early games on the road and a stretch run of games mostly at home, Billings hopes his team can weather some early growing pains and come of age down the stretch.

It’s just the opposite for Woodland this year as the Dragons are experienced and fairly deep despite still being young. They are also hungry and motivated after losing to Washburn in the preliminary round last season.

“I think they feel like they were cheated last year because they really expected to get to Bangor,” said Cilley. “Last year we kind of hoped to go and get some experience. This year, we expect to go.”

The Dragons start four juniors and one sophomore this year: 5-7 point guard Chad James, 5-10 shooting guard Ben Sears, 5-9 off guard Aaron St. Pierre, 6-1 center Spencer Brown and 5-11 sophomore forward Keith Curtis. First off the bench are 6-3 forward Ed Flaherty and 5-8 guard Scott Boomer, both juniors.

The Dragons remain focused and confident despite the loss of three players. One transferred to Sumner of East Sullivan, another moved to Florida and a third moved to Vermont.

“If we hadn’t lost those kids, we would have been impressive,” Cilley said. “But I’m expecting more out of them. I think we’re ready to take a big step the next two years.”

Cilley can’t say enough about his team’s work ethic and also lists ballhandling and speed as strengths.

“Size is a problem, but you can overcome that with speed,” he said. “We look to press and trap defensively and then push and run to use that quickness we have.”

Other good bets to have their Bangor Auditorium tournament tickets punched are Bangor Christian, Easton, Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook and Shead of Eastport.