The Eastern Maine Class C boys basketball world faces the same challenge it faced last winter – trying to knock off the Calais Blue Devils.

No one has been able to do that since the 2005 Eastern Maine tournament, as coach Ed Leeman’s club has won back-to-back state championships and brings a 44-game winning streak into the 2007-08 season.

“You’ve got go through Calais,” said Washington Academy coach Kenrick Liburd. “You’ve got to beat them at least once, and nobody’s been able to do it for the last two years.”

Calais has a different look this year, with two-time All-Mainer Brandon Tomah now on the Lee Academy postgraduate team. Two other starters from last year’s squad, Chris Taylor and Robbie Rogers, also graduated.

But the Blue Devils are poised for another deep run. Sam Bell is a fourth-year varsity player at guard, and junior Jordan Leeman and senior Nathan O’Neill provide additional backcourt quality. Calais also boasts one of the bigger frontcourts around, with 6-4 junior Cal Shorey and 6-3 senior forward Rod Tirrell joined up front by 6-3 freshman forward Cam Shorey, Cal’s brother.

“It’s an exciting year because we have some players back, but we also have some new pieces and some new things,” said Leeman. “I think the kids are eager to get going.”

It’s likely that the road to the Eastern C championship will be even tougher this year, not only because of a wealth of capable returning challengers, but with the reclassification of two strong Class D programs in Schenck of East Millinocket and Lee Academy.

Schenck came ever-so-close to a regional title last year under veteran coach Steve LeVasseur, as the Wolverines dropped a one-point decision to Deer Isle-Stonington in the Eastern D final.

Schenck should have one of the better backcourts in Eastern Maine this winter with all-tourney choice Mike Lowell joined by Lanny Thompson and Aaron Hutchins. Nate Lewis, who came off the bench for the Wolverines last season, is expected to play a major frontcourt role.

Lee, an Eastern D semifinalist last winter, made its Class C debut on Dec. 7 by pushing Calais before dropping a 62-56 decision.

Coach Randy Harris’ Pandas are led by 6-foot senior forward Devan Parker, who averaged double figures in both scoring and rebounding last year. Parker is the lone returning starter, and he’ll be joined in key roles by 6-1 junior swingman Hakeem Rodriguez, and 6-2 junior guard Luis Medina.

There’s also plenty of talent back among pre-existing Class C teams including Houlton, Washington Academy of East Machias, Orono and George Stevens Academy.

Houlton returns four starters in Ryan Hill, Parker Brown, Josh Beals and James Bates and has eight veterans back overall from the 2007 team that reached the Eastern C semifinals.

“Our goal is the same as last year, to make it to Bangor and see what happens,” said Shiretowners coach Mike Fogarty.

Another 2007 semifinalist with high expectations is Washington Academy. The Raiders are coming off a 13-6 season, good for third place in the final Heal points. They hope to contend with Calais for top honors in the Downeast Athletic Conference with a lineup led by 6-4 senior center Joey Hunter, junior swingman Matt Smith and sophomore point guard Ben Teer.

“We’re a young team, and we should be a lot better at the end of the season,” said Liburd.

Orono earned a tournament berth last year and also returns a veteran cast led by senior guards Seth Dwyer, Joel Riemersma and Collin Bates.

“We’ve got a lot of tools to be very good this year,” said Red Riots coach Ben Goodwin. “I think C’s going to be a lot of fun. There are a lot of teams out there that are really good, so there’s going to be some good battles out there. We set goals at the beginning of the season, and one of our goals is to get back to the tournament and win some games there. If we keep working hard and get there, it will be great for the kids because they’ve worked very hard the last couple of years to do this.”

George Stevens was slowed by injuries last winter, but coach Dwayne Carter’s club returns nearly all of its core group from a year ago.

The Eagles will be led by 6-1 sophomore point guard Elias Springer and 6-4 sophomore forward Rashad Frazier, who missed 12 games last season with a broken arm. Nick Saunders, a 6-4 junior center, complements Frazier up front. Fourth-year varsity player Josh Astbury, senior guard Ebb Walton and 6-4 Henry Owen also will play key roles on what should be one of the deeper teams in the region.

Perennial contenders Dexter, Penquis of Milo and Piscataquis of Guilford all may be in somewhat of a rebuilding mode, but these defensive-minded programs should contend for postseason berths. Dexter has two returning starters in center Gavin Cote and swingman Nathan Peirce, Penquis will count on veterans Brian Zwicker and Cody Andrews and PCHS will feature guards Brandon London and Nolan Lovell.

Among other capable of moving up the ranks are Stearns of Millinocket, Penobscot Valley of Howland and Narraguagus of Harrington.