BY MATT DIFILIPPO

Staff Writer

Four Mountain Valley Conference teams in Western C won at least 11 games last season. Of those four, only Mt. Abram returns its leading scorer, which means this should be a topsy-turvy winter with no clear-cut favorites.

"I think you're going to see a lot of close scores this year," Mt. Abram coach Doug Lisherness said. "I think you're going to find about five or six teams, on a given night, anyone could win over the other."

Jay and Mountain Valley are expected to be among the league's top teams. Mountain Valley is coming off a 16-3 season and competes in Class B. Jay was just 9-10 last winter, but the Tigers return standout Liz LeBlanc, who missed most of last season with an injury.

Mt. Abram, led by seniors Kenni Norton (19.0 points per game) and Mikayla Burbank, will look to challenge those teams. The Roadrunners have one of the best home-court advantages in the state, but were set back by some injuries in preseason.

"I really feel that we'll be able to compete with anyone in the conference if we can get everybody back and keep them healthy," Lisherness said.

Given that nine players return from last year's 10-8 team, Hall-Dale coach Wes Brann expects his team to make a run at a playoff spot. Point guard Erika Brann, along with forwards Amy Skillings and Ariel Howes all started for the Bulldogs last season. Coach Brann is also high on 5-foot-10 sophomore Taylor Massey.

"We've got a lot of depth," Brann said. "We're going to get up and down the floor."

After a four-year hiatus, Ray Convery is back at Winthrop for what will be his 24th season at the helm.

So far, he likes what he's seen from Winthrop.

"I'm really pleased with the kids' attitude and work ethic," Convery said. "It's going to take us a while -- there's no magic wand you can wave. I just want to get them to play basketball on the same page."

Four starters from last year's team return to try to turn around a 4-14 season that shut them out of the tournament a year ago. Seniors Lindsey Gordon (5-11) and Anna Smithgall (5-8) bring size to the frontcourt, while Kelsey Ouellette and Nicole Scott provide experience in the backcourt.

At 5-10, freshman Kelsey Nason will likely make an immediate impact.

Monmouth was hit hard by the graduation of four key players from the team that lost to Madison in the Western C championship game last February, but fifth-year head coach Rick Amero is hopeful that the team can find ways to replace the likes of Jenn Lola and Katie Woodman, among others.

"We're looking to develop our skill level," Amero said. "Seniors Alyssa Morin and Bethany Neal were key contributors to last year's team and return to lead us this season. Courtney McFarren and newcomer Kristine Kahl should contribute immediately, while a host of other (players) look to fill roles."

Madison scored 47 points in the Class C state championship game last season, and the players who scored those 47 graduated. A new group of players will look to establish their identity by the playoffs, which will likely be tied to quickness. Madison does not have a player listed taller than 5-8.

"Obviously, we're going to have to make sure we're pushing the basketball and we're taking care of the ball," Madison coach Al Veneziano said. "I don't think we're going to slug it out underneath with anybody."

The Bulldogs' only returning varsity players are senior Cecile Thibodeau, juniors Ali Russell and Bianca Stoutamyer and sophomore Andrea Smith. Veneziano is hoping what they learned about success from being part of last season's team will rub off on the newcomers.

"They are quality young people and they're somebody we're going to look for leadership, and I think they can do it," Veneziano said.

The gap between the best player and the 11th-best player is smaller for Carrabec than it is for most teams. Coach Scott Jones said he won't have a set starting lineup all season, and emphasizes that all 11 players can score on a given night.

Ten of those players were on the varsity team last season, including seniors Suzy Cote, Megan Arsenault and Megan Murray, all of whom stand between 5-9 and 5-11.

"We'd love to get a preliminary game and possibly get into the (Augusta) Civic Center," Jones said. "That's our big goal this year. I feel the kids have the tools to do it this year. It's just been a long time (without success) and sometimes to break that mental barrier takes a little bit."

Playing a mix of Class C and Class D opponents, Kents Hill was locked out of the tournament last year with just six players on the roster. This time around, they've more than doubled that number as the season starts -- running 15 strong -- and first-year coach Thomas Marshall is hopeful the team can jell and make a tournament run this winter.

"The truth is, we've got a bunch of good athletes," said Marshall, who welcomes Augusta's Heather Larrabee to the fold as an immediate impact performer. "The goal for this year is we'd like to get to Augusta by developing a style that will allow us to compete with the bigger, more athletic schools we see in Class C."

First, though, Marshall said the team needs to rebuild.

"Our goal is to be better at the end of January than we are right now," he said.

Staff writers Travis Barrett and Gary Hawkins also contributed to this report.