The field for the Eastern Class A boys basketball tournament is just about set. Only the ninth seed is up for grabs, and that could come down to the winner of Friday’s Bangor at Mt. Ararat game. With the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference so even this season, the final playoff order, one through nine, will likely not be set until the regular season concludes next week.

Hampden Academy (13-2) retook the top spot with Wednesday’s 57-47 win at Messalonskee. The win was important to the Broncos, coming off a loss at Edward Little (14-1) on Monday.

“I think this is pretty big, because this almost secures second place for us. It gives us a spot in the KVAC championship game, which we’ve been in for as long as I can remember,” Hampden junior guard Nick Gilpin said. “It’s defintely a bounce back after the tough loss at EL, but now we’ve got to go play at Oxford Hills, which is a tough place to play.”

Oxford Hills is one of three teams, along with Cony and Lewiston, with a 9-6 record going into Thursday’s action. The trio were separated by two points in the Heal Point standings. Messalonskee (11-5) can clinch the No. 3 seed with a win at Brewer on Friday. The loss to Hampden snapped Messalonskee’s eight-game win streak, but Messalonskee coach Peter McLaughlin found some positives from the game.

“I think that was a tournament environment. (Hampden) was a tournament team,” McLaughlin said. “When it came down to it, we were fighting for the win, and that’s all I can ask for from my guys. I’m proud of them.”

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Mount View is close to earning its first trip to the Eastern Class B tournament since 2010. With Thursday’s 56-48 win over Erskine, the Mustangs are 6-9, nine points ahead of Presque Isle for the final playoff spot in the region and just .0618 points behind Mt. Desert Island for the 12th seed.

The Mustangs have a pair of tough road games coming up, beginning with a trip to Bath to take on Morse (10-4) on Friday. Mount View’s biggest win of the regular season so far was a Dec. 19 win over Morse, 39-38.

On Tuesday, the Mustangs play at Lincoln Academy (10-5). Mount View ends the regular season on Thursday against Waldo County rival Belfast (6-8).

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The race for the final playoff spot in Western Class D could come down to a couple of ferry rides.

Rangeley (4-10) is fighting for 12th playoff and final spot with Greenville (6-10). Greenville has a two point lead over Rangeley in the Heal Point standings. Both have two games to play against Vinalhaven (6-6).

While Rangeley will host Vinalhaven on Tuesday and Wednesday in their final regular season games, Greenville must make the long trip to Vinalhaven this weekend for a pair of games that will end Greenville’s regular season.

Before hosting Vinalhaven, Rangeley hosts Richmond (8-4) on Friday.

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Around the state: If Camden Hills misses the Eastern B tournament, it will be the first time since 1992 the Windjammers have not made the field. Camden is currently in 16th place in the region. The top 13 go to the playoffs… Perennial Eastern D contender Central Aroostook also is in danger of missing the playoffs. The Panthers are in 15th place in the region, holding the final playoff spot. Central Aroostook is .0442 points ahead of Wisdom for that playoff spot… Mattanawcook Academy coach Ryan Libby resigned this week, following an incident in last week’s game against Houlton in which the Lynx were criticized for overly aggressive play. Two Mattanawcook players were suspended from the team indefinitely, and the Lynx forfeited Monday’s scheduled game to Orono.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM

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