Messalonskee’s Ty Bernier dribbles by Hampden’s defender Sawyer Worcester (0) during a game last season in Oakland. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

After a long offseason, we finally have liftoff (or tipoff?) as the 2024-25 boys’ basketball season gets underway in central Maine.

We will learn much about the region’s 25 teams quickly over the next few weeks as the first big games of the season come and go. For now, here are four area teams to watch (one from each class) this winter.

Class A: Messalonskee

Feel free to talk about what Messalonskee doesn’t have this winter. The Eagles are going to focus on what they do.

Sure, it’s never easy to replace a player like the 6-foot-9 Merrick Smith (25.5 points, 14.4 rebounds), who left to play prep ball at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire following the 2023-24 season. Yet the Eagles — picked by coaches to finish second in the 10-team league — are still one of the best teams in Class A North,

Messalonskee, which went 16-5 with a regional final berth last year, brings back a potent scorer in Ty Bernier (16.1 points per game). The Eagles also return Drake Brunelle (6.0 points, 7.1 rebounds per game) as well as 6-foot-5 Parker Reynolds, who is now no longer shadowed as Messalonskee’s big man.

“Merrick was obviously a great player, and we’re going to miss him, but there’s a lot of other good players on our team, too, so I think we’re still going to be pretty good,” Bernier said. “I’m looking forward to making a run again, and hopefully, we can get farther this year.”

The Eagles will look to run the floor, something they excelled at this summer, posting a 9-1 record in the G&E Roofing Summer League at Cony High School.

“This team was kind of built for that, to be able to run and go fast,” said Messalonskee Coach Sam Smith. “We play a lot faster, and we love to get up and down a little more. Early on, I’ve got to say: I’m really, really loving how we’re looking.”

Class B: Winslow

The Black Raiders have become a fixture in the Class B North tournament in recent years, and should be again this winter.

Winslow’s starting five is packed with experience, starting with Braden Rodrigue (16.9 points, 3.7 assists, 2.5 steals per game) at point guard. Brody Willette was a top-10 3-point shooter in the KVAC last year (38.6 percent), and wing Brady Poulin and forward Carter Calvo are also back as starters.

“We’ve got a group of four veterans that played a lot of minutes last year,” said Winslow Coach Ken Lindlof. “We feel we’re able to have some different rotations off the bench and keep our core group by and large intact because they’re used to playing with one another and play really well with each other.”

Elsewhere, 6-2 freshman Noah Harding looks to aid the 6-3 Calvo down low for Winslow (11-8 last season). Lindlof also sees contributions from a trio of 5-11 wing players, freshman Jack Flaherty, sophomore Evan Barlow and junior Lucas Fisher.

“We’re not going to be a team that tries to pound it inside, though we’ll pick our spots,” Lindlof said. “We’ve got some players who can score around the basket, but generally, we’re going to be a four-out, five-out kind of offense.”

CLASS C: Winthrop

The Ramblers could turn some heads as they return their entire roster from a 12-8 team.

Winthrop has size in the front court in 6-10 Ian Fuller and 6-5 Chan Ring, and one of the region’s best scorers in Cole Bard. Throw in senior guards Braden Branagan and Carter Rivers, and you have a squad capable of a deep February run.

“We’re all really excited,” said Bard, a 6-3 senior. “We feel like we have a good team that’s pretty strong defensively, and we have a pretty good offense to go with it. We think we’ll be able to make a pretty good run.”

Winthrop’s Cole Bard shoots over a Hall-Dale defender last season. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Winthrop Coach Todd MacArthur believes he does his job best when he has size in the lineup, and that’s exactly what he has in Fuller, Ring and Bard. He expects a particularly strong season from Ring, whom he says has made big strides entering his junior campaign.

“He’s a driven athlete and a very athletic basketball player,” MacArthur said. “He’s probably the player that put the most work in in the offseason, and I expect big things from (him) because, when kids put that kind of work in, they’re usually rewarded.”

CLASS D: Valley

After falling in the 2022 and 2023 Class D South title games, Valley broke through last year to win its first regional title in eight years. Don’t be surprised if the Cavaliers are back in the state title game this year.

Harry Louis and Fisher Tewksbury, two career 1,000-point scorers, return. Those two are part of a strong junior class that includes Kamdyn Conrad and Collin Nichols. Adding to Valley’s depth are eighth-grader Brayden Lay and freshman Cameron Lay, arrivals from the Newport area.

“Our two big guys (from last year) are gone, Jared Ricker and Ryon West, so, we’re kind of missing some size, but I like the team we have; no complaints there,” said Valley Coach Mike Staples. “We’re quick, we’re fast, and we’re used to being guard-heavy. Given the right game. I think we can play with anybody.”

Valley (17-5 last year) is looking to add an eighth Gold Ball to the trophy case after coming up short against Bangor Christian in last year’s state final. To get back to that stage, the Cavaliers will first have to navigate challenges Class D South.