Players to watch: Edward Little — Ian Mileikis (6-1 Sr. G), Lew Jensen (6-5 Sr. F), Kaleb Main (6-2 Sr. F), Luke Sterling (5-7 Sr. G); Hampden — Nick Gilpin (6-3 Jr. G), Conar Moore (6-2 Jr. F), Brendan McIntyre (6-3 Jr. F), Ian McIntyre (6-4 Fr. F); Messalonskee — Nick Mayo (6-8 Sr. F), Sawyer Michaud (5-9 Jr. G), Nate Violette (6-0 Soph. G); Cony — Liam Stokes (6-2 Sr. G), Ben Leet (5-10 Sr. G), Tyler Tardiff (5-9 Sr. G); Lewiston — Isaiah Harris (6-4 Sr. F/G), Trever Irish (6-10 Sr. C), Ryan Bell (5-10 Sr. G); Oxford Hills — Andrew Fleming (6-6 Jr. F), Tyus Ripley (6-3 Jr. F), Blake Slicer (5-7 Jr. G); Brunswick — Thomas Hanson (Jr. G), Alex Bandouveres (Sr. F), Taran Payne (Sr. G); Brewer — Matt Pushard (Jr. F), Jared St. Thomas (Sr. F), Logan Rogerson (Jr. G).

Favorites: Edward Little, Hampden.

For all the talk about how this is the most balanced, unpredictable field in years — and yes, all four quarterfinal games are capable of escalating into classics — the Red Eddies and Broncos are the clear one-two in the field. They split the KVAC regular-season series, each winning with relative ease at home.

EL’s advantage is its five senior starters, led by Mileikis and Jensen, who seemingly have willed their team to victory in every close game this season. Hampden lacks that experience, on paper, but lest we forget the Broncos are the three-time defending regional champion. Gilpin is the top point guard in the tournament, and the McIntyres are an explosive combination.

In a field where five of the teams have sustained seven or more losses, EL and Hampden are 17-1 and 16-2 for a reason.

Dark horses: Messalonskee, Lewiston.

The Eagles didn’t beat either one of the top two seeds during the regular season, but it’s hard to overlook a team with Mayo, who is signed to play at Division I Eastern Kentucky. It might also help the Eagles that they wouldn’t see recent tournament nemesis EL until the regional final.

Rest assured that no team in the bracket is as athletic as Lewiston. Harris may be the tournament’s most underrated player, and Irish’s emergence helped the Devils’ offense evolve this year. The Devils could lose to Cony in the first round or storm all the way to a state title, and neither result would be shocking.

Facts and figures: EL has won seven consecutive quarterfinal games. The Red Eddies are 7-0 this season in games decided by five points or fewer … Hampden is bidding to become the first team in history to win four consecutive Class A East championships … Oxford Hills reached the regional final as a No 6 seed in 2014 and is ranked there again … EL was No. 1 in the Heal Points for the fourth time since 2000. On two of the previous three occasions, it lost in the quarterfinals … Brewer beat Hampden opening night, then went 0-9 against tournament teams for the remainder of the regular season, including an 84-47 loss to the Broncos.