Of all the many best-kept secrets about Maine, one of the most surprising to visitors may be the fact the Pine Tree State is actually a basketball hotbed; jam-packed with talented players, dedicated coaches, and seriously passionate fans.
Hoop-crazed Midwestern states may be better known nationally for their devotion to the sport, but in terms of love and knowledge of the game, Maine fans are second to none.
One of the functions of sport is bringing people together and nothing brings a community together quite like the experience of crowding into a sweaty gymnasium in the dead of winter to urge on the local team favorite.
The annual showcase event for the state’s basketball season is the Maine state tournament, highlighted of course by the state championship finals.
This year we are delighted to see two Lincoln County teams taking their places on the main stage.
On Friday, March 1, the East B Champions Medomak Valley Panthers (19-2) square off against West B Champs Falmouth (20-1) in Portland, at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
The Panthers haven’t been to the big game since 1980 when they won it all, beating Schenck. The Yachtsman are shooting for their second title in four years.
On Saturday, the West Class C Champion Boothbay Region Seahawks take the floor of the Bangor Auditorium and face East Class C Champions, Penquis Valley.
This game is a rematch of the 2000 final, which saw Penquis take the title, 58-45. This year both teams sport glittering 20-1 records.
Tip off for both games is 9 p.m.
While we would like nothing better than to see our local boys, and by extension our friends and neighbors, bring their respective championships home this weekend, truth is any title or titles will be icing on the cake.
Win or lose this weekend, Medomak and Boothbay (well, all four teams really), have done their respective schools and communities proud and we congratulate them all.
