The high school basketball tournament is a special time, and the Cross Insurance Center is a special place as teams from the North region descend on Bangor for a wild week of games.
And this year, a few new teams get to enjoy that Cross Center energy for the first time in a while.
Thanks to a statewide reclassification this year, several teams that have typically played in the Augusta Civic Center at this stage in the tournament have changed classes and found themselves back in Bangor.
It may make for a longer drive for teams hailing from the Augusta area, but they’re enjoying the trip so far.
Gardiner boys coach Aaron Toman pointed out that, until Friday night’s victory over Erskine Academy, his team hadn’t won a tournament game since a 2012 contest in Bangor.
“I don’t know, maybe Bangor is good juju for us,” Toman said with a smile. “I’m a big fan of the Bangor environment and this atmosphere. It’s just cool for our boys, kind of going up to Bangor.”
His Gardiner squad is already familiar with the Augusta Civic Center, given that they usually play a regular season game there each year around Christmans and often see some preseason action there.
“This is just something different,” Toman said. “I like it, because we’re going up to the tournament, kind of away from home. It’s just kind of a cool atmosphere.”
The reclassification has also given Bangor-area fans a chance to see some of Maine’s best players for the first time.
Lawrence guard Maddie Provost, a favorite to take home the Miss Maine Basketball award as the state’s top senior, said she had never played at the Cross Center before leading her Bulldogs teammates with 26 points in a Friday win over Mount Desert Island.
“I’ve never played in Bangor before. Obviously it’s a great venue,” Provost said. “I was looking forward to it, and I’m glad we just got the first win.”
Cony’s Parker Morin, who led the Rams of August with 21 points in a win over Presque Isle on Saturday night, also had good things to say about making the trip north to Bangor.
It’s awesome,” Morin said after taking the floor at the Cross Center. “The energy in here is awesome. Great gym.”
His coach also credited the atmosphere in Bangor.
“It’s a good trip,” said Cony coach Isaiah Brathwaite. “We’re used to being in Augusta, but getting on the bus, it feels like an actual, real playoff game.”