Class B State Championships… Where?

In February 2016, the Ellsworth Boy's Basketball Team played for the Class B State Championship Game at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Both the Ellsworth Eagles and MDI Trojans, as well as the rest of the Class B Teams were looking to play the State Championship in Portland at the Cross Insurance Arena in Mach 2017. But, according to the Bangor Daily News, there's a problem!

Because President's Day is late this year, February 20th, the February School Vacation will be late, a week later than usual. This has caused a conflict, because the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland is scheduled to host early round games of the Women's America East Basketball Playoffs on March 4th and 5th, and America East has use of the facility on Friday, March 3rd.

Right now, the Maine Principal's Association is exploring all options, including playing the games at the Portland Expo. But, historically, the Class B State Game is one of the better attended games, and the demand would likely exceed the capacity of the Portland Expo. At this point the Augusta Civic Center and Cross Insurance Center in Bangor are tentatively holding Friday March 3rd for the MPA. It's expected that the MPA will resolve this issue, and decide where the State Game will be played in October, prior to the start of the 2016-17 season.