The Old Town and Orono boys basketball teams will play their regular season finale on Tuesday at the University of Maine’s Memorial Gymnasium.
Originally scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Orono High School gym, both sides have agreed to reschedule the rivalry game to 8 p.m. at The Pit in order to accommodate more fans.
After last year’s rivalry game at Orono was quickly sold out and hundreds of fans were left on the outside, Orono Athletic Director Mike Archer proposed playing at The Pit to the Old Town and UMaine Athletic Departments, both of whom accepted.
“We didn’t want to have to turn people away,” Archer said. “It’s a unique opportunity to showcase our boys basketball teams before the playoffs.”
The Orono High School gym can only seat approximately 1,000 fans, which is three times smaller than the capacity of Memorial Gymnasium.
With records of 15-1 and 13-3 respectively, the Old Town and Orono boys basketball teams have garnered huge followings this year, and are favored to go deep into the Class B tournament this month. Moreover, Orono is the reigning state champion, and Old Town is ranked No. 1 in the B North Heal Points Standings.
Last year, the No. 3 Red Riots and No. 4 Coyotes split the season series 1-1, with both sides winning in enemy territory. This year, the Coyotes have already beaten the Red Riots at home in overtime, 56-54.
“Our gym doesn’t [seat] all the people that want to come, so it’s nice that we get The Pit to pack the crowd out and get a nice ending to the season,” Orono junior Will Francis said. “It’ll be a good way to go into the playoffs, with that playoff atmosphere.”
Ben Francis, Will’s older brother and teammate, agreed.
“It gives both teams a pretty good look at a neutral location — what it’s like not having home court advantage — right before the tournament,” Ben Francis said. “Last year, we had to pre-sell tickets here, and they sold out within two days. People were trying to buy tickets off other people; [it] was cool to see that people think that highly of our team, and Old Town as well.”
Archer said that Old Town and Orono played a postseason scrimmage at The Pit during the 2012-13 season, and that neither side has played a game on UMaine’s campus since then.
Doors will open at 6 p.m., 30 minutes before the junior varsity game, and admission will be $5 across the board.