Seeing the tournament from a new angle.

I have grown up over the past 21 years of my life as an avid fan and consistant attendee of the Maine Principals' Association Invitational basketball tournament. As the son of the MPA Executive Director, Dick Durost, I am one of the few that get access to the tournament at anytime, anywhere, at no cost, something I truly am thankful for, being the fan of the tournament that I am.

This year however is different. I have been the public address announcer at the Augusta Civic Center at a few games over the past several years for the Western Maine tournament, but this year, like I said, is different. I have the extreme pleasure and honor to announce at arguably the most storied and treasured buildings in the state, The Bangor Auditorium.

For all that it is now, and for all that it has been and will be, the Auditorium is a vastly unique venue for basketball considering that everything in the building and the building itself is somewhat old. The shape of the hall is like a "V" with the basketball floor in the middle at the bottom of the "V." As you could imagine, every bit of sound created in the building is funnelled directly to the floor.

Getting the chance to announce at the Auditorium will live with me forever, especially with the fact that it may longer excist in five or six years. With that said, I am enjoying every second of the opportunity. My fellow announcers have been nothing but accomodating, gracious and welcoming to have "the young guy" aboard this year. This is something I will never forget.

Reid Durost