The warm-ups were over, the sportsmanship awards had been handed out, and the Lake Region and Waterville girls' basketball teams were about to take to the Bangor Auditorium floor Friday night when ...

They were told to go back to their locker rooms. The problem? Either condensation or a leak in the roof was causing water to drip onto one of the foul lines every 15 to 20 seconds.

The remedy? While play was at the other end of the court, two towel-bearing workers would hustle to the foul line, do their wiping and run back.

Fine. It worked. For both the girls' game and the following boys' final between Maranacook and Cape Elizabeth. Never were the workers caught flat-footed because of a steal and fast break.

But the point isn't whether they affected play but whether the situation should have existed at all. No, you can't blame the Maine Principals' Association for this one. It's just the state of the available buildings in this state.

The Bangor Auditorium may be tradition-laden with tons of atmosphere, but it's old. More than 50 years old, and with each year, its age is becoming more of a factor.

Things aren't a lot better at the other venues used for the high school tournaments. The Portland Expo, which is approaching 100 years old, had its own leaking and wipe-the-floor problems during games this season. The Augusta Civic Center, a sterile building which is adequate but not much more, is more than 30 years old. And the Cumberland County Civic Center, also more than 30 years old, is simply too vast, dank and lifeless to be suitable for more than it's already used.

The problem is, what are the alternatives? Alfond Arena at UMaine has men's and women's basketball and hockey and would be unavailable. Other college sites aren't suitable for the tournament crowds, and also have their own teams that take precedent.

And of the current sites, remember that the Cumberland County Civic Center still has the Portland Pirates as the prime tenants.

With no real plans for future construction, there's simply no solution for the MPA. Yet with each passing year, the current sites are going to get less and less viable.

And then what?

The difference was remarkable.

Although the game could have been closer, the Eastern Class B boys' basketball final Saturday between Maranacook and Camden Hills was fun to watch.

The Western Class A final between Cheverus and Thornton Academy? Now that was a different story.

No shot clock was needed in Bangor, not with teams that know how to play offense. Get the ball, race down the court, drive the lane or hoist a shot. Fun to play and fun to watch. Maranacook won 84-72. The halftime score was 47-26, which was more points than the entire Cheverus-Thornton game, which ended with an absurdly low 40-31 score.

That's World War II-esque. What's next, shorty short pants and a jump ball after every successful toss into a peach basket?

Hey, there's nothing wrong with great defense, but there's a lot wrong with poor offenses, and with coaches who insist on running every possession. Let the kids play. It's their game.

Meanwhile ...

Every Eastern Class A boys' champion is unbeaten and figures to remain that way after the state finals. Those who have seen Bangor play multiple times insist it's one of the best teams in state history. Maybe. Only Edward Little has come within 15 points of the Rams, doing it in three of their four meetings. …

The early pick for most entertaining game is Class D, where Central Aroostook will take on Richmond. Each team has shooters and plenty of them, so forget a 40-31 final. …

Here's a quick call for an all-class championship weekend right after the state finals. The Maine Principals' Association would never go for it (why not, we don't know, even though most of the top players go straight into AAU play anyway), but it would be good for the sport and good for the players. And if proceeds went to charity (think Lobster Bowl) instead of bureaucratic coffers, it would do a world of good. It would take visionaries, and for a group that hasn't even changed its format for tournament game programs for at least 40 years, visionary is a dirty word.

So welcome to Championship Saturday, when all the winners in all the regions will be decided.

Well, except in Eastern Class A, of course, where the Bangor boys received a challenge from Edward Little before continuing their season-long stroll, and the Oxford Hills girls have their Cony opponents still wandering around Augusta with that how-did-THAT-happen look by ending the Rams' four-year reign.

It's just that way. Some teams that are expected to win do, and others don't. The trick is to figure out which is which before the game, not after.

So in that vein, the Happy Blogster is stepping out on a limb, hoping it's sturdy as all get-out, and telling you who will win today's regional championships. There will be no we-told-you-so when the games end. But if you happen to hear a snicker or two ...

Western Class A boys: Cheverus vs. Thornton Academy. There's been an undercurrent about Cheverus, about how it fails in big games at the Civic Center, how its defense isn't conducive to the larger floor, how it better hit its 3-pointers or else, and what in the world is its big man doing playing on the perimeter? Thornton has the perfect team to keep those grumblings going. It has an adept big man in Kory Martin, a wonderful point guard in Jeff Winnie, and supporting players who do a heck of a lot more than support. With all that said ... CHEVERUS.

Western Class A girls: Deering vs. Noble. Deering is too big, too strong, too determined. And how does Noble start over after its at-the-buzzer win in the semifinals? … DEERING.

Western Class B boys: Cape Elizabeth vs. Freeport. Great run for Freeport, but runs end somewhere. Yes, it's already proven it can beat the Capers. But not this time. Not at the Civic Center. … CAPE ELIZABETH.

Western Class B girls: Lake Region vs. Falmouth. Lake Region has been there, done that and there's no reason not to think it won't be there and do it again … LAKE REGION.

Western Class C boys: Dirigo vs. Winthrop. Dirigo has beaten Winthrop twice in close games this season. A third time? We think not … WINTHROP.

Western Class C girls: Madison vs. Monmouth Academy. Each team has beaten the other, but one has looked a tad more impressive. And that one is … MADISON.

Western Class D boys: Valley vs. Richmond. There was a time a few years back when Valley was winning 101 straight games. But that was then and this is now, and this is … RICHMOND.

Western Class D girls: Buckfield vs. Vinalhaven. Buckfield is undefeated, rarely challenged, and there's absolutely no reason to think that will change. … BUCKFIELD.

Eastern Class B boys: Maranacook vs. Camden Hills. A classic matchup. Each team has beaten the other once. Common sense says go with Marancook and Ryan Martin, one of the top players in the state. But there's something about Camden Hills Coach Jeff Hart and his decades of success. Thus … CAMDEN HILLS.

Eastern Class B girls: Waterville vs. Mattanawcook Academy. Nobody's beaten Waterville. Nobody will beat Waterville. Ergo … WATERVILLE.

Eastern Class C boys: Calais vs. Lee Academy. Calais is closing in on 70 straight victories. But in the surprise of the day … LEE ACADEMY.

Eastern Class D boys: Central Aroostook vs. Woodland. It's not going to be close. … CENTRAL AROOSTOOK.

Eastern Class D girls: Woodland vs. Ashland. It's won't be a completely wasted trip for those Woodland faithful. … WOODLAND.

You heard it here first.