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.

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