Even though the Seahawks won’t be going back this week, it felt good to return to the Augusta Civic Center for the Maine Principals’ Association basketball tournament on Monday.

Like my friend and former coaching mentor Ray Convery said to me as he watched from the stands on Monday, “It has been like two years have been missing from our lives.”

Yes, Ray and I – like everyone else in the building – had to wear a mask but it was a minor inconvenience to not watching any tournament at all, which is what happened last season.

As I sat at the media table waiting for the game to begin, familiar Seahawk fans passed behind me before finding their seats, some stopping to say hello. It was nice to see.

As the only photographer standing behind the baseline, I got to track the ball down about a half dozen times after it got tipped, kicked or tossed out of bounds. That felt good to do, too, although I had wished I had done some stretching before the game because the first couple of retrievals were kind of tricky as I bent over to grab the ball (thinking: “If I fall over, Seahawks fans will be talking about this for years to come!”). Near the end of the game, after my last retrieval, one of the officials said “They should put you on the payroll!”

Caught up with my college buddy, Bruce Cooper, taking tickets at the door. Said hi to another coach I had done battle with back in the day, Lonnie Steeves, and greeted former Seahawk coach I.J. Pinkham, who has coached more games on that court than any other coach within sight on Monday – and perhaps those not in sight.

Mt. Abram spoiled the “party” but not the feeling of watching tournament basketball at the old ACC!

Better luck next year, Seahawks. Hopefully, the cheers won’t be muffled in 2023.