The Maine McDonald’s All-Star Weekend in Bangor went off without a hitch, thanks in large part to the good folks at Husson College, who have hosted the thing for a number of years.

I have fond memories of my first coaching stint at the extravaganza in 1986. Back in those days, the American Heart Association was the recipient of the charitable weekend, and Colby College was the host – and a good one, I might add.

A Calais senior named Eddie Leeman hit the winning basket to propel our East C/D squad over the West.

I was proud of Eddie, who is currently the boys varsity basketball coach at Calais High School, and how he and assistant coach Marcia Rogers conducted themselves in the thrilling boys Class C state final victory over Winthrop.

The former Calais sharpshooter was poised as he efficiently led his Blue Devils to the state crown.

Like most of our readers, I spent a good deal of my leisure time following the high school basketball tournament. In addition to all the hoopla, it has been increasingly evident to me that shooting percentages from the floor are down.

Over the last three tournaments played in Bangor, the statistics back up that statement.

In 2004, for example, both the boys and the girls shot 41.4 percent and 35.3 percent, respectively, from the floor. The 2005 percentages didn’t prove to be much better at 38.9 percent and 38.1 percent, respectively.

By 2006, the genders combined for a dismal 38.2 percent shooting from the floor. (We did not have the Class A stats for 2006 to factor in, but 2005 showed a paltry 38.9 percent for the combined gender totals in A.)

Is there a reason for this woeful shooting?

Statistics never lie, but a prudent observer has to take a step back and evaluate what led up to this postseason malaise.

As a longtime fan of the hoop proceedings in our state, I point to lack of individual practice sessions in Maine being replaced by team-oriented activities.

Gone for the most part are the days of kids shooting a basketball alone in a driveway or on a playground hoop.

The offseason proliferation of group-oriented basketball activities such as team camps, travel teams, team weekends, Amateur Athletic Union, and Youth Basketball of America have lent themselves to kids of all ages mastering team skills, with little to no concentration on the basics of the game.

Consider that, then consider how efficient players have become in their halfcourt offensive and defensive sets compared to the mastering of fundamentals such as shooting, ballhandling, and passing.

Shooting camps and other individual skill sessions of a more specific nature are starting to blossom across the state. Some position skills such as guard play are now in summer camp form as well.

In a word, John and Jane can’t shoot because they’re not practicing enough. Yes, they can all run a 3-2 motion offensive set. Yes, they all know the rudimentary skills required in a single coverage defensive set.

What they don’t know is this: How to shoot a ball at a basket with a high degree of regularity.

The numbers don’t lie, and we have noted area statistician Bill Spence to thank for that.

Remember: The aforementioned stats are those of the best teams in the region.

C’mon, kids. Time to spend more time alone just shooting the ball.

NEWS columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net