Invitations to play in the second annual MBR Interclass All-Star basketball weekend, Nov. 9-10 at Husson College in Bangor, are being sent out to high school players across the state.

Tom Nolette, who operates Maine Basketball Report and its Web site www.mrb.org, is organizing the event.

The weekend of games and events was held at Brunswick High School last year, but Nolette decided to move it to Husson with the blessing of Braves men’s coach Warren Caruso.

“One of our main goals is to make Maine smaller as far as basketball is considered,” Nolette said.

Boys players from each class in the East and West will be invited. They will be placed on their class teams and will play at least three games against teams in any class. For example, the East A team might play the West D team.

“We’re inviting kids, but obviously if the kids are still involved in their school’s fall sports season, they won’t be able to participate,” Nolette said.

Among the players being invited to play on Eastern Maine teams are Ralph Mims of Brunswick, Zak Ray of Bangor, and Andy Frost of Brewer in Class A.

Class B invitees include Matthew Carey and Danny White of Foxcroft Academy, Ron Lane of Hermon, and Orono’s John Saucier and Justin Perron.

Derek DiFrederico and Kevin McLaughlin of Stearns in Millinocket, Jamie Polk of Sumner in East Sullivan, and Travis Patterson of Dexter are among those being invited to play on the Eastern C team. David Chrisos and Josh Madden of Bangor Christian, Corey Shields of Central Aroostook in Mars Hill, and Richard Byers and Darius Parker of East Grand of Danforth have been invited to play for the Eastern D team.

The boys games begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 9 and at 9 a.m. on Nov. 10.

“We consider it a prelude to the season. It’s an opportunity to see some of the best players in the state and to see kids we might not get to see from other parts of the state,” Nolette said.

In addition to the boys games, a girls all-star game will be played at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 9.

Nolette said that the top girls will divided up into an East vs. West confrontation.

Among the girls being invited are Bracey Barker and Shelley Gott of MDI, Danielle Clark of Nokomis, Ashley Underwood of Cony in Augusta, and Ashley Hilton of Skowhegan.

“The whole intent is to promote and showcase girls basketball,” Nolette said.

Nolette has also scheduled a “futures game” for Nov 10 at 3:15 p.m. that will bring together some of the best freshman basketball players in the state.

The weekend will culminate with a boys championship game Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m.

There is a $5 admission fee for each day.

Brewer benefactors

Brewer High School graduate Andy Nickerson and a group of volunteers will begin a renovation project in the high school’s weight room on Nov. 30.

Nickerson decided that something needed to be done about the facility and went to work to raise funds for the project, according to Brewer athletic director Dennis Kiah.

“He was a volunteer assistant coach with the basketball team last year and after working with the kids, he felt the weight room floor needed to be replaced,” Kiah said.

Kiah said Nickerson and company will replace the old floor, put down carpet, and also add new equipment to the room.

“They are replacing some of the equipment,” Kiah said. “The stuff that is still good is not being replaced.”

The weight-room project follows donations from fund-raisers organized by Dana Wilson that included six new baskets and glass backboards for the school’s gym.

Replacing the old backboards turned out to be a boon for Brewer Middle School, which received the two older high school glass backboards.

Now Wilson is working fundraisers to put money together for a new sound system for the gym.

“In addition to basketball, the gym is used for a number of things like graduation, plays, our junior exhibition, and assemblies,” Kiah said.

Wilson has attempted to raise money through a variety of projects, including golf scrambles. Kiah said that at the most recent scramble, held last Sunday at Felt Brook Golf Complex in Holden, just six teams participated.

“The weather wasn’t that good, but it’s a shame. It has been difficult to get people involved in these things, but it’s a parent and former player that have taken the bull by the horns,” Kiah said.

It’s a boy

Congratulations to Mark and Kristie Reed, the proud parents of Eli Thomas Reed, who was born at 2:18 p.m. on Oct. 17 at a Bangor hospital.

Mark is the varsity basketball coach at Brewer High School and is the son of long-time Bangor High School coach Roger Reed. Kristie is the cheerleading coach at Brewer.

Eli Thomas Reed checked in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces and 23 inches.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net