BANGOR – When the Caribou Vikings took on Skowhegan in an Eastern Maine boys semifinal game on Friday night, a high-profile Caribou grad made a point to be in attendance.

Sen. Susan Collins, who graduated from Caribou in 1971, said the decision to head to Bangor for the game was an easy one.

“This is the first time the Vikings have made it to a semifinal in 18 years,” Collins said in a press release her office issued on Friday afternoon. “How could I pass this up?”

Collins attended the game with her brothers Sam and Greg, who both played basketball for Caribou, as well as two nieces.

Despite her roots, Collins tried to adhere to the political tradition of not declaring a preference for a team.

“The fact that we will be sitting on the Caribou side of the court in close proximity to the Caribou High School band should not be construed as a sign of partiality,” Collins said. “Nor should any maroon clothing that I may be wearing … or any signs I may be waving.”