A few new twists will highlight Tournament Week ’95 – one of which will be barely noticable, the other of which will be felt more so in the wallet.

Slight changes in the tournament schedule and a slight ticket price increase to $5 for adults are just two things tourney followers will notice this year.

Fans will immediately feel the effects of both changes on opening night, Friday, Feb. 17. Unlike past tournaments, which began with the third and sixth seeded teams playing in the Friday night game, this season’s tournament will kick of with the No. 1 and No. 8 boys and girls team from Class B matching up.

On Saturday, the 4-vs.-5 matchups will be held in the morning with the remaining teams playing in the afternoon and evening sessions.

Ticket prices, meanwhile, will be raised $1 for adults, up from the $4 charge which has been in effect over the past five years.

Student admission is still $2.

Also available are tournament passes, good for the entire B-C-D tournament.

Passes cost $70 for adults and $30 for students. They may be used at the regional tournament and state championships game. For the Class A tournaments, the pass is $25 for adults, $20 for students.

For information about obtaining the pass, call the Maine Principals’ Association at 622-0217.

Much in the way the Big East, Eastern B Conference, and Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference have moved to postseason championship games, basketball teams in Aroostook County are now getting into the act, too.

Aroostook League basketball titles will be up for grabs the week before the Eastern Maine basketball tournaments begin.

The County schools have been broken down into three divisions – a B/C division, which includes Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent, Hodgdon, Houlton, and Madawaska; a Class D North class, with Limestone, Van Buren, Washburn, and Wisdom of St. Agatha; and a Class D South division, which includes Ashland, Central Aroostook of Mars Hill, Easton, and Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook.

On Monday, Feb. 13, the top boys team of the B/C division will host the second place team for that title while the two Class D division winners will meet for the championship.

On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the B/C girls crown will be decided while the Class D girls title game will be played on Thursday, Feb. 16.

None of these games will count toward the final Heal Point Standings, which come out this Sunday.

Wednesday night was a memorable evening for Belfast High field hockey player Staci Smith.

Smith, a senior goalkeeper, became the first Belfast High athlete, male or female, to have a number retired during a brief ceremony at halftime of the Rockland-Belfast boys JV basketball contest, which begins at 6 p.m.

“Not only is she a good player, but she exemplifies what we wanted from our athletes off the field,” said Coach Allen Holmes, adding that Smith has good grades, is a model student, and is drug free.

Statistically speaking, Smith’s numbers speak for themselves.

As a four-year starter, Smith posted a career record of 40-18-4 with 26 shutouts and more than 500 saves. Her goals-against average was an astonishing .823.

Smith has been an All-State player the last two years, was a Junior Olympic team member in 1994, and was the Northeast National Futures All-Star goalie for 1992-94.

Ellsworth High will hold a ceremony Thursday night honoring the school’s gymnasium prior to the girls varsity basketball game with Bucksport.

The contest will mark the final game played in the structure, which was completed in 1952. Next year, there will be a new high school and a new gym.

The current gym was home to some legendary high school teams, including those of former coach Charlie Katsiaficas in the early 1950s. The Boston Celtics held exhibitions there in the ’50s. As part of the ceremonies, all former Eagle players are invited to the game where they will be called to the floor and honored. For further information, contact the high school.