Usually, this time of the year means a lot of things to the members of Maine Public Television’s basketball broadcasting crew. None of those things usually involve broadcasting basketball games.

This year is different.

Former Bangor High softball coach Lisa Richards and broadcast partner Keith McKeen are spending another week courtside at the Bangor Auditorium.

“I only did it because they needed someone back along,” said McKeen, who has been the play-by-play announcer for Maine Public Broadcasting Service’s girls hoop coverage the last 20 years and is a reporter-producer for Maine Public Radio.

“I still consider myself kind of a novice because we only have so many games packed into a short time period and then it’s over,” McKeen added. “I sort of wish we could do a few in the regular season so you could get into a mode and get more comfortable you feel.”

Now McKeen and Richards, who has been McKeen’s color analyst partner for the last 18 years, have another week to remain in that comfort zone.

“The more games, the better as far as I’m concerned … Plus I get the best seat in the house,” said Richards, who is a middle school physical education teacher, coach, and activities director in Bangor. “It’s exciting, especially having coached at Bangor High and playing against some of these girls in softball the last couple years.”

Maine Public Television took over coverage of the Eastern Maine Class A Tournament from Bangor’s WABI (Channel 5) this year. Due to the state’s budget woes and cutbacks, plans to provide live coverage of the semifinal round games Thursday and Friday had to be scrapped due to insufficient financing.

Maine PBS outlets in Orono (Bangor), Presque Isle, Calais and Augusta will air the Eastern Maine finals Saturday night starting at 7 p.m. while Maine PBS stations in Biddeford (Portland) will air the Western Maine regional finals. All public stations will air the state championship games on March 15 live.

Joe Gould, who used to broadcast Class A, B, C, and D games with Eddie Owen and Don Clark for Bangor radio station WLBZ back in the 1970s, has been waiting a long time to call the action for Class A games again.

“I’ve waited 23 years to do this. I’m looking forward to it,” said Gould. “This is my 23rd year doing games for PBS and 35th overall, including radio.”

Gould, Richards and McKeen all expect the level of play to be even higher than what they saw in the Classes B-C-D tourney.

“I wouldn’t say it’s better all the way around because a team like the MDI [Mount Desert Island] girls will compete with anyone,” said Richards, a proud MDI alumna. “But the ‘A’ schools have a larger talent pool, so the skill will be a little higher and fun to watch.”

Best damn Emmy show

Fox Sports Net and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have reached a two-year agreement that gives FSN rights to televise the 24th and 25th Emmy Awards for Sports.

Local viewers can see the two-hour specials on Fox Sports Net New England. The 24th annual awards presentations are scheduled for Monday, April 21, but will be aired on a tape-delay basis Sunday, April 27 at 6 p.m. The special will be produced and presented by FSNNE’s Best Damn Sports Show Period and hosted by Fox Sports’ lead play-by-play announcer Joe Buck along with actor and BDSSP cast members Tom Arnold, Chris Rose and Michael Irvin.

This marks the first time in more than a decade that the Emmy Awards for Sports ceremonies have been televised.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or aneff@bangordailynews.net