A potent running game and aggressive defense have been two keys to the Bangor Rams’ run to Friday night’s Eastern Maine Class A football final.

But another key reason lies in what coach Mark Hackett’s club hasn’t done – commit penalties.

Bangor committed no penalties in its 41-7 quarterfinal victory over Lewiston on Nov. 1, and the Rams had only three penalties – all 5-yard illegal procedure calls – during their 40-21 semifinal win against Mt. Blue of Farmington last Friday night.

“We call those big plays,” said Hackett, after the Mt. Blue victory. “They’re big negative plays if you have some penalties. Mt. Blue had a couple of key facemasks when our guys kept going second and third effort, and those penalties helped us.

“It’s been big for us so far that we haven’t had many penalties.”

Bangor (9-1) will take an eight-game winning streak into Friday night’s Eastern Maine final against Brunswick. The Dragons, also 9-1, have a nine-game winning streak after avenging a Week 1 loss to Gardiner with a 28-20 semifinal victory.

SMCC to host hoop extravaganza

Up to 200 of Maine’s top high school basketball players will converge on Southern Maine Community College in South Portland this weekend for the third annual MBR.org Interclass All-Star Weekend.

Players will be divided into 10-member teams representing Eastern and Western Maine Classes A, B, C, and D in both boys and girls divisions.

Each team will play two games against teams from the other part of the state, with girls games taking place on Saturday and boys games on Sunday.

In addition, some of the state’s top freshman schoolboy and schoolgirl players will participate in futures games, with the teams again divided by East and West.

Other weekend highlights include a game at 8 p.m. Saturday featuring a team of Maine high school standouts including Ralph Mims of Brunswick and Junior Bernal of Hyde School in Bath against a team of New Hampshire stars led by 6-foot-10 Luke Bonner, who has verbally committed to Virginia Tech.

In addition, a dunk contest will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, with admission good for all day.

For more information, access www.mbr.org.

Readers aid Stearns hockey team

The NEWS has received several phone calls recently from readers since the publication of a story last week about the Stearns High School hockey program, which is being subsidized privately this winter through the fund-raising efforts of its boosters’ group, Friends of Stearns Hockey. Those interested in making donations to help the team may make checks payable to Friends of Stearns Hockey and send them to Stearns High School, c/o Friends of Stearns Hockey, 166 State St., Millinocket 04462.

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net