Hackles get raised every time I've mentioned high school bands and their participation in athletic events, but here goes again.

The Gardiner Area High School band played at the boys basketball game between the Tigers and Waterville on Thursday night and sounded great. The band lifted the atmosphere of the whole gymnasium and injected more excitement into a game that already had some built into it.

"We didn't rise to the occasion like I thought we would in that environment with the band and everything and the fans," Waterville coach Jason Briggs said.

Central Maine Community College coach Dave Gonyea, who was scouting a Gardiner player at the game, also commented on a how a band raises the level of excitement. I don't know how often the Gardiner band, or any other school band for that matter, can play at basketball games. I just know it adds a lot.