I don’t care what sport it is or where you are ”“ there is nothing quite like a game between two high school rivals.

I got my first taste of the Battle of the Bridge rivalry on Thursday night when I covered the Biddeford-Thornton Academy boys basketball game and it turned out to be the best game I’ve covered since moving to Maine a few months ago.

The game had everything a good high school rivalry needs. First, it had two teams playing their hardest and leaving everything they had on the court. Second, it had two fan bases that were not only into the game, but you could tell they wanted the win badly.

Now, I haven’t been around the Biddeford-TA rivalry long, but it also has something that any good rivalry needs ”“ a little bit of disdain between the two schools.

That may sound like a bad thing, but in my mind, it’s not.

Any good rivalry has that kind of feel to it. The two fan bases obviously don’t hate each other and kids in each school district have friends on the other side, but there is still that desire to take down your rival.

The best part of rivalry games is it can turn what’s supposed to be a lopsided affair into a thrilling showdown ”“ just look at Thursday night. The Biddeford boys turned in their best performance of the season and almost knocked off the heavily-favored Trojans.

Rivalry games like that are what make high school sports so special ”“ and make me love this job.

Pearl makes a statement

The player that stood out the most to me on Thursday night was Biddeford guard Patrick Pearl.

Anyone that was in attendance for the game may have just witnessed the coming out party for Pearl, who looks like he will be one of the best players in the region over the next two years.

The sophomore lit up the scoreboard for 29 points ”“ and most importantly, he came up big when the Tigers needed him most.

Pearl has tons of talent and has a motor that seems to never stop. If he keeps working hard, he will not only become one of the best players in the area ”“ he will lead Biddeford back to the playoffs.

— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be contacted at [email protected].