Maine High School Basketball Tournament Begins; Mt. Ararat Favored to Defend Title

Mt. Ararat of Topsham enters the MPA high-school tournament as the top seed in Class A North and a favored contender as it attempts to defend a title in a reclassified region. The Eagles carry a 17-1 mark into a quarterfinal matchup against No. 8 Skowhegan at the Augusta Civic Center Friday at 8:30 p.m.

Local fans will see much of the North bracket played in Augusta. The quarterfinal card also includes No. 3 Camden Hills (15-3) vs. No. 6 Brunswick (7-11) at 4:00 p.m., No. 2 Hampden Academy (14-4) vs. No. 7 Lewiston (9-9) at 5:30 p.m., and No. 4 Edward Little (14-4) vs. No. 5 Bangor (13-5) at 7:00 p.m. If seeds hold, Mt. Ararat’s projected semifinal pairing is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m., with the Class A North championship set for Friday, Feb. 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center.

The tournament spans multiple venues across the region. Portland Expo will host South quarterfinals Tuesday, Feb. 17, featuring matchups such as No. 5 Windham (12-6) vs. No. 4 Biddeford (15-3) and games feeding into showdowns with top South seeds Sanford (16-2), South Portland (16-2) and Cheverus (17-1). Cross Insurance Arena in Portland is slated to host regional championship sessions and the state finals weekend; schedule listings show South championships on Feb. 21 and the state championship weekend on Feb. 28. Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center will stage Class C North quarterfinals and semifinals through the Feb. 16–21 window.

Organizers and local outlets are providing live updates and rotating bracket permutations as preliminary winners are finalized. WABI noted, "MPA high school basketball championship season is here. Check out the full list of updating scores and schedules below." Several classes already began play with preliminary rounds on Feb. 10–11, and brackets will settle as play-in results determine quarterfinal pairings.

For Sagadahoc County, Mt. Ararat’s run has both civic and economic implications. Games in Augusta draw students, parents and alumni across the Midcoast, boosting activity at restaurants, hotels and retailers on game nights and providing a focal point for school and town pride. Athletic directors and coaches also use tournament progress to recruit interest and build community engagement around winter sports programs.

A note on schedules: some published listings contain conflicting final dates for arena sessions; the bracket progression that places quarterfinals in mid‑ to late‑February and regional finals into the Feb. 20–28 window is the most consistent chronology. Organizers should confirm final times and any ticketing or streaming details so fans planning travel from Topsham, Bath and surrounding towns can make arrangements.

What comes next: Mt. Ararat opens at Augusta Friday at 8:30 p.m.; community supporters should monitor the tournament report feeds for live scores and bracket updates as winners advance toward regional and state Gold Ball play.