Machias Boys Basketball Wins Class D North Regional Championship

Bulldogs bounce back from semifinal struggles to defeat Madawaska Owls 61-57

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Machias boys basketball team won the Class D North regional championship with a 61-57 victory over the Madawaska Owls on Saturday. After struggling in their semifinal game against Hodgdon, the Bulldogs regained their championship form, led by senior guards Liam O'Connor and Mickey Fitzsimmons. Fitzsimmons scored a team-high 20 points, while O'Connor contributed 12 points and 6 assists. Machias head coach Chad Fitzsimmons, Mickey's father, praised his team's defensive effort and his son's standout performance in the regional final.

Why it matters

The Machias boys basketball team's regional championship win comes after a heartbreaking early exit from last year's postseason tournament. The Bulldogs' redemption story highlights the team's resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity, showcasing the competitive spirit of high school sports.

The details

In Thursday's semifinal game against Hodgdon, the Machias players acknowledged they were "playing like fifth graders" with poor discipline and execution. However, they regained their varsity-level play to secure the win. In the regional final against Madawaska, the Bulldogs maintained their composure and defensive intensity, building a lead in the second and third quarters before holding off a late comeback attempt by the Owls.

  • The Machias boys basketball team's season ended in heartbreak after an early-round upset in the 2025 postseason tournament.
  • On February 21, 2026, Machias defeated Madawaska 61-57 to win the Class D North regional championship.

The players

Liam O'Connor

A senior guard for the Machias Bulldogs who scored 12 points and had 6 assists in the regional final.

Mickey Fitzsimmons

The starting point guard for Machias and the team's leading scorer with 20 points in the championship game. He is the son of Machias head coach Chad Fitzsimmons.

Chad Fitzsimmons

The head coach of the Machias Bulldogs, and the father of starting point guard Mickey Fitzsimmons.

Quinn Pelletier

A freshman star player for the Madawaska Owls who made a late push with several 3-pointers to try to close the gap against Machias.

Brayden Pelletier

A Madawaska Owls player who was defended by Machias' Landon Barrett during the regional championship game.

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What they’re saying

“We were out there playing like fifth graders — no discipline, missing free-throws, not stalling, and not even playing defense on the way back.”

— Liam O'Connor, Senior Guard, Machias Bulldogs

“We just wanted to get back here so bad. And it's so good to get the win.”

— Mickey Fitzsimmons (WHOU)

“It's a blur right now, but we had a couple good runs there in the second quarter and in the third quarter, and just kind of held on. They really came back in the end hitting those 3s, but we were able to hang on.”

— Chad Fitzsimmons, Head Coach, Machias Bulldogs

“I could tell right from the beginning of the game, he was going to have a good game. He was on. He was getting to the hole and he was setting up others, and he just had an amazing game.”

— Chad Fitzsimmons, Head Coach, Machias Bulldogs

What’s next

The Machias Bulldogs will advance to the Class D state championship game, where they will look to cap off their redemption story with a state title.

The takeaway

The Machias boys basketball team's regional championship victory demonstrates the power of resilience and determination in high school sports. After a disappointing early exit last year, the Bulldogs regrouped and reclaimed their championship form, proving that setbacks can be overcome through hard work and a commitment to excellence.