Fort Kent's Aden Jeffers hits buzzer-beater to win Class C North title

Junior guard's last-second shot caps off thrilling regional tournament in Maine

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The North regional basketball tournament in Maine provided plenty of unforgettable moments, but none more so than Fort Kent junior Aden Jeffers' buzzer-beater to defeat Caribou 48-47 and win the Class C North championship. Jeffers' heroics capped off a tournament that saw several players score over 40 points in a game, inspiring comebacks, and acts of sportsmanship between opposing teams.

Why it matters

The Maine high school basketball tournament is an annual highlight for sports fans across the state, showcasing the talent and passion of young athletes. Jeffers' game-winning shot at the buzzer is sure to be remembered as one of the tournament's all-time great moments, cementing Fort Kent's place in the state championship game.

The details

Jeffers' last-second heroics came after a back-and-forth battle between Fort Kent and Caribou in the Class C North final. With the game tied in the final seconds, Jeffers received the inbounds pass and calmly drained the game-winning shot as time expired, sending the Fort Kent fans into a frenzy.

  • Jeffers hit the buzzer-beater on Saturday, February 21, 2026 to win the Class C North regional championship.
  • Earlier in the tournament, Wisdom's Ava Lerman scored 41 points in the Class S quarterfinals on February 18, 2026.
  • Also on February 18th, Bangor Christian's Mary Allen scored 42 points in a quarterfinal win over Schenck.
  • Easton's Mason Pelletier scored 42 points in the Class S quarterfinals on February 18, 2026 as well.

The players

Aden Jeffers

A junior guard for the Fort Kent Warriors who hit the game-winning buzzer-beater shot to defeat Caribou and win the Class C North regional championship.

Ava Lerman

A player for Wisdom High School who scored 41 points in the Class S quarterfinals, one of three players to eclipse 40 points in a single tournament game.

Mary Allen

A player for Bangor Christian High School who scored 42 points in a quarterfinal win over Schenck, matching the tournament's single-game scoring high.

Mason Pelletier

A player for Easton High School who scored 42 points in the Class S quarterfinals, tying the tournament's single-game scoring record.

Liv Adams

A senior on the Caribou High School team who was unable to play this season due to a knee injury, but was given the opportunity to score a basket in the Class C semifinal game thanks to an act of sportsmanship by the opposing Mattanawcook Academy team.

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What they’re saying

“It was a great game. I love my guys, I love my coach. We did this together. All the long hours in the gym. All the morning practices. All the adversity we had to go through, we just came here and showed up.”

— Aden Jeffers, Fort Kent junior guard

“She's that type of player. That was unbelievable.”

— Andy Pooler, Ellsworth High School coach

“We believe in each other, and we know we've got each other's backs.”

— Maddie Provost, Lawrence High School senior

“This was the best game we've played all year.”

— Brooklynn Raymond, Penobscot Valley High School junior guard

“I was heartbroken this fall when I heard she was out for the year. I said before the game to my assistant coach that if we were in a spot where we could do that, I wanted to make that offer to them.”

— Pat House, Mattanawcook Academy head coach

What’s next

The state championship games will take place this weekend, with Fort Kent looking to cap off their Cinderella tournament run with a state title.

The takeaway

The 2026 Maine high school basketball tournament provided countless memorable moments, from individual scoring outbursts to acts of sportsmanship between rival teams. But none will be more enduring than Aden Jeffers' game-winning buzzer-beater to win the Class C North championship for Fort Kent, a shot that will live on in Maine basketball lore.