There’s nothing quite like the Maine high school basketball tournament. Just ask Maine’s top elected official.

Gov. Janet Mills made an appearance at some of the state championship games played in Augusta on Saturday, sitting courtside as the Fort Kent Warriors and Maranacook Black Bears of Readfield battled it out for the Class C boys title.

At halftime, Mills spoke with the Bangor Daily News about what the tournament means to the state of Maine.

“This tournament means everything to every town in Maine,” Mills said. “When Rangeley would play Stonington and Lubec — small towns, it’s the heart of Maine. It’s the soul of the towns and the heart of the state of Maine. The whole town comes out.”

Mills referenced the hundreds of miles round-trip that fans from Fort Kent and Lincoln racked up by traveling to the Augusta Civic Center.

“It’s the spirit of community that we all love and treasure,” she added about the premiere event in Maine high sports, which takes place every February.

And Mills, who is now running in the Democratic primary for one of Maine’s U.S. Senate seats, isn’t the only political figure who loves the basketball tournament. That’s an affinity that is shared across political lines.

Owen McCarthy, a Republican primary candidate in the race to replace Mills as governor, knows as well as anyone what the tournament means to Maine and its small towns. That’s because McCarthy competed in the tournament as a player for Katahdin High School in Stacyville.

“It’s what brings towns together, and it’s what people look forward to in the winter,” McCarthy said. “And it’s where heroes are made.”

McCarthy saw firsthand growing up in rural Penobscot County how basketball can be the centerpiece of a community. He explained that, even before the tournament, weeknight games during the regular season would be packed and the results would lead the conversation at local stores.

It’s a big deal for communities and players alike.

“You worked 12 months to be on the tournament floor,” McCarthy said about the experience as a player. “It really was this sort of pinnacle moment.”

Flanked by Lee Academy teammate Tom Bird (left) and Katahdin High School’s Owen McCarthy, Matthew Scott goes up for a shot in the first period of the Feb. 25, 2005, Class D East semifinal game at Bangor Auditorium. Lee won 57-44. Credit: John Clarke Russ / BDN File

As a high school player, he didn’t fully appreciate at the time what it all meant to the community. But age and experience as a fan have helped deepen his understanding about the power and uniqueness of Maine’s high school basketball tournament.

“They talk about Indiana being the basketball state. The passion from the fans in Maine rivals Indiana,” McCarthy said. “And now we finally have Cooper Flagg to say we have the talent to compete with them also.”

Both McCarthy and Mills were impressed with Class C boys champion Fort Kent as they brought home their first-ever state title. Mills highlighted the barrage of 3-pointers that the Warriors leaned on during the first half against Maranacook. Fort Kent finished with an impressive 9 made shots from beyond the 3-point arc in the game.

“Fort Kent was my favorite team to watch this year,” McCarthy said while crediting the play of star junior guard Aden Jeffers. “Aden just has another speed that other people don’t have out there.”

The former player-turned-political candidate also noted that senior guard Tobias Naranja and others make up a solid supporting group for the Warriors.

“And it’s so good for Fort Kent,” McCarthy added.