AUGUSTA – Central Aroostook knows how to finish.

Not only did the Panthers of Mars Hill routine end with a creative flourish, but the team overcame preliminary-round doldrums with an inspired final round en route to the State Class D cheerleading championship Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

The Panthers scored 66.75 points to tie with a gritty, upset-minded Bangor Christian squad. Central Aroostook outpointed the Patriots 25-23 in the tie-breaker for their first state title since 1990.

Houlton also brought a title back to Aroostook County, topping Old Town 81.25-78.75 in the Class B competition. The Shiretowners reversed the Eastern Maine final result from two weeks ago, when the Indians won on a tie-breaker.

In Class A, Biddeford earned its first-ever title and in Class C, Monmouth made a successful transition from Class D by topping three-time defending champion Saint Dominic of Auburn.

Class D – The Central Aroostook routine ends with Ericah Cheney tumbling diagonally in front of her teammates who are prone on the mat, landing and striking a pose with both fists raised.

It’s crowd-pleasing and creative, and just one part of a routine the Panthers are proud to say they choreographed themselves.

“The girls make it all up themselves,” said coach Sami-Jo Pryor. “They start working on the stunts in the summer.”

But it wasn’t the stunts that kept the Panthers, the regional champions, from scoring highest in the preliminary round. Pryor said her team trailed Bangor Christian 64.5- 63 heading into the final round because of a lack of enthusiasm.

The top four of the eight teams are “called back,” or advance to the finals, where their preliminary round scores are erased.

“I knew what was weak. We were hitting our stunts … but I told the girls ‘you have to sell it, it’s the only way we can get back into it’,” Pryor said.

The Panthers, led by seven seniors, responded. Senior captain Danielle Larrabee noticed the difference.

“Our spirit was so much better, and the crowd got better. That helped,” Larrabee said.

In the meantime, upstart Bangor Christian, which was third at the regionals, was wowing the crowd with its tumbling and clean execution. The Patriots feature five tumblers, a large number for a Class D school.

Bangor Christian’s performance was all the more impressive due to its battered condition. Sophomore Kellie Wiswell, suffering from a deep bruise and fluid on her knee, had to be carried off the floor after the Patriots’ final performance. Sisters Amy Rogers (separated rib) and Becky Rogers (broken finger) were also ailing.

Patriots coach Rich Lowell was inspired by his team’s perseverance.

“They did a fantastic job. … Beforehand we prayed and asked God for strength because we knew that’s the only way we’d get through,” Lowell said.

Central Aroostook’s other team members are Angel Rideout, Ashley Clockedile, April Clockedile, Jennifer Hallett, Lindsey Kinney, Jennifer Donahue, Deidre Cushman, Angie Brewer, Krista Brown-Elian, Jordan Bell and Ashley Gray.

Fort Fairfield (60.5), Jonesport-Beals (59.75) and Deer Isle-Stonington (59.5) rounded out the top finishers. Five teams advanced to the final round in Class D because of a tie by Fort Fairfield and Jonesport-Beals after the preliminaries.

Class B – Houlton rode the strength of its stunts and crisp dancing to its first title since 1997. The Shiretowners weren’t daunted by the disappointment at regionals, where they were mistakenly announced as the Eastern Maine champions before a scoring error was corrected and Old Town was awarded the crown.

Second-year coach Julie Dunn-Brown said that motivated her squad.

“It was a heart-wrenching mistake, but we used it to our advantage,” Dunn-Brown said.

Kate Cummings said the team worked methodically to perfect its routine in the two weeks between regionals and states.

“We picked it apart and cleaned it up – took it bit by bit,” she said.

Less than a point separated the Shiretowners and the Indians after the preliminary round. Dunn-Brown said her team stepped up its intensity in the finals.

“We sold it more, we had more facials and got the crowd involved. We had fun,” she said.

Old Town featured a fast-paced routine with difficult stunts, but coach Kate Loveless said her team’s timing was off in the final round.

“We definitely had a few miscues on stunting. It wasn’t our best performance of the year,” Loveless said.

Houlton’s other team members are Whitney Brown, Jessica Pasquarelli, Brittaney McGary, Kristin Lincoln, Heather Webb, Melissa Farrell, Kathleen Howland, Amie McPartland, Jessica Swimm, Kellie Doolen, Tiffany Harvey, Brandi Hill, Natalia Anderson, Whitney Thompson, Megan Ward, Emily Cole and Patty Howe.

Wells (77.5), Caribou (72.75) and John Bapst of Bangor (70.25) completed the scoring in the final round. Five teams advanced to the finals because there were nine teams competing in Class B. Eastern Maine elected to send five teams instead of four after correcting the scoring mistakes in its regional competition.

Class A -Biddeford turned in a clean, difficult routine to outscore Bonny Eagle of Buxton 84-82 for the title. Brewer finished a close third with 81.75, followed by Deering of Portland with 81.

Deering, the Western Maine champion, was penalized for a fall in the final round.

Biddeford’s routine featured an innovative ending. The girls stood in concentric circles with their backs to the crowd, executed synchronized backflips, landed and tumbled forward, and then snapped backward to lie on their backs with their arms spread.

Brewer coach Kristie Reed was pleased with the performance of her team, the only squad from the east to make it to the final round.

“We had lots of energy, stuck our stunts and the girls looked confident.

“… At the beginning of the season we set goals. We do that because it’s so important not just for cheering, but for life. We realized our goals [today] and when you work hard and reach your goals … that’s what it’s about,” Reed said.

Class C – Monmouth and Saint Dominic both scored 68 points, but the Mustangs were awarded the title on a tie-breaker. It was Monmouth’s first title in Class C after winning the last four Class D championships. Monmouth has won a total of eight state championships.

Orono finished third with 65.25 followed by Winthrop with 58.75.

The Mustangs’ 12-girl squad featured nine tumblers, and Monmouth put their skills to good use with an exciting, daring routine.

Coach Mike Gilbert said his team was ready for the challenge of Class C.

“We were excited to move up. … We also had our routine choreographed for difficulty purposes,” Gilbert said.

Orono coach Suzanne Lewis was pleased that her squad placed so well in its first-ever appearance at the state meet.

“The second time around was the best [we have performed]. Everything was really clean and spirited,” Lewis said.

The Red Riots have only had a team for two years, and Lewis said she hopes her squad’s success will lay the foundation for the program.

“A lot of younger girls look up to [our team] now. I hope a lot of younger girls try out next year, and hopefully we’ll build a feeder program,” Lewis said.

WM runnerup, Traip Academy of Kittery, did not compete because some members were academically ineligble.

At Augusta Civic Center

State Championship

Class A

Final round: Biddeford 84, Bonny Eagle 82, Brewer 81.75, Deering 81; preliminary round: Deering 83.75, Brewer 81.25, Biddeford 80.25, Bonny Eagle 76, Bangor 74.25, Gardiner 72.75, Oxford Hills 72, Marshwood 65.25

Class B

Final round: Houlton 81.25, Old Town 78.75, Wells 77.5, Caribou 72.75, John Bapst 70.25; preliminary round: Old Town 80.25, Houlton 79.75, Wells 76.25, Caribou 72, John Bapst 71.25, Rockland 770.5, Gray-New Gloucester 64, Mountain Valley 62.5, Oak Hill 58.25

Class C

Final round: Monmouth 68, Saint Dominic 68, Orono 65.25, Winthrop 58.75; preliminary round: Saint Dominic 77, Winthrop 64.25, Monmouth 63.25, Orono 60.75, Washington Academy 60.5, Central 58.5, Sumner 46.25

Class D

Final round: Central Aroostook 66.75, Bangor Christian 66.75, Fort Fairfield 60.5, Jonesport-Beals 59.75, Deer Isle-Stonington 59.5; preliminary round: Bangor Christian 64.5, Central Aroostook 63, Deer Isle-Stonington 62.25, Fort Fairfield 61, Jonesport-Beals 61, Machias 59.5, Woodland 51, Rangeley 43.75