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BANGOR, Maine — The Central Aroostook girls from Mars Hill used their swarming full court press to bring home a Class D North regional championship Saturday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
The Panthers defeated a spirited Schenck team of East Millinocket 43-40 to secure a spot in the state final on Saturday, March 1, which will also be held at the Cross Center.
It was a back-and-forth regional final in Bangor on Saturday, with the Panthers and Wolverines trading double digit leads and the Central Aroostook girls using a strong fourth quarter push to get the win.
Lilly Burtt had 12 points in the win for the Panthers, and Harleigh Allen scored 10. Schenck’s Harlee Sprague led all scorers with an impressive 16-point performance for the Wolverines, and Abby Hutchins scored 12.
It was the second-straight game for Central Aroostook that went down to the wire. They escaped with a one-point win against Wisdom earlier in the week thanks to a last second free throw from Charlie Pierce. A replay review determined that her apparent last-second buzzer-beater was not in time, and she was instead awarded foul shots. It was almost as if Central Aroostook won that semifinal game twice.
Schenck’s Addeyson Freeman (#15) blocks a shot by Central Aroostook’s Lilly Burtt (#22) in the Class D North Regional Championship game at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Feb. 22, 2025.
Central Aroostook’s Lilly Burtt (#22) tires to steal the ball from Schenck’s Lidia Matarazzo (#22) in the Class D North Regional Championship game at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Feb. 22, 2025. Central Aroostook won the game 43-40.
Schenck’s Wolverine mascot does an impressive toe touch as the starting lineup is announced before the Class D North Regional Championship game against Central Aroostook at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Feb. 22, 2025.
They only needed one celebration on Saturday, and now will face Valley of Bingham in the state Class D final at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Cross Center.
Central Aroostook is the No. 2 seed in the North and Valley is the No. 1 seed in the South. The Valley Cavaliers remain undefeated this season after downing St. Dominic in the South regional final.
