enlarge Andy Molloy/Blethen Maine News Service

Cameron York of Central Aroostook tries to stay away from Richmond defender Eric Murrin during Monday’s Class D state final. The Panthers won to finish a perfect 22-0.

AUGUSTA -- In the end, the smallest player on the court beat the tallest player by the slimmest of margins in the Class D boys' basketball state championship game Monday night at the Augusta Civic Center.

Five-foot-six Central Aroostook junior Manny Martinez kissed a shot high off the glass over the outstretched arms of 6-10 Richmond center Marc Zaharchuk with a second left to give the Panthers a 54-53 win.

The Western Maine champion Bobcats had just taken a 53-52 lead on Zaharchuk´s short jumper in the lane before the Panthers advanced the ball to midcourt and called timeout with 8.3 seconds left. Martinez dribbled left around a couple of screens and found a lane to the basket.

"It worked out perfectly," Martinez said. "I had an open lane, Zaharchuk came out and it was one-on-one. I was just thinking shoot the ball with confidence and hope it goes in. The guy is like huge and I barely got it over him."

The shot capped a 12-6 fourth-quarter rally for the Panthers, who finished their season 22-0. Central Aroostook trailed 48-45 entering the fourth quarter but took the lead on a 8-2 run highlighted by 3-pointers from Martinez and Kasey Brewer. The Bobcats retook the lead on two occasions on shots in the lane from Zaharchuk.

Zaharchuk finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds despite foul trouble. Senior twins Blake and Logan McCarthy alternated on Zaharchuk in the first and second halves, respectively, despite giving away nearly 10 inches in height.

"I tried to make him go to his left as much as possible and hope if a double team comes he passes the ball," Logan said.

The Bobcats stayed in the game via 3-pointers in the first half, which ended at 30-all. Sophomore Eric Murrin tied a Western Maine Class D record with five 3s, all in the first half, while Richmond set a record for the game with eight 3-pointers.

Martinez led all scorers with 20 points, including nine in the second half.

"That kid´s been making amazing shots all year," McCarthy said of Martinez and (that) was the biggest one of them all."

Brewer added 15 points for the Panthers, who beat the Bobcats in the state final two years ago, while Murrin contributed 17 for Richmond.