COOS BAY — Hearts pounded.

Breath shortened.

There were more than a few goosebumps, and even a few tingles.

When Bay Area Teen Idol followers look back on the 2008 competition, they probably won’t remember the parental squabbles that marred the early weeks of the contest.

For about 250 people who were at the Egyptian Theatre on Thursday night, what they’ll remember is Alyssa Birrer giving a performance of Journey’s “Faithfully” that took the competition to new heights.

“‘Faithfully’ was the best Teen Idol performance I’ve seen ever,” said judge Kim Handsaker, who is in her fourth year judging the contest.

She wasn’t exaggerating.

Handsaker was one of several people who waited in line to compliment Birrer and describe their reactions to a performance that had a few audience members waving their cell phones and drew a standing ovation from many more.

Birrer, 15, said the performance was special because she was singing her favorite song of all time during the ’80s round, the first half of Thursday’s event.

“I hope that what I’m feeling when I sing a song, that the audience can feel it, too,” Birrer said. “I feel so alive when I sing that song.”

She was easily the top scorer of the week, also besting the competition in the Motown round, when she sang “I Will Survive.”

“I was just getting my breath back from your first performance, and you took it away again,” Handsaker told Birrer during the show.

It was a great night all around for the contest, as nearly all the remaining contestants stepped up their performances.

Destyni Fuller placed second with Chicago’s “Will You Still Love Me?” and Kim Weston’s “Take Me In Your Arms.” Star Moralez was third with “Sister Christian” and “Heat Wave.” Moralez was also voted people’s choice winner for July 31.

Others giving strong performances included Caitlin Mansfield, Alisha Molloy and Mariah Rogers.

There were three contestants eliminated Thursday: Kara Shore, Teanna Engberg and Allison Warrick.

On a night when so many did so well, it didn’t take many mistakes to get knocked out of the contest.

Shore gave one of her best performances in the first round with “I Love Rock and Roll” but faltered in the second with “Superstitious.”

Engberg sang “What I Like About You” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”

Warrick had problems with pitch on “Material Girl,” improving slightly on “Lean On Me.”

Krista Kilmer, who was erroneously eliminated and then reinstated last week, managed to survive another round, as did Mercedese Mannon, who finished fourth from the bottom despite a strong improvement over last week, and Karissa Fults.

Judges for Thursday were Handsaker, Mike Campbell and Dennis Lindall.

Nine contestants remain as the contest continues at 6 p.m. next Thursday at the Egyptian Theatre, when the themes will be Broadway and contestant’s choice.

For Birrer, the challenge will be to continue to surprise her audience after setting the bar so high.

“I love doing good,” she said. “But it’s like, ‘Great, now I have to do even better.’”