It’s been a while since Dawson-Boyd was last at the state tournament. Thirty-four years, to be exact. The school’s raucous cheering section knew that fact well. On Saturday, they cheered on the Blackjacks as they defeated reigning champion Cherry 81-74 to claim the Class 1A state title,

They not only knocked off the defending state champion in the finals, they avenged one of their three losses from the regular season.

Second-seeded Dawson-Boyd rode hot shooting and success in the paint to an 81-74 victory over Cherry to win its first-ever state title, which simultaneously avenged a 70-64 regular-season defeat at the hands of the Tigers.