On Saturday, Feb. 28, the St. George’s boys’ basketball team won the Division II-A state championship in Nashville, TN.

The St. George’s Gryphons took on Harding Academy in the state championships. The final score was 68-45, with the Gryphons bringing home a win.

The game began as a close battle, with the Gryphons leading with only 6-5 after the first quarter, but the Gryphons quickly pulled away and were leading 51-31 by the end of the third quarter.

This state win was only the second time St. George’s has won a boys’ basketball state title, the first being a win in 2010.

Sophomore Chase Hayden, who scored 27 points during the game, was awarded the title of MVP of the state tournament. Both Hayden and sophomore Noah Pope, who had 10 points and 12 rebounds against Harding, were named to the all-tournament team.

“Winning the state championship is a feeling that can’t be described,” said Pope. “We [the team] all possessed a mental toughness that caused us to say that we weren’t going to lose.”

Senior Justin Wertner was named winner of the 2015 DII-A Mr. Basketball Award and given the title of Mr. Basketball, as well as being named to the all-tournament team.

“The reason we were so successful this year is because we did what a lot of people said we couldn’t, and that was come together as a team,” said Wertner. “We looked out for each other like brothers.”

The boys’ basketball team closed their season with a final record of 28-4.