(KLZA)-- For the fifth time in school history and the second time in three years, the  Falls City Sacred Heart Girls basketball team has won a state championship.

The Irish improved to 27-1 on the season knocking off last years champion Wynot 48-36 to win the title Saturday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

After falling behind 8-2 early in the game, Sacred Heart came back with a 12-0 run through the end of the first quarter and into the second quarter. The game was tied at 8 at the end of the first quarter and the Irish led 14-8 before Wynot scored their only 3 points of the second quarter.

Once the Irish got the lead they held it the rest of the game leading by as many as 12 in the third quarter before the Blue Devils cut the lead to 6 in the fourth quarter.  A 3 pointer by Lexi Barnes stretched the lead back to 9.  

The Irish scored their final 11 points at the free throw line to secure the win.  Barnes and Jade Hill each hit 5 free throws in the 4th quarter as the Irish went 12 for 17 in the period and 24 of 32 for the game.

Hill led the Irish with 12 points, Barnes scored 9 of her 11 in the 4th quarter.
Sara Wertenberger had 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in the game.  Haylee Heits scored 5 and grabbed a game-high 8 rebounds.  Ahren Ebel came off the bench to scores 6 points, grab 4 boards and was a huge help against the Wynot press. Abby Fiegener also contributed 4 points 2 rebounds and 2 steals.

Wynot was led by Cortney Arkfeld who had 18 points in the contest prior to fouling out.  Wynot made 10 of 11 free throw attempts in the game but hit just 10 of 42 field goal attempts including only 6 of 23 on three-point attempts.  

Wynot has been in the D2 State Title game eight straight years, winning 5 times.  They have lost the title to the Irish in 2015 and again this season.

Jade Hill and Haylee Heits were named to the All-Tournament Team.