LINCOLN, Neb. - For the second straight season, the Lincoln Christian Crusaders are the champions in C1 girls basketball. The Crusaders (28-0) capped off an undefeated season by defeating Milford (25-2) for the second time this season on Saturday afternoon in Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Eagles were making their first ever appearance in the title game after an impressive run this week, but a strong third quarter helped pave the way for the Crusaders to win their second straight state title with a 49-42 victory. 

When Milford and Lincoln Christian faced off on New Year's Eve, it was clear then that they were two of the best teams in C1 girls basketball. And this weekend, they were the final two teams standing: Milford and Lincoln Christian met up on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln with a state title at stake. 

Eagle senior Ayla Roth did her thing in the first half for #3-seeded Milford, attacking in transition, driving to the rim, and finishing through traffic. Roth shot 5-of-10 from the floor in the opening two periods to lead the Eagles with 12 points. But the Crusaders' Kena Ailes was excellent all game - she nearly recorded a double-double in the first half alone with 12 points and nine rebounds. 

Lincoln Christian missed two free throws in the final second of the second quarter, missing out on a chance to take a halftime lead. Instead, after the score was tied 15-15 after the first quarter, it remained tied 25-25 after the second. 

But the third quarter was when the Crusaders made their move. Four different players sank three-pointers and LC shot 4-of-10 from beyond the arc in the period - compared to 0-of-6 for Milford - to build up a 37-31 lead going into the final period.

Standout freshman forward Shayla Rautenberg did her part for Milford with five points and five boards in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough: Lincoln Christian went 10-of-12 from the foul line in the final period to shore up the 49-42 victory, rounding out an undefeated season with a second straight state championship, achieving something no team in school history had before.

"We never talked about going undefeated [before the season]," Lincoln Christian head coach Scott Klein said Saturday. "I meet with the seniors every spring, and I just say, 'What are your goals going into next year?' Undefeated wasn't one of their goals. But now that it's done... I like this team. I think this team can play with anyone in the state, one game. For us, Lincoln Christian, to go undefeated - no team's ever done that. To win back-to-back titles...They, to me, are the best team to ever go through Lincoln Christian."

"We made history. Nobody at our school has been able to go back-to-back," said Ailes. "So that's just a huge, special thing for our school community, just to show everybody that Lincoln Christian belongs at the state tournament, and they can win a state championship."

"I'm proud of our kids. They fought, they wanted this opportunity - we were not satisfied with just being here," Milford head coach Bryce Roth said. "They're competitive kids, I'm just proud of how they fought."

In that matchup on December 31, Lincoln Christian eked out a 69-67 win, dealing Milford its first loss of the campaign. The Crusaders were the only squad to defeat the Eagles this year, and this latest win carries with it the Crusaders' second straight state championship. 

Roth led all players with 18 points (6-of-17 shooting). Rautenberg tallied a double-double in her first championship final with 14 points and 17 rebounds, while Ailes did the same in her last championship final with 17 points and 16 boards. Maci Pittenger and Sam Dearking both hit a pair of threes to score ten points for the Crusaders. 

SCORING BY QUARTER:

Milford: 15 | 10 | 6 | 11

Lincoln Christian: 15 | 10 | 12 | 12