LINCOLN — Ravenna coach Paul Beranek channeled former New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig after watching his team repeat as Class C-2 state champion Saturday night at the Devaney Center.

"I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the earth,'' he said. "I've been so fortunate to coach these guys, and they've really come together.''

The Blue Jays won their second consecutive championship and seventh overall by defeating Fremont Bergan 57-51 at the boys state basketball tournament. Second-ranked Ravenna ran its record to 25-3 while third-ranked Bergan finished the season 22-4.

Sophomore Connor Beranek — son of the head coach — led the Blue Jays with 19 points while John Klosterman added 16 and Trevor Cyboron 10. The trio combined for 11 of Ravenna's 13 fourth-quarter points to help put away the Knights.

"There were a few key possessions in the fourth quarter that hurt us,'' Bergan coach Chris Paulson said. "We missed a couple of bunnies and they answered at the other end.''

Ravenna led just 44-42 entering the fourth quarter but Bergan rallied to take a short-lived 45-44 lead after a basket by Nick Jensen and a free throw by Tanner Werth. But the Blue Jays scored the next seven points -- a layup by Beranek and a layup and 3-pointer by Klosterman -- that put them ahead to stay.

Ravenna then maintained its lead down the stretch by sinking 5 of 6 free throws.

"We haven't been shooting free throws real well lately,'' Paul Beranek said. "But somehow we got the lead and were able to hold onto it.''

The Knights made one final push with 20 seconds left when Werth drilled a 3-pointer to close within 53-51. But Klosterman sank two free throws to extend the lead to four points and Bergan turned it over on its next trip downcourt, ending any hope for victory.

"This is the best feeling,'' Connor Beranek said. "I don't know how to explain it.''

Ravenna came out strong at the start of the game, sprinting to an early five-point lead. Beranek scored nine points in the quarter as Ravenna carried a 16-13 advantage into the second period.

That lead swelled to eight when the Blue Jays scored the first five points of the quarter. Klosterman had a 3-point play and Cyboron sank a layup, but Bergan fought back to take a two-point lead 1:35 before halftime on a jumper by Jensen.

A jump shot by Cyboron tied the game for the fourth time at 28 with 50 seconds left in the first half, and the score remained that way until halftime. Beranek had 10 in the first half to pace Ravenna while Jensen had nine for the Knights.

Bergan shot 52 percent in the first half and 47 percent for the game. The Blue Jays shot 40 percent in the first half but improved that to 48 percent overall.

"This is as emotional as I can get,'' Paul Beranek said. "I'm very happy for our town and our people.''

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