GRANDVIEW, Mo. — Grandview High School celebrated their boys basketball team in a packed "Dawg House" during an all-school assembly on Thursday.
The Bulldogs are two-time Missouri Class 4 State Champions after their 69-64 win over St. Mary's.
"It feels great, I really can't explain how good it feels," senior point guard DeAndre Sorrells said. "Two years in a row, not a lot of teams can do that."
Sorrells let the team with 26 points in the championship game. Thursday he led the team around the gym once again with the trophy held high.
Varsity head coach Reggie Morris said the boys are leaders both on and off the court.
"These guys aren't just great basketball players, they're good people and they're good leaders," Morris said. "What I really like about them is that they listen to what we have to tell them and not only do they listen but what they do."
After losing some of his star seniors, Morris said work began in June.
"Based on what I saw that night in a summer league game, if we continued to work and stay together, we would have a great opportunity not only just to get back to Springfield, but to do something special, and that was to win another state championship," Morris said.
The Bulldogs went 29-2 overall on the season.
Morris was also recognized for his coaching. During the assembly, Morris was honored with the Paul Lambert Coach of the Year Award for the second consecutive year.
As the players and coaches were celebrated by their peers, they credit their successful season to the support they received at every game.
With only two starters returning next season, Morris said he is optimistic.
"With a JV team coming back that was 21-0, I think we'll have until February to get it figured out," Morris said. "I think we could be very very tough by the end of February again and make another run."
The state champs will be back in the gym over the summer, preparing to defend their title.
