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Even the youngest player on Springbrook's boys basketball team understood what his team did Saturday night at University of Maryland's Comcast Center.

Blue Devils 74, Old Mill 67. And with it, a third straight Class 4A state championship.

"Before I came to this school, I saw Jamal [Olasewere], I saw C.J. [Garner], I saw all the highlights," said sophomore forward Demetrius Austin. "So when I came, I talked it over with them in the summertime. I said ‘We're going to get this ring, keep this tradition going.'"

That they did, thanks to the 15 points and 13 rebounds tallied by the team's budding star. In a nip-and-tuck game throughout, Austin swung the tide in the second half after teammates heeded his advice.

"I said, ‘Give me the ball, and we'll win this game.'"

He quickly erased Springbrook's 2-point halftime deficit in the third quarter, powering in for two layups and drawing attention on a third attempt, which was put back by swingman Miles Jackson (10 points, 10 rebounds) to give the Blue Devils the lead for good. Austin wasn't done, taking a critical charge late in the game and clinching the victory with an ensuing layup. Fittingly, he dribbled out the clock.

"He told us what he was going to do," said guard Enerio Jones, who scored 15 points. "And he came out and played his butt off today."

Unlike the Blue Devils' (25-1) previous two titles, where Long Island (N.Y.) University teammates Garner and Olasewere were clearly the stars, the latest run featured everyone.

It was all three backcourt mates, senior DeShaunt Walker and juniors Enerio Jones and Devon Pestano. Walker was the most visible scorer, and went for a quiet 15 against the Patriots (21-4). Jones was louder, with several second-quarter jump shots to cut into an early Old Mill lead. Pestano only scored 6, but was impactful on the defensive end with his signature toughness.

In the end, it was also the front line. While the guards were the team's three leading scorers, Austin, Jackson and center Samin Ogunjobi all pitched in double-doubles against their outsized opponent.

"We figured being mostly juniors, the expectations were that we'd start slow," said Springbrook head coach Tom Crowell, "and we would get better as the year went on. Well, as the year went on, our guard play stayed consistent but our big guys got a lot better."

Ultimately, the Blue Devils extended their tradition into a dynasty. No other team has ever won three state championships in Maryland's largest classification. With an entirely new starting lineup, it wasn't supposed to happen.

"At the beginning of the year, everyone had us losing a bunch of games," said Walker. "It feels great to prove them wrong."

Added Crowell: "They're winners, and there's no doubt about it."