"They said we couldn't do it, but we did. We did it."

Whether "they" doubted the Springbrook boys basketball team, as senior forward Jamal Olasewere suggested shortly after Saturday night's Class 4A State Championship Game, is up for debate. But after the Blue Devils' 73-61 victory over Prince George's County's Wise (21-6), it's time to say something that truly can't be debated: They are one of the best basketball teams in state history.

The Blue Devils (27-0) achieved not only an unbeaten season, but a repeat title in the state's highest classification, which had not been done since Northwestern went back-to-back in 1967 and ‘68. They are also the fourth consecutive team from Montgomery County to win the 4A hardware, following Whitman in 2006 and Sherwood in ‘07.

"My thoughts are that it's about five great seniors we have, for our school, for Montgomery County," said Springbrook coach Tom Crowell. "I was around when Richard Montgomery tried to [repeat in 1967]. I was 16 at the time. … It's pretty unbelievable."

There were actually several things hard to believe about Springbrook's convincing victory at the University of Maryland's Comcast Center, starting with its free-throw shooting.

Considered their Achilles' heel all season, the Blue Devils put the game away because of their work at the charity stripe. Holding onto a single-digit lead in the final 3 minutes, they scored their last 21 points of the night at the line. After Kwambia Coker's layup earned them a 52-46 lead, they nailed 18 out of 19 foul shots.

Forward Jeremy Williams came up especially big in the clutch, knocking down eight straight free throws in the final period.

"I was in a slump the whole game," said Williams. "In the fourth quarter, I thought I needed to pick it up because the game was close."

Williams also credited Springbrook's defense, which was one of the tops in the state, allowing just under 45 points per game. Just as important to its undefeated season was its poise and unselfishness.

There was no C.J. Garner to dominate the ball like a year ago. Instead, there was the emergence of ball-handler extraordinaire Chris Carter, and versatile forwards like Coker, Brandon Davis and Zaid Hearst, who could finish, dribble and pass like guards. As a result, the Blue Devils picked apart the athletic Pumas when they ran waves of defenders at them.

These were constant traits of the 2008-09 Blue Devils, things they didn't even possess during last year's dramatic run to the state title. Another constant was Olasewere, but his last two performances were unbelievable even by his lofty standards.

Forget his consecutive statistical lines: 28 points and 14 boards on Thursday, 21 and 15 in the finals. His mere presence was even more palpable. It just seemed he was everywhere, getting every important rebound and bucket when his team needed them.

After his game-winning layup against Charles County's Thomas Stone in the 2007-08 state final, Olasewere predicted a repeat performance. But while bear-hugging every one of his teammates in the game's final moments, he didn't even seem to believe it.

"I was in shock," he said. "27-0, undefeated, two championships. I'm 52-2 in two years. It's a blessing from God."

In fact, it took a little divine intervention to get Springbrook into the record books. After a Williams turnover late in the fourth quarter of Thursday's semifinal, its season was on the brink.

But the senior swing atoned for his own miscue when it mattered most. With Walbrook up three and the buzzer about to sound, Williams put up a shot from the right wing that hit the front rim and bounced high in the air.

And in.

As Williams joked: "Christian Laettner, eh?"

The Blue Devils survived a game-tying three by the Warriors in the first overtime, finally winning in a second extra frame, 74-69.

The rest is history.