The Juneau Pioneers boys basketball team captured its first state title on Saturday, taking home the WIAA Division 4 gold ball with their 62-54 win over Cambridge at the Kohl Center.

Junior Dooney Johnson flourished on the big stage once again, posting 23 points (9-16 shooting), 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks in the win. Johnson, a Gonzaga University commit, averaged 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks during the state tournament.

During each state tournament game, a different all-Milwaukee City Conference teammate joined Johnson to propel Juneau over the top. After senior guard Takis Tyler finished with 22 points in Thursday’s semifinals win over Regis, senior forward Jaden Hardiman shined on Saturday, tallying 17 points on 6-9 shooting.

Juneau hounded Cambridge throughout the day, forcing 19 total turnovers while managing to only cough up the ball nine times itself. The Pioneers closed out the game with several lengthy offensive possessions, clutch free throws from Hardiman and Jasan Dennis, and a flurry of powerful Hardiman dunks, including one alley oop toss from Johnson on the break.

Dennis (7 points, 3 steals), Tyler (7 points, 4 steals, 4 assists), Corey Collins (6 points, 3-3 shooting), and Jaidyn Ceballos (2 points, 1 rebound) rounded out the stat sheet for the Pioneers with big minutes on Saturday.

Joshua Legister, Christopher Robertson, Randall Robertson, Tiouwalase Oni, and Ashton Hardiman all appeared in the game as well.

Juneau (28-1) is the 24th Milwaukee City Conference team to win a boys basketball state title all-time and the first to do so since Rufus King went back to back in 2003 and 2004. Riverside was the last MCC member school to win a title in either boys or girls basketball, capturing the Division 1 girls gold ball in 2013. Rufus King was the last MCC member school to win a team title of any kind, taking home first-place honors in girls track and field in 2016 and 2017.

Interested in purchasing Juneau state championship gear? Visit the team store here and order by March 26!