Dickinson Trinity fans began the chant with less than a minute remaining Saturday: "Remember the Titans."
It's a good bet Milnor won't forget any time soon.
Chad Glasser had 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists to lead Trinity to a convincing 47-26 victory against the Bison in front of an estimated 6,850 fans at the North Dakota Class B boys basketball championship at the Fargodome.
The state title is the first in Dickinson Trinity history. The Titans (25-2), who were defeated by Mayville-Portland-Clifford-Galesburg in the state title game last season, have advanced to the state tournament four times during the past six years.
"Finally," Titans coach Gregg Grinsteinner said. "We were battle tested. We played a very good team, but we just fought hard and stepped up to the challenge."
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Trinity did more than just step up to the challenge. They breezed through it.
The Titans held Milnor (25-3) to just five points in the second quarter en route to a 22-15 halftime lead.
The Bison, playing in their first state title game since 1966, struggled offensively against Trinity's man-to-man defense.
Milnor's leading scorer, Jordan Olson, who entered the game averaging 18 points a game, had just four at halftime.
"They were by far the best defense we faced all year," Olson said. "They were a quick and rough-playing team. They didn't allow us to get into a rhythm on offense."
Besides its defense, the key to Trinity's fast start was the offensive contribution of its lesser-known starters and role players.
Glasser, who has been the focus of opposing defenses the entire year, received help from Brandon Messer, Steve Maershbecker, Landon Smith, Jayden Peters and Lee Kiedrowski.
The players combined to shoot 6 of 16 from the floor for 13 points before halftime.
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"I'd rather have them score than me score," Glasser said. "When they score it gives them confidence. And they had confidence in the first half."
The Titans broke the game open in the third when they outscored Milnor 15-3. The Bison were limited to just one field goal in the quarter.
Trinity held a nearly insurmountable 37-18 advantage at the end of the third.
"They didn't want to give up," Milnor coach Terry Timm said. "But I could see at the end that we were out of it. We just had to concede."
The Bison shot 25 percent from the floor for the game.
Trinity outrebounded Milnor 31-25.
"I think it started with rebounding," Grinsteinner said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Heath Hotzler at (701) 241-5562
