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The backcourt tandem of Lawrenzo Byers and Donovan Lucas of Brown Deer was simply too much for Xavier to overcome on Saturday during the WIAA Division 3 state championship game at the Kohl Center in Madison.

Byers scored 18 points and had four assists while Lucas contributed 21 points, five assists and four steals as the Falcons won their second consecutive D3 title with a 74-60 victory over the Hawks.

Byers played exceptionally well in each of the last two state tournaments and the left-handed, 6-foot-0 lead guard was called the "best guard in the state" by his coach, Kelly Appleby, following the game.

"Lawrenzo is a huge part of why we've been successful," Appleby said. "For a guard in the state of Wisconsin, I know I wouldn't want any other guard.

"I think he's the best guard in the state. His performance at the state tournament the last two years speaks for itself."

The Player of the Year in the Eastern Division of the Woodland Conference as a senior, Byers is considering several junior colleges, including Salt Lake Community College in Utah.

Lucas, meanwhile, used his tenacity, quickness and ever-lasting energy to make things difficult for the Xavier guards.

Though Xavier turned the ball over just 13 times, the Hawks appeared to be a bit rushed in their offensive sets.

"We have one of the top backcourts in the state, certainly I like our backcourt the best in Division 3," Appleby said. "Lawrenzo and Donovan are terrific players and then you add our reserves, Tony Thomas and Craig Schimenz, that's four pretty good backcourt players."  

Brown Deer, which finished the year 25-4, fell behind 7-0 before first-team all-league pick Taurus Adams hit a pair of three-point baskets to get the Falcons' untracked.

Brown Deer took the lead for good on a jumper by Lucas with 1:01 left in the first period.

"Coming into the game, we felt Taurus would be able to score inside and outside and create some matchup problems," Appleby said. "They gave him some space, and he knocked down three three-point shots in the game."

Though Xavier remained close for much of the contest -- thanks in large part to the toughess and grit of junior Sam Burkart -- Brown Deer slowly pulled away.

The Falcons led 37-28 by intermission and extended that margin to 56-41 heading into the fourth period.

Brown Deer was up 72-50 before Xavier used a late flurry to account for the final score.

The state title may have come as a surprise to many, considering Brown Deer lost both of its frontline starters to graduation from a year ago, but Appleby liked the nucleus of his returning players heading into the campaign.

"Using the underdog role is always something we can use as motivation," Appleby said. "We were confident in what we had in terms of kids coming back this season."

Xavier, which won the Eastern Valley Conference title, finished 24-4 under third-year coach Matt Klarner.

Burkart finshed with 20 points and senior Matt Kinderman added 13 for the Hawks, who managed 19 offensive rebounds but shot just 36 percent from the floor.

"We played hard and executed our game plan," Klarner said. "It was a great cap to a great season for our program.

"We like to take the layup if it's there and we'll take the three if it's there. It's just that Brown Deer shot the ball well and closed our well on our shooters."

Preliminary attendance for the Saturday afternoon championship session was 14,131. That is 746 more than last year's Saturday afternoon session.