It was a three-year run that was way too good to be remembered for coming up short twice.

But that's the dilemma Granger girls' coach Andy Affholter and his die-hard band of Spartans were wrestling with Saturday night.

View all photos for this story.

In the Class 1A state basketball championship game for the second year in a row -- and hoping to cleanse their memories of last year's stinging overtime loss -- the Spartans were overwhelmed by Freeman, which started fast and picked up speed for a 56-35 victory before a stunned and highly partisan crowd in the SunDome.

With both teams seeking their program's first title, the Scotties brought the kind of high-intensity defense that Granger is known for and -- also in Spartan fashion -- never relented.

A day after lighting up Connell with 58-percent shooting in the semifinals, Granger managed 27 percent (14-for-52) in the title and hit just one 3-point after burying 19 in its first three tournament games.

It was a sobering conclusion after a build-up that had such a natural progression to it -- third place two years ago, second place last year ... But Freeman's convincing win dulled the hurt a bit.

"Last year," Affholter said, "we lost it in overtime and that's a tough way to lose. Tonight we were just beaten. Give them credit, Freeman played a great game."

Tournament MVP Korina Baker, who squared off in a duel of standout point guards with 2009 MVP Janae Klarich, was one of four Freeman players in double figures with 12 points. She also had four steals, including two on midcourt passes that were quickly converted into layups.

"Winning this is just breathtaking," said Baker, who had 21 steals in the tournament. "We wanted to starting pushing it right at the start and that worked for us. We got ahead and kept pushing it."

With both teams hyper-eager for a fast start, the Scotties got there first.

Taking advantage of Granger's initial difficulty with Freeman's aggressive man defense, the Scotties' Alyssa Maine nailed a 3-pointer to start the scoring - the lone trey of the first half - and a 7-0 run later in the opening period stretched the margin to 13-4.

"That was our goal -- come out strong, pressure their shooters and close everything out," said Freeman coach Ashlee Taylor. "With as good as both of us were playing here, that start for us was very important. It set the pace."

Still, Granger was within reach at halftime, trailing 27-18. But Baker started the second half with one of those steals and layins, and Freeman kept its momentum intact with an 18-9 third quarter.

Freeman was turnover-forcing machine in getting here, piling up 27, 30 and 26 turnovers in three previous games. The Spartans, normally sure handed, didn't change that tide with 17 turnovers.

"Most of those were unforced," Affholter said, "We knew it was coming, we just didn't handle it very well."

Sam Zapien, one of Granger's core of five seniors, led her team with 11 points, and Ashlee Reddout grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Granger, which finished 24-2, made 1 of 15 shots from 3-point distance. A number Freeman couldn't imagine in its dreams.

"Getting out on their shooters was a huge priority," said Taylor, whose team finished 26-1. "If you don't, well, you've seen what they've done here. That's where it starts for them and we had to slow that down some."

Zapien and Klarich both made the all-tournament first team. Freeman's MacKenzie Taylor, who scored a game-high 13 points, made the second team.

Freeman's recent trophy wave started in 2005 with the runner-up finish and includes five hefty chunks of hardware -- all fifth place or better.

Five of the top seven trophies went to eastside teams. Following Freeman and Granger were Chelan (fourth), Connell (sixth) and Lakeside (seventh).

Freeman's title brings the gold ball back to the eastside after Lynden Christian ('08) and Seattle Christian ('09) interrupted an eight-year stranglehold shared by Colfax and Brewster.