North Butler didn't need much time to win its first state championship.

The third-ranked Bearcats beat No. 5 Battle Creek-Ida Grove 40-27 Friday night to win the Class 2A title. The championship came in just the second year for the school, which was formed when the Allison-Bristow and Greene districts joined forces.

North Butler lost in the semifinals of last year's state tournament.

All-tournament selection Indy Uhlenhopp led North Butler with 11 points and nine rebounds, while all-tournament captain Erin Brocka added 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Kelsey Bolte, one of the state's top juniors, led Battle Creek-Ida Grove with 13 points and six rebounds in the battle of once-beaten teams. Katie Hummelgard added six points for the Falcons. Bolte also made the all-tournament team.

North Butler took control when it started the second quarter with an 8-0 run to erase a 10-9 Battle Creek-Ida Grove lead.

Uhlenhopp got the Bearcats going when she converted a three-point play off a leaner in the lane. Kelsey Delp followed with a 3-pointer and Uhlenhopp drove the length of the court for a basket that made it 17-10. Uhlenhopp got two more buckets in the quarter as North Butler built a 24-14 halftime lead.

North Butler kept up its defensive pressure in the second half, outscoring the Falcons 9-4 in the third period to take the lead to 34-18. The lead grew to 20 when the Bearcats scored the first four points of the fourth quarter.

Battle Creek-Ida Grove put together a late 9-0 run that included five points by Bolte, but the Falcons had too much ground to make up.

North Butler finished 28-1. The loss was to AGWSR, the team the Bearcats beat in the semifinals on Thursday. Battle Creek-Ida Grove takes the runner-up trophy home with a 27-2 record.

The all tournament team:

Erin Brocka, North Butler, captain

Indy Uhlenhopp, North Butler

Kelsey Bolte, Battle Creek-Ida Grove

Jodi Best, Audubon

Kati Jo Christensen, Audubon

Mindy Hutchcroft, AGWSR