A year after heartbreak at the Breslin Center, the seniors for the Riverview Gabriel Richard boys basketball team returned on Saturday and left no doubt in claiming the MHSAA Division 3 title.

A new team will be crowned for the first time as A&T Academy of Pontiac and Riverview Gabriel Richard will play in the first state championships in school history.Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The third game of the day’s festivities was the Division 3 state title between No. 1-ranked Riverview Gabriel Richard and No. 8-ranked A&T Academy of Pontiac, each of whom were making their first-ever state finals appearance.

Luke Westerdale and running mate Nick Sobush each scored 22 points to lead Riverview Richard to a 66-45 victory over Pewamo-Westphalia on Thursday.

After cruising to a victory in their state quarterfinal round game earlier in the week on Tuesday, the Riverview Gabriel Richard boys’ basketball team made its second straight Division 3 state semifinals appearance on Thursday at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.