SIOUX FALLS - Late in the second quarter of the state championship game, the Madison Bulldogs had four players surrounding Platte-Geddes' 6-foot-5 center Colin Ringling 5-feet away from the basket.

Ringling was not bothered by the Bulldogs' defense and shot a relative easy shot to bring his team up by 12 points (28-16).

So went the night for the Platte-Geddes Black Panthers and the Madison Bulldogs as Platte-Geddes won the Class A boys state basketball championship. The Panthers rode an early lead and took the trophy home with a 55-42 victory.

"I am so proud of the kids. it's just a great win for our kids and the two great communities," said Platte-Geddes head coach Frank Cutler.

Cutler and the whole community celebrated the 2008 state championship at the Sioux Falls Arena while the players, full of excitement, cut down the nets.

The Bulldogs (19-7 overall) made a second-half run which saw 3-pointers from the hero of Thursday's night game, Ryan Steffensen, and points in the paint from sophomore Derrick Wiebe. But the Black Panthers (23-3) always had an answer for a Bulldogs run.

Platte-Geddes' junior Jordan Johnson scored a fast-break lay-up with a little under five minutes remaining in the game to make the score 44-37 in favor of Platte-Geddes.

Forward-center Tony Fiegen would miss two free throws on the Bulldogs next trip and Madison could not manage to make the deficit under seven for the remainder of the game.

Bulldog forward Chad White would make a dunk with more than two minutes remaining in the game to send a jolt to the Bulldog faithful to make but Johnson who finished with 15 points and Keith Cutler who contributed 18 were too much for Madison.

"We had a great season this year, we have an unique group of seniors and I am proud of them," said

Bulldogs head coach Michael Ricke.

Trevor Freet led Madison with 10 points and three assists.