Class 4A Final: Bloomington South Downs Kokomo 56-42

Bloomington South (26-2) got 14 points from Desmond Marks and 13 from Darwin Davis and denied Kokomo its first state boys basketball title in 50 years Saturday with a 56-42 victory in Indiana's Class 4A championship game.

The teams traded blows before halftime, with Bloomington South taking a 22-18 lead into the break. But Kokomo couldn't weather the 34-point offensive explosion on 60 percent field-goal shooting from Bloomington South in the second half.

Kokomo (22-3) doomed itself with 1-of-16 shooting on 3-pointers. Kokomo made seven of eight free throws, but Bloomington South made 15 of 20 effort and also played better team basketball with 11 assists to only two for Kokomo.

Davis, who has committed to Xavier, had 10 assists.

Armon Bridgeforth and Cheyse Swain paced Kokomo with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Kokomo's prestigious history of 71 sectional championships, 34 regional crowns (tied for third all time), eight semi-state crowns (tied for fifth all-time) and 19 state finals (fifth all-time) didn't help it capture what would have been only its second state crown and first since 1961.