Don't be alarmed if you walk into the gym at Xavier High School and see a few people hanging from the rafters.

They'll simply be attaching another state championship banner to the ceiling, something they've done many times before at Xavier.

The Saints collected the 25th state title in the brief 15-year history of the school Saturday night when the girls basketball team won the Class 4A championship in Des Moines with a thrilling 53-52 victory over the Harlan Cyclones.

Xavier honored the girls basketball team during a ceremony in the gym Monday morning.

Coach Tom Lilly stole the show by leading the student body in a couple of victory chants. The normally staid head coach also performed a victory dance to the delight of his players and Xavier crowd.

"I!," he began, initiating one of the favorite cheers from high school games as the students cheered along in unison.

"I Believe!

"I Believe That We Just Won! I Believe That We Just Won!"

Lilly capped the "I Believe!" chant with his little dance, then went into another cheer.

"V-I!

"C-T!

"O-R-Y!

"V-I-C-T-O-R-Y! V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!"

"All right," he told the students. "That's all you get."

The Saints entered the gym to a standing ovation and stood in the middle of the floor, behind a table that was decorated with their state championship plaque, Lilly's award for being the state championship coach, and Kayla Armstrong's award for being the player of the state championship game.

"How about that Kayla Armstrong! How about that kid!" Lilly yelled into the microphone.

There was also a game ball from the tournament, along with the bouquet of roses the team received after winning the title. Several of the roses were drooping, but it did not take the bloom off the victory.

"Well, it was a heck of a ride," said Lilly.

Lilly pretended to let the crowd know about a secret pact he'd made with his players.

"I told them, if we win the state title they could shave my mustache off," he announced. "So ...."

At that point he put a can of shaving creme on the table, but then let everyone know he was joking.

"Do you think I'd let them shave my mustache off? No way," he said.

Armstrong and Sarah Dickes, the team captains, thanked the students and fans for supporting them at the state tournament.

Xavier High School has won 25 state titles in eight different sports since the school opened in 1998. The Saints have won eight titles in girls soccer, five in boys soccer, four in girls basketball, two in boys cross country, two in girls cross country, two in boys track and one apiece in football and baseball.