DES MOINES -- Mount Vernon erased a 15-point third quarter deficit and beat Fort Dodge St. Edmond, 48-45, Friday night in the Class 2A championship game of the boys state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

Mount Vernon (23-4) claimed its first boys state basketball championship since 1973.

Micah Russell scored 12 of his team-high 19 points in the second half for Mount Vernon. Jack Kelleher adedd 10 points and Jake Timm had eight.

Nick Clark scored 24 points to lead St. Edmond (20-7).

St. Edmond outscored Mount Vernon 23-9 to end the first half with a 28-17 lead.

The Gaels stretched the margin to 32-17 midway through the third quarter.

Two free throws by Russell started a 15-4 Mount Vernon run to end the third quarter that pulled the mustangs within 36-32.

Mount Vernon took its first lead since the first quarter, 42-40, on Ruseel's layup with 3:12 left in the game.

St. Edmond reclaimed the lead, 44-43, on Alex Mericle's layup with 2:14 to play.

Russell's layup with 2:03 to play put the Mustangs ahead to stay, 45-44. Timm made 3 of 4 free throws in the final 19 seconds to seal the win.

Boxscore

Final leaders, All-Tournament team

CLARINDA 69, MFL MARMAC 52 -- Tyler Steeve scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounbds to lead Clarinda to the Class 2A consolation championship.

Clarinda (21-5) held a 46-44 lead after three quarters, but went on a 12-0 run to start the fourth period that put the game away. The Cardinals made 20 of 23 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Alex Hiatt added 14 points for Clarinda.

Dalton Dettbarn scored 15 points and Brandon Hertrampf added 13 for MFL (24-3), which came into the tournament as the No. 1 seed.

Boxscore