“We were in the same predicament last year,” Spartans coach Omar McMillan recalled from last year’s victory over Holy Angels. “To come back and fight, keep their composures, keep them believing — that’s all we asked for at halftime.”

Trailing 43-33 at halftime, Richfield came out strong in the second half with Grayson, who led the Spartans (14-4) with 37 points, and guard Mitchell January combining to score every point of a 13-2 run that tied the score.

Grayson, among the semifinalists for this year’s Mr. Basketball award, overcame a slow start marred by missed shots and turnovers. He scored nearly half of Richfield’s 60 second-half points. Nearly every point was needed to fend off phenomenal Packers guard Alonzo Dodd, who led all scorers with 39 points.

Grayson and Dodd traded baskets until the final minute, when Dodd was fouled on a three-point attempt while his team trailed 91-88. Dodd made two free throws, but Grayson responded with two of his own for Richfield as time ran out on a magical season for the Packers (19-1).

Grayson’s teammates surrounded him after the clutch shots, throwing their hands up in jubilation to the roar of a raucous Richfield section that showed up for the game at South St. Paul.

“That’s typical Lamar,” McMillan said. “Sometimes people overlook it because of the amount of points he has, but he feeds off his teammates. He’s not only an on-the-floor leader, but an off-the-floor leader as well.”

With another section title, Richfield has put far behind it the six consecutive losing seasons that preceded this run of state tournament berths.

“They’re going to be excited to get there,” McMillan said. “We still got some work to do. That was our goal, to win another sectional championship and get a chance at that bigger trophy.”

The Spartans will get that chance next week when the state tournament quarterfinals are held Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 regional sites across the state.