After a valiant second-half rally, the Cole boys basketball team saw a late lead slip away in a 53-51 loss to Dallas Madison in the UIL Class 3A State championship game on Saturday morning.

Seniors Trey Blackmore, Dre Ray and Silas Livingston powered the Cole boys basketball team to a 53-49 victory over Hitchcock in the UIL Class 3A state semifinals, clinching a spot in Saturday's championship game.

On the exact anniversary of the 2020 University Interscholastic League (UIL) state tournament’s cancellation due to COVID-19, the Cougars used a third-quarter surge to knock off Tatum in the Class 3A State Championship Game at the Alamodome, 77-60. Trailing 9-7 after one quarter of play, Cole found some separation in the second quarter. Cole then outscored Tatum 31-12 in the third quarter, providing all the separation they would need to cruise to the title. Congrats to Cole High School on winning the Class 3A boys state basketball title! #KSATsports @RGC_BBasketball @SHAQ https://t.co/FGNKcY3yAK pic.twitter.com/GylwsuZHII — KSAT 12 Sports (@InstantReplaySA) March 13, 2021This is the program’s first state championship since Shaquille O’Neal led the Cougars to the Class 3A title in 1989.