If St. Stephens wins the Class 1A boys championship today, it will be much more than just another victory, just another state championship.

The Eagles don't want it that way -- they'd rather have Donovan Blackburn back on their team.

Instead, St. Stephens will do what it can to honor his memory instead.

Blackburn was killed last summer in a car crash in Fremont County. A senior-to-be at St. Stephens, Blackburn was a star for the Eagles in their resurgence, which started with a state championship in his freshman year.

Among the standing-room-only crowd at Swede Erickson Thunderbird Gym on Friday were several people sporting t-shirts or sweatshirts in Blackburn's memory:

"In loving memory."

"Our boy."

"RIP."

The fact that St. Stephens gets to play Burlington -- the team that beat the Eagles 49-47 in last year's state championship game -- only makes today's championship that much sweeter.

St. Stephens advanced to the championship by outlasting Encampment 66-49, while Burlington beat Kaycee 45-37.

The two schools have combined to win the past four Class 1A championships; St. Stephens won in 2004 and 2005, while Burlington won in 2003.

St. Stephens senior Wambli Burnette, who scored 14 points in Friday's victory, said Blackburn's spirit has helped carry the Eagles this winter.

"It's probably the biggest thing in the world right now, winning for my brother 'Bones,'" Burnette said. " … Everything is for him right now."

St. Stephens trailed by as many as eight points in the first half against Encampment. But the Eagles controlled the pace of the game in the second half, taking the lead for good on Burnette's layup with 2 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The Eagles added an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Darryn Davis, who had 10 points for the Eagles, said Blackburn's presence was with the Eagles in that stretch, just like it has been all season.

"It's like our sixth man out there," Davis said.

Burlington led for all but one possession in the second half against Kaycee. Paul Christiansen made all eight of his foul shots in the final 32.3 seconds to wrap up the win.

"We knew that once we got to the free throw line, if we had the right guys at the line, we'd be OK," Burlington coach Dan LaRose said.

St. Stephens has won two of its three games against Burlington this year, including last week's West Regional championship.

Contact high school sports coordinator Patrick Schmiedt at (307) 266-0615 or patrick.schmiedt@casperstartribune.net