PEORIA, Ill. (AP) -- Senior forward Dakota Getz scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Macon Meridian beat a tough Woodlawn team 63-53 to capture the Boys Class 1A state championship Saturday at Carver Arena.

Teammate Trent Swigert, the team's leading scorer all season, was right behind Getz, pouring in 17 points including several key free throws during the final four minutes to help seal the game.

Sophomore guard Dawson Verhines led Woodlawn with 16 points before fouling out with 6:21 left in the game. Senior forward Bronson Verhines grabbed 13 rebounds in a losing effort.

Meridian coach Jack Blickensderfer, who is also the school's principal, said winning a championship was his team's "unspoken goal all season long."

"We didn't talk about it much, we just went about doing what we needed to do each game," Blickensderfer said. "The kids showed this weekend and played hard."

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)