One year after heartbreak ended the Pirates’ season, Pagosa Springs High School was the last Class 3A girls basketball team standing.

The Pirates defeated previously unbeaten Sterling (26-1) 39-36 in the CHSAA Class 3A Girls Basketball State Championships on Saturday in Golden to claim their first state title in program history.

It is just the third state championship Pagosa Springs High School has won, with the other two coming in boys basketball.

It capped a perfect 26-0 season for the team coached by Wes Lewis.

A year ago, the Pirates were unbeaten going into the state championship game, where they lost 52-45 to Holy Family.

Junior Taylor Lee-Hammer scored 15 points for Pagosa Springs, all in the second half. Payton Shahan came up with clutch baskets down the stretch, and two free throws each by Madison Lewis and Shannel Wilson late preserved Pagosa Springs’ lead. Shahan made 1-of-2 free throws with 9.9 seconds remaining that gave the Pirates a four-point lead to put the game away.

The Pirates were the champions of the Intermountain League, a league they share with Alamosa, Bayfield, Centauri, Montezuma-Cortez and Monte Vista.

heraldsports@durangoherald.com