Congrats, Athens Red Hawks - On to the State Playoffs!

District champs!

Troy Athens High may not have gone into Friday night's MHSAA Class A title game against Waterford Mott with the point spread in their favor, but they came out with something far more satisfying.

District champs — the first such title for the Red Hawks varsity boys basketball team since 2000.

"Very satisfying," is how the Red Hawks' John Van Hoef described the 69-64 win in the District 29 finals to MI Prep Zone, "But we're not done ... We've still got work to do in regionals."

No word whether or not Friday's win was extra-sweet, given the Red Hawks' defeat at the hands of Mott in last season's district semifinals.

Next up for Athens will be a trip to West Bloomfield on Monday to play in the Region 8 semifinals against Bloomfield Hills Lahser. The Knights are coming off of a district title win against Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory on Friday.

See a full bracket on MHSAA.com here.

State semifinals and finals will be at the Breslin Center in East Lansing from March 21-23.