MaxPreps Indiana Team of the Week: Guerin Catholic boys basketball

Guerin Catholic (Noblesville) boys basketball coach Pete Smith was a little surprised when the Associated Press picked his Golden Eagles as the No. 1 Class 3A team in the state before the season started.

"I believe it was based on last year, when we had three seniors who graduated and played in college this season," he said.

Doesn't make much sense.

But despite, a rough 8-8 stretch in the middle of the season, Guerin Catholic made AP look smart as it won its second state title in four years following a 62-56 win over Griffith at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Saturday.

Matt Holba had a game-high 29 points and 14 rebounds and Christian Munson had 12 points as the Golden Eagles (23-8) ended the season on a nine-game win streak after starting the season 6-0.

"I can't say it was a surprise (they won it), but this team really had to figure out their own problems on the court in January," Smith said. "And they did. I thought they could win it, but there were times in the season I wasn't sure they were going to get it done."

It helps to have a talent like Holba, a 6-foot-6 senior guard who led the team in scoring (18.8 per game) and rebounding (9.7). Munson, a 6-5 junior, averaged 15 points per game and Matthew Godfrey, a 5-11 sophomore guard, averaged 7.9.

"Matt is a true wing," Smith said. "But this year he was asked to play in the post a lot due to his strength and size. He delivered down there too."

The best part about the move? Holba didn't even blink, even though he played guard on the team's 22-4 team in 2013-14.

"He's the ultimate team player," Smith said. "He was too unselfish the first half of the season, but he really evolved into an all-around, go-to guy down the last stretch of the season."

Though the team struggled in the middle of the season, Smith said that was key.

"We had some rough losses against pretty good opponents," he said. "Several of those eight losses we considered our own fault and we felt we beat ourselves.

"We overcame that stretch by valuing the basketball better, and we stopped giving up the baseline so much on defense."

It all translated into the school's second title in only nine years of existence. They've had a lot of success, going 22-4, 17-6, 24-6, 16-9, 15-12, 16-8 and 17-6 before this season.

Every season is different. This team persevered.

"The team bonded together and they all became accountable for their play," Smith said.