WATERTOWN – Mission accomplished.

After back-to-back runner-up finishes, the Hamlin Chargers cleared the final hurdle and won the Class A girls’ state basketball championship Saturday night with a hard-fought 58-55 win over Wagner at the Watertown Arena.

“It feels so amazing. I can’t stop crying,” said Hamlin senior leader Kami Wadsworth. “It’s just been my dream forever and to not get it the last two years, and to come back in this game and get the job done feels amazing.”

As is the norm, Wadsworth found herself the center of attention in the lane, meaning someone else had to step up and hit some shots from the perimeter. All four of Hamlin’s other starters did just that to help fuel the victory.

“We’ve got kids that can shoot and we proved that all year long,” said Hamlin coach Tim Koisti. “When teams try to double us they’ll leave somebody open.”

The Chargers were able to knock down eight three-point field goals to help foil Wagner’s strategy of shutting down the interior.

“That was kind of the game plan,” said Wagner coach Michael Koupal. “You have to take away Kami and contain her. We did a good job on (Ally) Abraham, not letting her pass the ball down in. We pressured her, but their guards hit some big shots. That’s what it was.”

Brooklyn Brandriet led the outside attack with four 3-pointers. The senior knew she would be called upon to make some perimeter shots.

“I wasn’t shooting very well the first two games,” Brandriet said, “but I knew with how big Wagner is that our guards would have to take over and hit some shots. Luckily, I was on tonight and made some big shots for us.”

Brandriet’s shooting helped to erase an early 20-11 deficit as well as build a 29-22 lead. However, the Red Raiders stayed within striking distance and trailed by three points in the middle of the third quarter when it was Abraham’s turn to step up.

The senior, who had managed two points to that stage, scored six points in the span of a minute as the Chargers built a 46-37 advantage.

“I knew that they may leave me open, because other people had been shooting really good and Kami is such a threat down low,” Abraham said. “I just had confidence in myself and my teammates that I could shoot that ball. And it soon clicked, I guess.”

Again, Wagner battled back and whittled the margin down to a single point on three different occasions to start the fourth quarter. However, the Red Raiders could never get over the hump and eventually had to foul late in the game.

Wadsworth stepped up to the free-throw line and made 4 of 6 free throws, including a pair with 12.6 seconds left after Wagner had once again cut the deficit down to a single point.

While the foul shots put the Chargers up three, they still had to defend one final Wagner possession and were up to the task getting the stop that started the celebration.

“We knew defense wins championships,” Wadsworth said, “and that’s what we came out and did. We knew we had to defend them.”

Hamlin’s three senior leaders combined for 43 points in the win. Wadsworth finished with 17, Brandriet had 14, and Abraham contributed 12.

“I just want to give a shout out to Kami and Ally and Brooklyn for all the work that they’ve done,” Koisti said. “They have led us for many years and we’re going to miss them greatly.”

Marissa Bawdon added eight points and Addison Neuendorf finished with seven.

Wagner also had a balanced scoring attack led by Ashlyn Koupal with 14 points and Emma Yost with 13. Shalayne Nagel followed with 10 and Lydia Yost had nine.

The win capped an undefeated season for Hamlin as the Chargers finished with a 25-0 record and captured the most coveted trophy in Class A girls’ basketball.

“Second place, as amazing as it is and as hard as it is to get there, first is so much nicer,” Koisti said.

WAGNER (24-2): Eve Zephier 1 0-0 2, Shalayne Nagel 5 0-0 10, Emma Yost 6 1-2 13, Ashlyn Koupal 6 0-0 14, Macy Koupal 3 1-1 7, Lydia Yost 3 0-0 9. Totals 24-42 2-3 55.

HAMLIN (25-0): Addison Neuendorf 3 0-0 7, Brooklyn Brandriet 5 0-0 14, Ally Abraham 5 1-2 12, Kami Wadsworth 4 9-12 17, Marissa Bawdon 3 0-0 8. Totals 20-48 10-14 58.

Wagner 20 33 43 55

Hamlin 14 34 46 58

3-point field goals – Wagner 5-11 (A. Koupal 2, L. Yost 3); Hamlin 8-19 (Neuendorf, Brandriet 4, Abraham, Bawdon 2). Fouled out – Abraham. Total fouls – Wagner 14; Hamlin 11. Rebounds – Wagner 20 (E. Yost 6); Hamlin 22 (Wadsworth 7, Abraham 6). Turnovers – Wagner 14; Hamlin 13. Assists – Wagner 5 (E. Yost 3, M. Koupal 2); Hamlin 6 (Neuendorf 2, Abraham 2, Wadsworth 2). Steals – Wagner 9 (Zephier 3, E. Yost 2, M. Koupal 2); Hamlin 8 (Wadsworth 3, Neuendorf 2, Brandriet 2).