DES MOINES — One team. One singular goal.

Throughout the season and all those wins, the postgame responses from the Linn-Mar Lions were generally the same.

Nice win, they would say, sometimes with a shrug. But it doesn’t mean much now. What matters is later.

Later has come and gone. That singular goal has been achieved.

Linn-Mar captured the Class 4A girls’ state basketball championship Saturday, capping a 26-0 season with a 38-35 win over Des Moines East.

“They had a focus. They had a goal,” said Linn-Mar Coach Mike Brandt. “From Day 1, they came and knew what they wanted to do.”

The Lions sobbed in the press room after semifinal losses in 2008 (to Iowa City High) and 2009 (to Ames).

They teared up again Saturday. These were happier tears.

But what if? What if Kiley Haines’ 3-pointer with a minute left hit the rim instead of the net?

What if the Lions had lost. Would the season have been a failure?

“Our No. 1 goal was to win a state championship, but if we hadn’t, it wouldn’t have been a failure,” Brandt said. “There’s not a better group of kids anywhere. I wouldn’t trade them for anybody.”

An eye ahead to 2010-11

If enrollment doesn’t bump it up a class, Mount Vernon will enter 2010-11 as the favorite to repeat as the 2A champion.

Barring anything unforeseen, the Mustangs will bring back four starters, including all-tournament captain Taylor Dicus.

The Mustangs’ chief competition will come from semifinalists Ida Grove OA-BCIG (four returning starters) and Roland-Story (three, including Maddie Oliver).

Des Moines East looks like the 4A favorite. Four starting Scarlets will be seniors next year, including Markisha Wright and Shondra Butts. Ankeny and Pleasant Valley bring back the bulk of their lineups, and Kiah Stokes should keep Linn-Mar in the mix.

Ballard appears to be a firm favorite in 3A. Double-digit scorers Taylor Greenfield and Sammy Jensen return. DeWitt Central could be the most serious challenger.

In 1A, Pride of Iowa Conference rivals Mount Ayr and Martensdale-St. Marys return the most. Mount Ayr beat MSM in the semifinals, avenging a regular-season defeat. Both bring back four starters.

How did we do?

Our pre-tournament picks netted a 21-7 record.

We correctly identified two champions — Linn-Mar (4A) and Sioux City Heelan (3A).