Better late than never.

After decades of close calls, including four runner-up finishes in championship games, Xavier won its first basketball title in the school's decorated history with a thrilling, 60-53 victory over defending champion Desert Vista Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The seven-point differential hardly reflected a contest that came down to the final moments. Xavier senior Sarah Miller led all scorers with 23 points which included five three-pointers to go along with seven rebounds. Fellow senior Dominique Nesland added 16 points, as did sophomore Noelle Bofia, who also pulled down 12 rebounds for the Gators.

"This is an amazing win and championship for not only these seniors, but for our school and administration," Xavier coach Jennifer Gillom.

"We have amazing support all around, so I'm just really so very proud of these girls, especially after what they've been through the last three years."

Gillom was referencing three straight seasons that ended in the semifinals. Xavier got over that hump Tuesday when it beat Pinnacle, after which it was time to focus on breaking through in the championship game. Gillom, who coached from 2004 to '08 before returning for the 2017-'18 season, reached the finals in '18 and '19 before three consecutive losses in the semifinals.

"This feels so awesome it's hard to really describe," Dominique Nesland said after the game. "For the seniors to win this for coach Gillom means everything. She's such a great mentor and she's our biggest supporter. She pushes so hard in practice but she also literally runs with us sometimes."

Already an Olympic Gold medal winner and accomplished WNBA player and coach, Saturday's title victory was only the most recent of a long list of accomplished basketball accolades for Gillom. 

But the win didn't come easy for Xavier (25-4). The Gators raced out to to a 19-7 lead in the first quarter on the shoulders of Bofia, who scored nine points and pulled down six rebounds in the first eight minutes. But Desert Vista (24-5) battled back in the second quarter, with Dylan Swindle hitting two 3-pointers and cutting Xavier's lead to five (26-21) by halftime.

That's when the game really got started, as the third quarter turned into a shootout, with the  teams combining for seven three-point field goals. Swindle connected on two more for the Thunder while Miller did the same for Xavier, including one in which she was fouled and converted a four point play for the Gators. 

Xavier led 46-42 entering the fourth quarter. Miller drained two more 3-pointers for Xavier, her second giving the Gators a 52-49 lead with 3:22 to play. Desert Vista got a bucket from Trinity Jones before Eanae Dagons hit a jumper that brought the Thunder within one point of Xavier (54-43) with under a minute to play. Dominique Nesland hit two more free throws for Xavier and it was 56-53 with 38 seconds remaining.

With the season on the line Desert Vista took possession, and Shay Ijiwoye (11 points) drove hard to the basket, but was called for offensive charging, turning the ball over to Xavier. The call was pivotal as Desert Vista was forced to foul as there was only 26 seconds left. Dominique Resland went to the free throw line four more times for Xavier, hitting all four to finish the game and championship season.

"Getting to see our seniors and coach Gillom win this and to be a part of this feels amazing," Xavier junior guard Lucy Sanford said. "I'm gonna miss these seniors but we're going to run it back again next year."

Swindle led the Thunder with 16 points. Ijiwoye scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the double-double. Aniyah Riddell scored 10 points and Eanae Dagons added 10. It was a bittersweet end for Desert Vista, which overcame a turbulent offseason before reaching the title game and coming up just short.

"These kids grew so much this year," Desert Vista coach Erin O'Bryan said afterward. "There were alot of great individual players when I got here in the offseason. I knew if we wanted to get back here we had to play together. The difference tonight is (Xavier) made shots and free throws at the end, and we didn't. It's just the way it goes."