Full-court pressure and steals early, sustained momentum boosts from a large crowd and a final rally in the last half of the fourth quarter spelled one result for the Southwest boys basketball team — Holiday Tournament champions.

The Trojans overcame Diamond in the title match, 78-54, led by MVP Lucas Paulsen and surrounded with story lines and history that will leave their marks on the proud program.

“This feels amazing,” Paulsen said. “The best part was doing it wit my team. They supported me the whole way and we pushed together to keep going and get this win.”

The Trojans led by 23 at the end of the third quarter, and the Wildcats put together a run to cut the lead to 15 with 3:57 to go.

Rusty Roe, Southwest boys basketball coach, said his boys took it from there.

“I took that timeout, and any coach can do that and tell their guys to take a second and breathe,” he said. “I don’t have to do that. They came over and took the moment over. They make me look like a genius because they took charge and took the lead back over 20 points.”

In the next minute after that timeout, Paulsen hit a layup, then immediately stole the inbound pass and scored another. Two more baskets by Coy Shrum and Brandon Brooks gave the Trojans an 8-0 run in about a minute of play, pushing the game out of Diamond’s reach.

“Once we got going, we stayed intent and eager,” Paulsen said. “We never let our guard down or let the excitement get to us. The confidence we carry within one another amazes me, and that’s what kept us going.”

Roe said the key to Southwest’s success over the week was all over the floor, but specifically on the defensive end.

“We had a defensive focus, not just intensity, and that drove the team, having that energy together,” he said. “We did a good job not only in the full-court press, but he frontcourt, as well. Last time we played Diamond, they also had a lot more offensive rebounds, but not tonight.”

Southwest employed a fullcourt press from the start of the game, the first time that plan has been executed this season.

“It would be smart to say we do it to wear them down, but for us, the tempo is just better when we play in the press and at our speed,” Roe said. “We don’t always know if the press will wear the other team down or if beating the press is right up their alley. This was the first time we’ve started a game in a full-court press, and the idea was to set a high pace and tempo early.”

The title is the third for the home team, hosting its 40th edition of the tournament. The last championship came in 2011, when assistant coach Drew Farrer was on the team, and the only other was in 1999, when Roe himself was clad in Red and Black.

Roe said this run was a special one, partially because of the comeback wins in pool play and who drove them — Paulsen.

“We were down at halftime in both our other games, and Lucas was the motor in both that made us come back,” Roe said. “He is one of the better competitors I have had the chance to coach. I love seeing him rise to big moments.”

Another group that rose to the moment on Thursday was not on the court, as a sizable crowd and loud student section provided the Trojans with some inspiration.

“They make us go,” Roe said. “Last year, we had ‘6th man’ shirts, and I believe that. When the crowd gets behind us and the student section is rocking, nothing is better than that.”

Paulsen sang the crowd’s praises, as well.

“They meant everything to us,” he said. “It’s my senior year, and it was awesome that even on break, the whole school came down to cheer us on.”

Looking toward the second half of the season, Roe said he has one injured player he hopes to get healthy, and he hopes the success of a tourney title multiplies.

“We’ve got a tournament championship, so we have to decide if we are going to live with that or keep being hungry,” he said. “That’s our biggest challenge.”

For Paulsen, the hunger remains.

“I think this championship will help us stay strong and keep our confidence up,” he said. “We want to play with the same love for the game the rest of the way through.”

Southwest returns to action Thursday, facing Wheaton on the road. The Trojans are home again on Jan. 10 against Sarcoxie.