By GREG MENGELT

Borden clinched its first Southern Athletic Conference championship since 2015 with a 51-45 win at Henryville on Saturday.

The Braves trailed the Hornets by double-digits with under 2 minutes left and rallied to complete the conference slate unbeaten and earn the Hoosier Hills Hoops Boys’ Team of the Week honor.

“I’m so proud of my kids. It’s the first time in their career they’ve won something that means something,” Borden coach Doc Nash told the News and Tribune. “We talked all week about winning, about being champions — doing uncommon things that common people won’t do. I’m glad that their efforts are finally paying off.”

Coming into Saturday’s game, the Braves were 4-0 in conference play, having beaten Lanesville, South Central, Crothersville and New Washington … all by at least 15 points.

“The conference championship is great for our program,” said Nash, who led the Braves to the 2013 Class A state title. “It is a goal of ours each year. Hopefully we continue to build on it as a team and carry the momentum into the postseason.”

Sterling Mikel led the Braves with 20 points, going 8 for 11 from the field. Kasym Nash was 5 for 10 and finished with 18 points and Mason Jones contributed 10 points to the victory. Mikel hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:06 left.

Borden (10-5) hosts Class No. 11 Orleans (12-2) on Friday and sectional-rival Christian Academy (6-8) on Saturday.