From the opening tip -- and the almost ridiculously easy Squalicum basket that followed a dozen seconds later -- the Class 2A boys basketball championship game was less a competition than a demonstration.

Whether it was Derek Dickerson firing in a 3-pointer over defenders' outstretched arms, Patrick Voeut whisking a no-look pass to Michael Greene or Kyle Hooper for a layup, or Keith Stackhouse knifing through the crowded lane for a basket, the Storm emphatically stated their case as not only the best team in the 2A ranks -- that was a foregone conclusion -- but as one of the 2A's best ever.

They manufactured their 60-49 victory over a good Burlington-Edison team with almost surgical precision, and the score wasn't indicative of the game's one-sided nature.

"We've been working so hard for this," said tournament MVP Keith Stackhouse, who capped his four sensational four-day run with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists. He pointed to coach Dave Dickson, who was cutting down the last part of the commemorative basketball net, and beamed.

"That man right there, he led us to glory. This is what we wanted all year, and we got it done."

And Squalicum made it look almost easy.

After racing out to a 21-6 first-quarter lead, the outcome was never in doubt. Only once after the first five minutes did the Storm's lead fall below double digits.

And when the margin did dip down under 10, after a 9-0 Burlington-Edison run pulled the Tigers (19-8) to within 47-39 early in the final quarter, Squalicum (26-1) responded with a 12-4 run of its own -- as if the little rally had been nothing more than a momentary lapse. A break in the Storm. 

"We always have that confident swagger that we'll get it done, because that's what we've done all season," Stackhouse said. "That 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, that was a little sketchy, but we pulled through."

They also did it despite having what, by Squalicum standards, wasn't a good shooting night. The Storm missed probably eight layups and sank an underwhelming 42.6 percent from their shots from the field.

"Our shots weren't falling from the 3s, but we just worked on making our little jumpers, taking the ball to the hole, doing whatever it took," said guard Patrick Voeut, whose 16 points and four assists paced the Storm in the finals.

"Patrick's our floor leader. He's the guy who makes us go, distributing the ball," Stackhouse said. "We don't have to shoot lights-out to win."

Hooper (13 points) and Dickerson (11 points) joined Voeut and Stackhouse in double figures, and the Storm dominated the rebounding.

Colin Stewart led B-E with 15 points, while Tiger standout Evan Coulter -- who had scored 27 points in the semifinals and been brilliant all tournament -- had a dismal 2-for-16 shooting night against the active Storm defenders. Many of those Tiger shots were affected by the long arms and defensive acumen of the 6-7 Hooper, who blocked five shots.

Still, the Tigers hung around, and Voeut gave them the credit for that.

"Yeah, we could have shot better, but Burlington played hard," he said. "They brought their best."

But that was the big difference. The Tigers brought their best.

Squalicum simply was the best.