SOUTHFIELD — Before Friday night, the most recent district championship banner in Southfield High’s gym dates back to 1984. After 26 long years, the Bluejays will have to dust off their equipment, because they have a new banner to raise after beating Ferndale, 97-64, in a Class A district championship game in their home gym.

“It is just a wonderful experience, the boys don’t want to leave the gym right now and that is what I always wanted them to do, stay in the gym,” Southfield coach Gary Teasley said. “We have a lot of great people behind the scenes and my assistant coaches deserve more credit than I do, I am more of a figurehead.”

The Bluejays (17-5), who never trailed and led by a score of 46-35 at halftime, used a 22-2 run in the third quarter to catapult themselves to a 30-point lead going into the fourth quarter and put the game out of reach for Ferndale (18-4). The run started with two old-fashioned three-point plays in a row from star Southfield guard Carlton Brundidge, who finished with 21 points.

Although Ferndale always trailed and most of the time by double digits, Ferndale coach Thomas Staton felt that his team was within range of a quick comeback until the run that Southfield put on.

“It was such a quick run, we thought we had them pretty good, (but) then they started hitting those pull up jumpers in the lane,” the coach said. “We were a little out manned and undersized, our press did some damage, but not enough.”

Southfield guard Desmond Barnes scored 10 points in the first quarter and led all scorers with 22 points. A transfer this year from Detroit Consortium, Barnes promised Brundidge before the season that he would help Southfield achieve the kind of success it has not seen in a few years.

“This whole week we have been preparing for this, we have accomplished something and brought the championship over here,” Barnes said.

Southfield took out its starters for the fourth quarter, but was still able to pour on the points as every player on their roster scored, a testament to their depth.

“I am an old fashioned guy, and we emphasize team, and having a good team players, one to 12,” Teasley said. “Now we just have to get ready for Monday, and that starts tonight.

Leading the way for Ferndale was senior guard Jody Hill Jr., who scored 18 points for the Eagles. Shawn Amiker, who average over 19 points per game this year for Ferndale, scored 12 points and threw an alley-oop to senior Antonio Combs for the highlight of the night. Staton was especially proud of both players, especially Amiker, who was still recovering from a flu that kept him out of school for four days last week.

“Shawn was really great for us all year, I do not think there is anybody in the league besides Brundidge who goes to the basket with more authority,” said Staton.

Southfield will take on (Pontiac/Waterford Kettering) on Monday at Lake Orion High School at 5 p.m. in a Class A regional matchup.