The usually reserved Devereaux Peters couldn’t contain her emotion in the final seconds of Saturday night’s Class AA Girls Basketball State Championship at Redbird Arena in Normal. The senior hopped, pumped her fists, stomped, and screamed as if inexplicably jolted with euphoria after being fouled as she powered in a short jumper off a fastbreak with 20 seconds left in an exciting rematch between her Fenwick team and defending state champ Bolingbrook.

Peters had restrained herself and the Raiders long enough. Her three-point play led to Fenwick’s 35-27 state championship victory, the school’s second since 2001. The victory also avenged a 54-48 loss to Bolingbrook in mid-January.

Defense was the showcase of the evening as both teams put on a display of mesmerizing intensity. Lob passes were swiped, screens were more like collisions, and fast breaks were usually thwarted at halfcourt. But in the end, Fenwick (36-2) overcame Bolingbrook’s physical onslaught by leaning against the ropes in the 12th round.

“We knew we had to come out in the second half and get this done,” said the Notre Dame-bound Peters, who finished with a game-high 13 points and 10 rebounds despite being swarmed by defenders every time she touched the ball. “It was match the intensity or go home with the second place trophy. I’d say we matched it and then some.”

Fenwick’s defense held the Raiders (32-2) to just 3-of-12 field goals in the first half, but the Friars weren’t exactly setting the net on fire either. Fenwick shot 45 percent from the field in the opening half as Bolingbrook clamped down on the Friars’ star player, forcing a total of 10 turnovers, six of which came from Peters.

Bolingbrook’s Miranda Tate (10 points) hit all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt in the closing minutes of the first half to even things up at 12. But junior Lauren Gulla’s put back gave Fenwick a flimsy 14-12 lead at halftime.

Bolingbrook, who held Morton to a total of 13 points-and no field goals after the first period-to win 36-13 in the semifinals, took the lead briefly in the third quarter off a three-pointer by Janisha Gearlds. The Raiders edged ahead 19-16 before Peters hit a jumper and freshman starter Tricia Liston, who was mauled a few times in the game, executed a flawless spin move in the paint to restore order.

“It was becoming a boxing match, and we wanted to come out in the second half and turn it into more of a basketball game,” said Fenwick forward Erin Power, whose steal and pass downcourt led to Peters’ three-point play.

In the fourth, Fenwick took advantage of Bolingbrook’s lack of concentration. As Mauvolyenne Adams complained to refs about a possible foul, Peters drove around the 6-foot senior for a layup. A few seconds later Peters rattled Adams again when she forced a charging foul. Adams responded with a hard foul on Liston, who effortlessly converted her free throws to give Fenwick a seven-point lead with 3:35 left in the game. Liston finished a perfect 8-for-8 from the line.

“This was such a terrific team effort tonight,” said Fenwick head coach Dave Power whose career coaching record now stands at 706-190 (383-97 in 15 seasons at Fenwick). “It’s been like this all year for us. Everyone knew when to step up and you can’t ask for anything more as a coach.”

In the semifinals, the Friars took on East Suburban Catholic Conference rival Marian Catholic. It was only a few weeks prior that Fenwick had downed the Spartans 45-25 during the regular season. Marian Catholic was without starter Suzanne Grossnickle in that game, but Grossnickle’s presence Saturday afternoon didn’t seem to make a difference to the Friars, who crushed the Spartans 53-39 behind Peters’ 25 points. She also had 10 rebounds and four blocks, while Grossnickle finished with seven points.

The Friars had no problem dispatching its opponent in the quarterfinals on Friday, pummeling Sterling 55-29. Ohio State-bound Alison Jackson led the onslaught with 16 points, while Liston added 13 and Holly Harvey 12. Peters racked up eight blocks as the Friars took a resounding 22-4 lead after just one quarter.

This marked the sixth time in eight seasons Fenwick has reached the Elite Eight.