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It has been seven years since the Dodgers have been able to put a SWC championship award in their trophy case.
That drought ended Tuesday when the Dodgers claimed the crown outright with a 63-52 win over a plucky Prairie du Chien team.
The Dodgers did it by playing a strong game which featured defense, scoring and rebounding...the basics you need to get past any opponent.
Four players reached double figures in a balance attack by the Dodgers. Matthew Pittz hit a bomb early to get the Dodgers going, added two more in the second half and finished with 15. Dillon Garthwaite helped create some distance in the first half when he put in 10 of his 13. Lacarder Walker finished strong with seven of his 11 the second half. Chandler Batchelor reeled in some rebounds and took some short passes to add another 10.
Owen Oldenburg had 15 for Prairie with Justice Olmstead and Quintin Scott both netting 11.
While winning the SWC match up was a good feeling in itself what took center stage was receiving the SWC championship trophy which took place after the game.
"It felt good watching the guys hold up the conference title trophy," said Dodger head coach Matt McGraw. "They have worked hard."
But McGraw also made sure the Dodgers know there is still work to do this season.
"We also made it clear in the locker room to enjoy it but get ready for the next step," McGraw said. "The guys are hungry for more."
Getting out of the blocks right away was a big key for the Dodgers against the Blackhawks.
"Matthew Pittz got us off to a real good start and had two huge threes to get us going in the second half after a little drought," McGraw said. "Chandler Batchelor and Dillon Garthwaite both played through a large amount of contact and still were able to put up solid numbers. Our late game play was pretty solid overall"
With Owen Oldenburg, Prairie's lightning fast point guard always a factor, McGraw was glad the Dodgers had an answer.
"Lacarder Walker and Charlie Keith have quickness that was able to match their quickness which does not happen all that often with Oldenburg," McGraw said. "He still had 15 but he had to work for all of them."
"Ayden Halverson, Garrett Busch and Dylan Wasley all did a nice job switching off guarding Scott who has been shooting it really well lately," added McGraw. "He did get two threes late but he had to work for everything he got too. Chandler Batchelor did his regular stuff, made shots hard for them in the lane, got a few blocks and scored in double digits."
McGraw felt the turning point was the ability of "DG" to dictate the flow of the game at times.
"Dillon (Garthwaite) is Dillon. He took over for a stretch and we were able to stretch the lead out."
"I am proud of this team and what they have accomplished so far," McGraw said. The best part of the season is yet to come."
The Dodgers travel to Platteville tonight and host Darlington Monday.

SCORE BY HALVES
PdC 19 33 52
Dodgeville 34 29 63
BOX SCORE
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN 52: (fg-ft-tp) Oldenburg 4-6-15, Scott 3-3-11, Amundson 2-2-6, McCullick 1-0-2, Mallat 1-2-4, Waller 0-0-0, Thompson 0-0-0. Mara 0-0-0, Harris 1-0-3, Lenzendorf 0-0-0, Eastman 0-0-0, Olmstead 4-3-11, Schneider 0-0-0 Totals 16-16/17-62. Fouls-20. Fouled out-McCullick
DODGEVILLE 63: M. Pittz 6-0-15, Walker 4-3-11, Keith 3-1-7, Garthwaite 4-5-13, Wasley 1-0-3, Busch 0-0-0, Williams 0-0-0, Haakinson 0-1-1, Halverson 1-1-3, McVay 0-0-0, Batchelor 5-0-10, Roh 0-0-0, Forseth 0-0-0. Totals 24-11/18-63. Fouls-17
3 point goals:
PdC (4) Scott 2, Oldenburg 1, Harris 1
D (4)-M. Pittz 3, Wasley 1