The Forest Park boys varsity basketball team celebrates with the MHSAA Division 4 District 100 championship trophy on Friday in Crystal Falls. (Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press photo)

CRYSTAL FALLS — There are a few guarantees in life.

There’s death. There are taxes. And there’s Forest Park and Norway playing one another in an incredibly meaningful boys’ basketball game in either late February or early March.

Friday was no exception as the No. 1 Trojans and No. 3 Knights collided in a Division 4 district championship game at Forest Park’s Eddie Chambers Gymnasium. And for the second straight season the Trojans walked away with the trophy, earning a 58-35 win.

“It feels amazing,” Trojans senior Kevin Giuliani said after playing his final game on the Trojans’ home floor. “We ended on a good note here. That’s the best part about it.”

Now the Trojans advance to Tuesday’s regional semifinal game at Kingsford High School’s Flivver Gym. The opponent is another familiar foe in Felch North Dickinson, who defeated Rapid River 79-47 on Friday to win its first district championship in 17 years.

The Trojans toppled the Nordics twice this season, winning 47-36 in Felch Township on Jan. 21 and winning in Forest Park 69-58 on Feb. 3.

Sure, Forest Park wants to get back to the state quarterfinal round and beyond this season. But it’s well aware that the season from here on out can’t be focused on the big picture, but what the team’s next step forward is.

“Our goal is always to get farther than we did last year, but it’s one game at a time,” Trojans coach Jason Price said. “The kids are focused on one game at a time. You can’t get too far ahead.”

Forest Park never trailed in Friday’s showdown, claiming the game’s first nine points and never looking back. The Knights did claw back to within four points off a Cole Baij triple to cut the Trojans lead down to 18-14, but the Knights were outscored 8-2 to close the first half and go down 26-16 entering the half.

The Knights clawed back to within eight points in the third quarter, but that was as close as they got to mounting any sort of rally. Mason Trudeau led the Knights with 15 points.

“Our offense wasn’t really great tonight,” Knights coach Jeff Gallino said. “Defensively, we did a good enough job, but we missed open shots, and we missed some bunnies underneath. They’re a really good team, really well coached. They’re probably going to make a deep playoff run.”

Friday also marked the final game for Norway senior Cole Baij, who finished with 12 points.

“He’s so versatile,” Gallino said of Baij. “You can play him at point guard and play him at center. He’s able to do so many things on the basketball court.”

Gallino wasn’t the only person to share his appreciation for Baij.

“He’s a very good player,” Giuliani said of Baij. “I mean, I played against him in football, basketball, everything. He’s an athlete. I feel bad for him, but the best team goes on.”

The Trojans were led offensively by Giuliani and senior Gabe Quevedo, who netted 17 points each in the win. Sophomores Vic Giuliani and Dax Huuki netted 10 points each.