The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

(AP) --  Jeremy Lamb allowed Kemba Walker to carry Connecticut all season.

The skinny freshman with the arms of a 7-footer helped Walker finish it off with a championship.

Lamb scored nine of his 12 points during an early second-half spurt, helping the Huskies beat Butler 53-41 Monday night for their third national title.

A spotty performer during the regular season, Lamb came alive in the postseason, providing a 1A option to UConn's All-American, Walker.

Connecticut left the court at halftime feeling down after Butler's Shelvin Mack hit a 3-pointer with less than a second left to put the Bulldogs up three points.

Chase Stigall hit a 3 22 seconds into the second half to put Butler up six points. After that, it was all UConn.

Butler managed five field goals the rest of the way and the Bulldogs shot a Final Four-record low 18.8 percent from the field  including going just 6 of 37 in the second half.

The Huskies have always been defensive-minded under Jim Calhoun, who became the fifth coach to win three national titles, but this was above and beyond what anyone could expect.

Connecticut left the court at halftime feeling down after Butler's Shelvin Mack hit a 3-pointer with less than a second left to put the Bulldogs up three points.

Chase Stigall hit a 3 22 seconds into the second half to put Butler up six points.

After that, it was all UConn.

The Huskies combined some great defense with just enough offense Monday night for a 53-41 victory a third national championship.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)