SPRINGFIELD — Cathedral knew the history and was determined not to repeat it.

The past two years, the Millis girls’ basketball team beat other Boston schools — New Mission in 2014 and Fenway in 2015 — to win the Division 4 state title, so Saturday at Springfield College, Cathedral didn’t want to fall victim to that trend.

Mission accomplished. The Panthers came away with a 45-41 win and a state championship, ending the Mohawks’ two-year run on top. Cathedral (23-3) held Millis (17-9) scoreless for the first 7 minutes and 30 seconds of the fourth quarter as it erased the last of a 7-point halftime deficit.

“You see teams that get to the Garden [for the state semifinals], where everyone is like, ‘Oh, they’re the champions,’ overlooking Millis, who is kicking butt every time they come out here,’’ Cathedral coach Clinton Lassiter said. “We didn’t want to be another Boston team that was excited about winning at the Garden and getting this far and then we get knocked off as well.’’

Millis senior Katy Golden led all scorers with 21 points, including 16 in the first half and 6 during a 9-0 run late in the first half. Cathedral junior Masseny Kaba finished with 20.

The game’s outcome was in doubt until Kaba’s final layup with about six seconds to go. Millis, once down by 6 with a half-minute to play, got it down to a one-possession game. Kaba’s basket opened it back up to a 4-point lead.

As Golden rushed down the court for one final heave — which missed but would have had no effect on the contest’s conclusion — Kaba was at last at ease.

“The game was over,’’ Kaba said with a smile. “The game was over in my eyes.’’

Millis finished the regular season 12-8, but tore through the Central sectional and state semifinal to defend its throne.

Coach David Fallon credited his senior captains, Golden and Erica Mullally (9 points).

“They could’ve been satisfied with two state titles and just said, ‘Let’s have senior year, let’s not push ourselves,’?’’ coach David Fallon said. “But it was the opposite.’’

Cathedral, with just one senior, had significant contributions from freshmen Amani Boston (9 points) and Dejah Jenkins (7 points) in its first title appearance since 1984.

“You can go your whole life, meet people on the street, people who can never say they were state champion,’’ Lassiter said.

“So now to do it in Springfield, where basketball was originated, it makes it that much sweeter.’’