DAYTON, Ohio — Purcell Marian won a second consecutive Ohio High School Athletic Association girls' basketball state championship, with a 57-48 win over Northwest in the Division II final.
The Cavaliers (27-2) started slowly, just like in Thursday’s semifinal, before Jayda Mosely’s drive in the second quarter put Purcell Marian ahead for good, at 15-13. The Cavs pushed tempo at times, leading to 17 fast break points. The 57 points scored were the most surrendered by Northwest all season long.
Dee Alexander, named Ohio Ms. Basketball earlier in the week, had a game-high 20 points, to go with 10 rebounds, and three steals. Including 34 in the semifinal win over Bryan, Alexander totaled 54 points this weekend. Ky’aira Miller added 17.
The Indians (27-3) assisted on 14 of 20 made field goals. Lily Bottomley had 19 and six rebounds to pace Northwest, which finished an incredible season with the school’s first-ever state tournament appearance.
Purcell Marian became the first girls’ team to win back-to-back titles in different divisions in OHSAA girls’ basketball history and captured the school’s second championship overall.