DAYTON, Ohio — Purcell Marian High School has its three-peat.
The Cavaliers defeated Shaker Heights Laurel School 79-52 Saturday night in the Division II girls basketball state final at University of Dayton Arena. It is the third consecutive state championship for Purcell Marian (29-1).
"I just got done telling people I got to let this one sink in," Purcell Marian coach Jamar Mosley said. "Well, I got to let all three of them sink in. I look ahead too much. What can we do better next year? That was my mindset in the past. I got to let these three sink in."
Purcell Marian, winners of 27 consecutive games, is the sixth girls basketball team in state history to win three consecutive state titles.
Purcell Marian won the 2023 Division II state title, 2022 Division III state title and was a 2021 Division III state semifinalist.
Only three Ohio high school girls basketball programs have won four consecutive state titles or more including Mount Notre Dame (2006-09).
Purcell Marian junior wing Dee Alexander, a two-time Ohio Ms. Basketball recipient, is already thinking about next year.
"Our job is not completed yet," said Alexander. "Once we get a state title next year my job will be completed in high school."
Alexander scored 18 points and had six rebounds. She became the Ohio High School Athletic Association's all-time girls basketball state tournament scoring leader Saturday night. She has scored 134 career points in the state tournament from 2022-2024.
"It means a lot because I'm just now finding this out so it's something very special to me," Alexander said.
Junior Ky'Aira Miller scored 18 points and had five rebounds and three assists. Freshman center Samaya Wilkins scored 17 points and had 13 rebounds.
It's been a significant week for Purcell Marian, which is a reigning two-time state champion and ranked No. 15 nationally by MaxPreps. Alexander was named Ohio Ms. Basketball for a second straight season Wednesday. Alexander won the Gatorade Ohio player of the year award on Thursday morning.
Purcell Marian joined some very elite company in girls basketball state history this weekend.
Purcell Marian is the 16th team in state history with four consecutive trips to a state Final Four. Entering this year's state tournament, 20 schools had won at least three girls basketball state titles overall.
Purcell Marian dominated Copley Friday in a state semifinal. It never trailed on Saturday. After two early ties, the Cavaliers led 20-10 at the end of the first quarter and 38-20 at halftime.
The outcome was never in doubt.
Purcell Marian went ahead 60-35 at the end of the third quarter. The Cavaliers won 23 consecutive games by double digits. The most recent game Purcell Marian won by single digits was a 56-51 win at Cooper Dec. 12.
Laurel School was led by sophomore Saniyah Hall who scored 21 points and had 14 rebounds. Laurel School completed its season with a 19-11 record.
