QUEENS OF THE COURT

Alter High School Senior guard, Emma Hansley, in the OHSAA championship game against Sheridan.

ALTER & PURCELL MARIAN

WIN STATE IN GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

STORY BY JOHN STEGEMAN • PHOTOS BY JEFF UNROE

By the time Archbishop Alter and Purcell Marian high schools reached their respective girls basketball state tournament finals on March 12, they were ready to make a statement. In Division II, Alter left no doubt with a 5438 victory over Thornville Sheridan, while in Division III, Purcell Marian dispatched Worthington Christian 62-38.

Alter’s state championship, the school’s fifth, relied on three seniors’ leadership, standout sophomore Riley Smith, and a team-first attitude. “They were a unique group nowadays in that they were very selfless,” said Christina Hart, Alter cocoach with Kendal Peck. “They played hard every night for one another, which is very unusual. It made it really a fun experience for everyone and allowed us to really be a team.”

Hart said the team also excelled academically this year, living up to the high standards of Alter’s Catholic education. “Almost all of them grew up in the Catholic feeder schools,” she said. “They’re well rounded and they’re very motivated to achieve that kind of success.”

This year’s state championship games were played at the University of Dayton’s UD Arena, just six miles from Alter’s campus. Alter fans made good use of the short drive.

“The support of everyone at school and the community, especially Alter’s alumni, made it so special,” said Smith, whose performance earned a spot on the All-Ohio third team. “The support during tournament time really showed how special Alter is. You could tell they wanted us to win, and they would be there every step of the way.”

For Purcell Marian, this was their first girls basketball state championship, thanks in part to freshman phenom Dee Alexander. The 6-foot-1 underclassmen averaged 24.5

Girls Basketball Div. II State champions Alter High School

They played hard every night for one another... and allowed us to really be a team.

points and 12.2 rebounds this season and outpaced those averages in the final with 25 points and 16 rebounds. While still a freshman, Alexander has scholarship offers to more than 28 Division I colleges. She was named Division III Player of the Year and made first team All-Ohio. The team is doubly blessed, though, as freshman Ky’Aira Miller earned an honorable mention for the All-Ohio teams.

With seven freshmen on the roster, the team’s youth was a concern for coach Jamar Mosley, but it never became an issue. “Their chemistry meshed together really well,” he said. “Even as well as we played during the summer, I thought, ‘We’re so young.’ We started five freshmen in our first game!

Saint Ursula Academy

is proud to introduce the

1339 East McMillan St. CLASS OF 2022, www.saintursula.org women of faith, integrity and courage 513-961-3410 committed to building a better world. These students have embodied grace, strength, leadership, and resilience during the past four years. SUA is so proud of each one of you!

Reese Marie Abercrombie Peyton Grace Allen* Regan Carleigh Armbruster* Emma Grace Atwell Elizabeth Anne Baker* Alina Bowen Bedacht Arianna Thomai Beltsos* Eleanore Renee Bender* Sarah Elizabeth Bender* Mary Louise Besl Lillian Morgan Bien* Kathryn Anne Birrer Brenna Skye Blackwell Abigail Jo Boeing Ella Marie Bolinger Sydney Marie Boosveld* Ella Kendall Bosse* Rory Kathryn Bradley* Margaret Anna Braun Annelise Adele Bronstrop Elizabeth Rose Burns* Ainsley Mae Cahill* Caroline Anna Caudill* Brooklyn Reece Chrisman* Symone Paree Conley Bryn Elizabeth Connelly Lenna Grace Couch* Lillian Rose Coughlin Lindsay Nicole Coughlin* Mary Kathryn Craft Caitlyn Rose Crist* Kennedy Marie Dalton* Megan Elizabeth Deese Sara Elizabeth DiLonardo Emily Grace Domingo* Meghan Lynn Donovan Emma Langley Edmondson* Isabel Sullivan Edmondson* Nathalie Rose Ehrler* Caroline Rose Endres* Aubrey Helene Englert Natalie Marie Fahner* Margaret Eileen Felton* Abigail Marie Fermann* Katherine Grace Ferris* Gretchen Davin Fesenmeier* Eva Marie Finni Laura Eileen Fitzpatrick* Shelby Ann Flynn* Anna Marie Frey Katherine Ann Frey* Sydney Lucille Gardner Anna Grace Geiger* Madeline Jane Gillock* Avery Christina Glynn* Abigail Marie Helmrath Madeline Margaret Hines* Karlee Elizabeth Hissett Lucinda Rose Hittle* Eleanor Grace Hoffman* Carly Jean Hoog* Naima Gabrielle Hoskins Holland Macke Howe* Sophia Patricia Marie Hudepohl* Brooke Elisabeth Hunstad* Anna Clara Iacobucci* Olivia Kate Jenkins* Isabella Ernestine Johnson Celia Lynne Karsten Grace Ann Kessler* Audrey Sophia Kirwin* Ella Rae Kleeman* Emma Claire Kucia Kaitlin Mary Kuhlman* Lauren May Kuhlman* Elizabeth Grace LaFountain* Mercedes Carmen Lita Baskin Lagdameo Grace Olivia Leuenberger* Hope Elizabeth Lieber* Courtney Rose Loew* Emma Mary Lohrer* Claire Catherine Lucas* Reese Kathryn Lynn* Fiona Sullivan Mack* Elizabeth Catherine Mader* Charlotte Mae Maliborski* Maia Jane Malone Maribella Grace Marcheschi* Elizabeth Caroline McCluskey Lauren Christine McConnell Caroline Ruth McKeown* Grace Leigh McMahon* Madison Kate McMath* Maria Vivian Meinhardt* Grace Logan Milton* Sophia Ann Mock* Molly Elizabeth Montanus* Halle Rose Morgan* Samantha Ashley Mrusek* Alyssa Eden Napier Lillian Kathryn Nelson Mya Grace Nguyen Madeline Ann Nusbaum Mary Catherine O'Connor* Lauren Margaret Otten Leah Christian Paul Audrey Marie Peters Yasmeen Nailah Porter Rylie Mae Postel* Tara Brynn Pund Margaret Kate Ragland* Julia Anne Raines* Annaleise Elizabeth Rammes Avery Renee Reid* MacKenzie Adele Reilly* Gracie Ann Reisman* Samantha Michelle Roberts* Jessa Kathleen Roettker* Marissa Kathryn Rouse* Courtney Marie Ruesink Isabella Marie Rueve* Josephine Therese Ruther Tėa Jane Sabin* Sara Elizabeth Salem Rosemary Galanti Sammarco Caitlyn Rose Saupe Tatum Louise Scanlon* Danielle Elizabeth Schneider* Ingrid Grace Schonberg Clare Elizabeth Schuermann* Caroline Kirby Schulte* Kathryn Elizabeth Schulte* Michaela Lea Schulze Caroline Rose Schwartz* Ellen Lee Scott* Moira Haskett Seger Amanda Mae Serger* Ella Kathryn Shepard* Noelle Kron Shiffert Maggie Katherine Simonson* Avery Rose Somerville* Estelle Grace Speiser Molly Cody Sprong* Clara Agnes Stehlin Avery Jordan Stewart* Skylar Frances Stimson* Catherine Elizabeth Strode Emma Ann Thomas Madeline Belėn Thweatt* Kaitlyn Alexia Torbeck Rebecca Kathryn Veid* Emma Grace Voelkerding* Madeline Marie Volker Ella Christine Weber* Rachel Gwendoline Weidner Jaclyn Elizabeth Wenhold* Rachel Sophia Wilcox Claire Paige Wiseman Kayleigh Marie Zimmer*

These girls really cared about each other. As special of a talent as Dee Alexander is, she has so much trust in her teammates. Whether it was Jayda Mosley who hit 100 threes this year, or Ky’Aira Miller who was the point guard, they all just really trusted one another on and off the floor.”

Their success stemmed in part from their work ethic, which is evident academically. The team’s first semester collective GPA was 3.5, improving to 3.7 by season’s end. Mosley believes his basketball program includes several valedictorian candidates.

“We got pretty good basketball players but quite a few amazing students in our program,” he said, adding that the young team prayed before each practice and game.

With only one graduating senior, Purcell Marian looks to be a contender for a championship next year as well, but Mosley hopes for success in more than just basketball.

“It’s pretty surreal,” he said of expecting most of his team to return next season. “Hopefully they get better in every aspect of their lives, academically, spiritually and athletically. It’s pretty amazing to know I’ll get to see these girls grow.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2022

Men for Others May you utilize your God-given gifts and talents in service to others while holding true to the characteristics of a St. Xavier High School graduate.

X Open to Growth X Loving X Intellectually Competent X Religious X Committed to Doing Justice

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CONGRATS GRADUATES!

Congratulations Class of 2022!

We wish you the best as you step towards new challenges in life. May all your dreams be ful lled. Keep making a di erence along the way. Best Wishes from the administration, faculty & sta at Stephen T. Badin High School #BadinAlumniRock #BadinProud