Contributed

McDonald’s of Greater Ohio and Purcell Marian High School hosted a special jersey presentation ceremony honoring Darianna “Dee” Alexander, who was recently named a 2025 McDonald’s All American.    Before she embarks on her college career as a Cincinnati Bearcat, Alexander was celebrated alongside her teammates and coaches during the jersey presentation on March 4 at Purcell Marian High School, at 2935 Hackberry Street, Cincinnati. The ceremony was during a school-wide assembly in the gymnasium.

Alexander, the No. 8 ranked girls’ basketball player in the nation according to ESPN and the first Purcell Marian Cavalier to earn this honor, will compete alongside the country’s top high school basketball players in the 2025 McDonald’s All American Games on April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Being named a McDonald’s All American adds to a growing list of accolades for Alexander. Her high school career includes back-to-back Ohio Ms. Basketball awards as a sophomore and junior, along with being named the 2024 Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year. She has led Purcell Marian to three OHSAA State Championships and was named to the 2025 Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year Midseason Team. Alexander will also represent the U.S. in the USA Basketball Nike Hoop Summit in April in Portland, Oregon.

The ceremony also featured remarks from McDonald’s Owner/Operator Brian Kilroy, who owns several restaurants in the greater Cincinnati area.

For nearly five decades, the McDonald’s All American Games have been a premier platform for some of basketball’s most elite players. The final group of 24 girls and 24 boys are selected by top analysts, prep scouts, media, and coaches from hundreds of high school athletes. Get in the Game,

The Main Event: Tickets to the 2025 McDonald’s All American Games at Barclays Center on Tuesday, April 1, are now available through ticketmaster.com or by visiting mcdaag.com.

Tune In: Fans can tune in on ESPN and ESPN2. The Sprite Jam Fest will air Monday, March 31 at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The 2025 McDonald’s All American Games will start with the Girls Game on Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. 

The post McDonald’s awards Dee Alexander an All American jersey appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By: Mike Dyer | WCPO 9

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.

Reposted with permission from WCPO 9 Cincinnati.

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Princeton will play Grafton Midview in a state semifinal March 10 at UD Arena

By: Mike Dyer

WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The memorable journey continues for the Princeton High School girls basketball team. Princeton is going to the state Final Four next week in Dayton.

“It’s a surreal moment,” Princeton coach Dee Davis said. “I’m very proud of our kids; I’m excited for them more than anything. They worked extremely hard this season. We’re not done yet but I feel very proud of the progress that we’ve made. The continuity and togetherness that we’ve had. The girls have really bought in and it’s just been a lot of fun to coach these young women.”

Princeton defeated Kings 65-53 in a Division I regional final Saturday night in front of a packed gymnasium at Lakota West where 2,000 tickets were sold for the game.

Princeton, which has won 15 consecutive games, was led by senior point guard Solè Williams who had team-high 22 points along with five rebounds and five assists. Senior guard La’Sonja Hill added 14 points and three steals. Sophomore guard Mari Gerton had 14 points, six rebounds and two assists. Senior forward Dede Carter-Hartley had 12 points and seven rebounds.

Princeton (26-2) advances to play Grafton Midview (23-4) in a Division I state semifinal at 6 p.m. March 10 at University of Dayton Arena. The winner plays in the state final against Olmsted Falls or Pickerington Central at 8:30 p.m. March 11 at UD Arena.

This is Princeton’s first regional title since 2014 when the Vikings won the Division I state title – its second in program history (Class AAA champions in 1987).

“The mentality was just to win,” Williams said. “I didn’t care how to win. If I had to assist the whole game, if I had to score all the points. If I had to pass the ball, do anything I can just to win – that’s all I care about. I really don’t care about the stats or anything – just the win that’s the priority.”

Davis said Williams had a strong motivation this week after not being on the Ohio Ms. Basketball list of finalists. Williams, a Texas A&M signee, was named the Southwest District Division I player of the year.

Davis said the fact that Williams wasn’t an Ohio Ms. Basketball finalist was something that was discussed this week.

“That was a slap in the face because this kid has worked her tail off,” Davis said. “I’ve been with her for two seasons and no kid has ever worked harder than her. And I believe that she was well-deserving of that so I think she has a chip on her shoulder at this point. She feels disrespected and she’s leading her team. She’s done a tremendous job these last two years.”

The game was close throughout the first half as Kings led 19-17 at the end of the first quarter. Princeton led 28-25 at halftime, but the Vikings outscored the Knights 17-6 in the third quarter.

Kings (22-6) set a program for most wins in a season and also earned its first district title and regional semifinal win in program history. Junior Kassie Ingram scored a game-high 25 points. Senior guard Madi Barnett added 12 points and six rebounds.

Kings coach Steve Green said no one at the school will soon forget the memorable journey this postseason.

“I told them that you set so many school records this year and to walk out with your head held high,” Green said. “I told my seniors how they have raised the bar for this program and that legacy will always be there. I also challenged my underclassmen to be ready for next year and we want to be here again.”

Reposted with permission from WCPO 9 Cincinnati

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