Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning. "It's great. The adversity we battled through this year, everybody talking about all the pressure that was on us. I'm just happy and proud of the girls keeping the outside noise where it was.

Three-time Ms. Basketball winner Dee Alexander finished with 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists to lead Purcell Marian to its fourth straight state championship.

Purcell Marian jumped out to a 7-0 lead and never led by less than five points the rest of the way, beating Avon Lake, 72-44, to capture the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III state championship on Friday at University of Dayton Arena. Purcell Marian finished the season with a 23-6 record. Avon Lake also finished 23-6.

In it's first trip to the girls basketball state championship since 1994 the Avon Lake Shoregals will try to prevent Cincinnati Purcell Marian from winning it's fourth consecutive state championship.

Cincinnati Marian Purcell was 32 minutes away from winning a fourth state championship, and Avon Lake was the only team that stood in its way March 14.