Mount Notre Dame basketball team wins Ohio Division I championship

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Mount Notre Dame introduced but any other chapter to its storied basketball program by prevailing a seventh state title Saturday night. The Cougars tied the state record for the most girls’ basketball titles with some flare and plenty of emphasis on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter. MND defeated Pickerington Central 52-31 in the Division I state last in front of three,456 at the Schottenstein Center. WATCH MND’s national championship rite. The Cougars (27-2) outscored the country’s top-ranked team 20-2 in the fourth quarter after MND led via simply three (32-29) on the give up of the third area. It turned into putting in place to be a memorable fourth quarter. However, not many predicted that the Cougars would maintain the Tigers to 2 points in the relaxation of the way.

MND train Dr. Scott Rogers, who gained his fourth kingdom title because the Cougars’ head educates, said his crew changed into mentally prepared to close out the sport. “I am proud of them irrespective of what befell this night,” stated Rogers. “They had the solution all year to get right here. I didn’t know what was going to manifest in this recreation. They are the ones with the self-belief. It’s their program. “They play with so much heart. They care a lot about each other. It’s what high school basketball is all about. I am, in reality, proud to be part of it, honestly.”
MND tied Pickerington Central (together with antique Pickerington High School) and Columbus Africentric Early College as the only Ohio colleges to win seven national titles. Africentric (28-0) defeated formerly undefeated Waynesville fifty-one-47 to win its second direct Division III country name earlier Saturday. MND, ranked No. The MaxPreps Xcellent 25, eight nationally, won its seventh title in the Cougars’ 9th kingdom event appearance. “I will by no means neglect this crew,” MND senior ahead Julia Hoefling said. “My favourite group.” This weekend’s became the second title in 3 seasons for the Cougars, who also won championships in 2017, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2004. MND became the Division I country runner-up in 2005 and a Division II kingdom semifinalist in 1989. MND led 19-sixteen at halftime after trailing with the aid of four at the top of the primary sector. The game went back and forth past due within the third sector. Hoefling’s basket 15 seconds into the fourth prolonged the Cougars’ result to 34-29. Later, senior protective Gabbie Marshall made again-to-lower back distant three-pointers to provide the Cougars a forty-two-29 lead. “I knew one of them could fall eventually, so I just kept capturing it, and it went in,” Marshall said. Hoefling should experience the momentum inside the Cougars’ choice because it prevented the Tigers’ traps. “Once Gabbie started hitting the threes, I became like, ‘We are rolling,'” Hoefling said. Junior defend Makira Cook observed that up with another three-pointer to give MND a forty-five-29 lead with three:40 left. Hoefling finished with 14 points, four rebounds, and blocks. Marshall had 11 factors, six rebounds, and three assists. Sophomore guard Laila Phelia had 10 points and seven rebounds. Freshman-protective KK Bransford had nine factors and seven rebounds. Cook had 8 points, three assists and three rebounds. “This (country identify) approach everything to me,” Cook stated. Pickerington Central (28-2), the 2018 Division I nation champion and ranked No. 14 nationally by means of MaxPreps, could by no means recover from the barrage of three-tips within the fourth area. Senior defense Madison Greene led the Tigers with 10 points. MND will likely have a school birthday celebration on Tuesday afternoon, according to Athletic Director Mark Schenkel. Marshall received’t quickly overlook the effect that MND basketball has had on her lifestyle. “This is the quality team I’ve ever been on,” she said. “We are simply so talented. Our bond is so tight. I will miss the friendships and seeing them every day.”