Perhaps the most dominant stretch in OHSAA basketball history closed its final chapter Friday. Senior forward Dee Alexander had 27 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Cincinnati Purcell Marian Cavaliers took down the Avon Lake Shoregals,

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.

It’s one thing trying to prepare for a team like Cincinnati Purcell Marian, but it’s another stepping on the court to play them.

AVON LAKE, Ohio — The old saying in sports, ‘It’s hard to beat a good team twice,’ holds true for the Avon Lake Shoregals girls basketball team, especially in their recent playoff run. Avon Lake head coach Paul Appel, knowing his team had the talent and scheme to make a deep run, wanted to make sure they were battle tested in the regular season.

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.

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.

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.