There was a push by a number of Darke County media individuals two weeks in the past on social media for Ohio Prep Sportswriters Affiliation members to vote Tri-Village senior guard Rylee Sagester as Ms. Basketball.
Cincinnati Purcell Marian sophomore Dee Alexander was named Ms. Basketball on Thursday, and deservedly so.
I bear in mind Cincinnati-area reporters speaking about her final 12 months and the nice marketing campaign she had as a freshman throughout the Cavaliers’ Division III state championship marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, by the point November rolled round and Sidney was set to play Purcell in an invitational event at Cincinnati Sycamore, I had forgotten about her. I used to be anticipating Purcell to be roughly equal to their groups that had shut video games in opposition to Versailles and Anna in postseason play from 2018 to 2021, and for Sidney to be aggressive.
It didn’t take lengthy for Alexander to jog my reminiscence. She scored 20 factors and had 12 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. The Cavaliers dominated from the beginning and received 68-43.
One play stands out. After a Sidney basket, Alexander raced again down the courtroom and took a cross, solely to have a defender bobble it. Alexander didn’t break her stride, handle to seize the ball out of the air, went proper underneath the basket and made a shot. It nonetheless ranks as probably the most athletic transfer I’ve seen this 12 months.
Purcell Marian (25-2) moved as much as Div. II this 12 months. The squad beat Bryan 61-47 on Thursday in a state semifinal and can play for a title on Saturday morning. It has received 12 consecutive video games (together with all postseason video games) by double digits.
Alexander, a 6-foot-1 ahead who already has over 30 collegiate presents, is averaging about 26 factors, 10 rebounds, three assists and a couple of.5 steals per recreation. She has shot about 61 % from the sector this 12 months.
Sagester, a 5-7 guard, signed with Marshall final November. She has put up nice numbers this 12 months: 21 factors, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 3.8 assists. These don’t match Alexander’s — and Alexander’s got here in opposition to a (a lot) stronger schedule.
The Darke County contingent’s marketing campaign (let’s name a spade a spade, they’re homers) wasn’t with out outcomes, although. Sagester, who will attempt to lead Tri-Village to the D-IV title on Saturday afternoon, completed runner-up in voting.
Among the many individuals she completed forward of in voting are Loudonville junior Corri Vermilya and Pickerington Central senior Madison Greene. Vermilya, an Ashland commit, averaged 29.5 factors, 12.7 rebounds, 6.5 steals and three.1 assists per recreation. Greene, averaged 15 factors, 4 steals, three rebounds and three assists.
Toledo Begin junior Sinai Douglass couldn’t handle to crack the highest 4 in voting, regardless of averaging 17 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals per recreation. She has presents from Iowa and Xavier, amongst others.
Sure, it’s a district semifinal
I’ve seen some confusion from some on social media, so it’s time for a reminder.
The Ohio Excessive Faculty Athletic Affiliation standardized the naming of every spherical of the event throughout all six of its districts in 2019. It’s two rounds every (semifinal and ultimate) for sectionals, districts, regionals and state.
Whereas the third spherical of event play was traditionally known as a “sectional ultimate” within the Southwest district, it’s now formally known as a district semifinal. Sectional semifinals are the primary spherical, and sectional finals are the second spherical.
Billing has been the sports activities editor of the Sidney Every day Information since 2017. He will be reached at bbilling@sidneydailynews.com.