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.

Purcell Marian defeated Avon Lake to win the Division III state championship. It is Purcell Marian's fourth consecutive state championship.

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.

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.

The Avon Lake Shoregals have strung together a few stalwart defensive performances in matchups against some of the best teams in Northeast Ohio and it has brought them to their first OHSAA girls basketball championship appearance in 31 years.