Purcell Marian sophomore Dee Alexander is 2023 Ohio Ms. Basketball
Mar. 8—Cincinnati Purcell Marian sophomore Dee Alexander is Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Ohio Ms. Basketball for 2022-23.
The award was announced March 8.
Alexander is the second sophomore to win Ohio Ms. Basketball after Canton McKinley's Kierstan Bell won the first of three consecutive awards in 2017.
"I was shocked but it was one of the things I wanted to check off my checklist," Alexander told Mike Dyer of WCPO-TV in Cincinnati. "I take a lot of pride in it."
Alexander's name is etched into Ohio high school girls basketball history with two years remaining at Purcell Marian. She enters the Division II state final four with 35 college scholarship offers to go along with 1,307 points for her career. Alexander averages 25.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals this season.
"For a girl out of Purcell Marian, a kid of Dee's caliber just means so much to our program," Coach Jamar Mosley said. "I'm happy and honored to be able to coach a kid like her and her hard work is paying off. Every day in practice she's pushing herself. She's pushing the girls around her."
Alexander and Purcell Marian are trying to win their second straight state title after winning the D-III state championship last season. Purcell Marian (25-2) plays Bryan (25-2) in a Division II state semifinal at 11 a.m. March 9 at University of Dayton Arena.
"I can't say enough this kid," Purcell Marian athletic director DJ Dowdy said. "She is a phenom. The way she goes about things. It's just phenomenal."
New Madison Tri-Village senior Rylee Sagester was the runner-up. Loudonville junior Corri Vermilya and Pickerington Central senior Madison Greene earned third and fourth places, respectively. Other finalists included Toledo Start junior Sinai Douglas, Laurel freshman Saniyah Hall and Belmont Union Local senior Reagan Vinskovich.
