CINCINNATI — Cheers echoed in the hearing room at the Hamilton County government building Thursday afternoon as the board of commissioners honored the county’s two state champions, the Purcell Marian High School girls’ basketball team, and the Taft High School boys’ basketball team.
What You Need To Know
- Purcell Marian High School won its first Div. III girls’ basketball state championship
- Taft High School won its second Div. III boys’ basketball state championship
- Both schools and other standout athletes were honored at the Hamilton County Commissioners meeting
The county commissioners meeting started with a proclamation formally recognizing the accomplishments of both teams.
Purcell Marian took home its title March 13, defeating Worthington Christian 62-38 in the Division III state final. It was the first girl’s state basketball title in the school’s history.
As coach Jamar Mosley accepted the proclamation, he told the crowd his team started the season with a lofty goal and they achieved it.
“On Oct. 12, the girls set a goal of winning the state championship,” he said. “My goal is just to get better every single day, but 73 practices and 28 games later we were crowned state champions and I just want to let them know how proud of them.”
Taft High School’s coach, Demarco Bradley, expressed his pride as well. He said his boys were disappointed when they left the tournament in 2021 in the final four, so to come back the next year, and win 48-45 in the Division III state final meant even more.
“I would just like to thank the whole city of Cincinnati for standing behind us,” he said.
At the same county commissioners meeting, the board also took time to highlight two additional standout high school athletes from the Cincinnati area, K.K. Bransford from Mount Notre Dame High School and Paul McMillan IV from Woodward High School.
Bransford was honored for her achievements as a standout high school basketball player, named to the McDonald’s All-American Game this year and Ohio Ms. Basketball two years in a row, all while maintaining an excellent academic record.
McMillan was honored for passing LeBron James’ OHSAA career points record, while maintaining an exceptional GPA and earning the title of his school’s valedictorian.
Commissioner Alicia Reece said she wanted to take time out of the final March meeting to honor these athletes, to showcase the good that young people are doing in Hamilton County.
“A majority of our young people are doing it right,” she said.
