CINCINNATI — The OHSAA announced the Ohio Ms. Basketball player of the year on Wednesday afternoon- this year it’s Purcell Marian sophomore Dee Alexander.
The forward is leading her team to another state final four, hoping to get back-to-back state championships.
What You Need To Know
- Purcell Marian’s Dee Alexander is just the second-ever sophomore to be named Ohio Ms. Basketball
- Purcell Marian is in its third straight final four and going for its second straight state title
- Alexander said she knows winning Ohio Ms. Basketball will put a target on her back
- The sophomore hopes to bring a second championship trophy back to Cincinnati
Every day, Dee Alexander puts in the work to be the best alongside her coach, Jamar Mosley.
Last year, the story was still all Alexander and the group of four freshmen that were able to win the Division III State Championship for the first time in school history. Mosley said it’s still surreal knowing that the young team was able to win a state championship.
The Cavs won its first-ever girls basketball state championship in 2022 (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)
“If someone would have told me that those freshmen would play that consistently the entire year, I’m like there is no way,” Mosley said. “And just to have them back this year and have another really good group of freshmen come in with some great junior leadership, knowing that I got these girls for another year and those sophomores for another two years, it’s just, I’m honored to be able to coach such a great group of girls.”
Now those girls are back, including Alexander. Who said before even winning the Ohio Ms. Basketball award she knew she’d have a target on her back if she did win.
Alexander works drills at practice before the state semi-final (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)
“It would mean a lot,” Alexander said. “But at the same time But I also know that people will try to come for my spot and take the spot and knowing that it’s not easy to get that type of spot so you have to keep working at it.”
She knows the work is never over- one thing she hopes to change is how girls’ and women’s basketball are viewed.
“People think that girls’ basketball is different than boys, but I feel like it’s the same,” she said. “Girls can be just as tough as boys and sometimes even tougher so it’s not really a difference to me.”
If you’ve had a chance to watch her- you know what she means.
Mosley said he knows what a special talent he has in Alexander.
Jamar Mosley watches as his team prepares for the state tournament (Spectrum News/Katie Kapusta)
“The girl is just special, like you said. She’s just amazing to watch and to coach,” Mosley said. “Her leadership on and off the floor- she’s just a girl beyond her years, she’s just a stand out in every which way possible.”
Now that Ohio Ms. Basketball is checked off her list, she’s back to work to get another ring.
“For the girls’ basketball to have two banners up in the gym sitting up there with our names on it, it’ll just feel great,” she said.
