The title for Incarnate Word Academy was bittersweet as the Red Knights took the court Saturday against
Kickapoo (Springfield) without head coach Dan Rolfes, who had a heart attack after Friday's semifinal victory and remained hospitalized.
The school and Rolfes' family said the 52-year-old coach would have wanted his team to play. The Red Knights went out and brought home the title with a 53-43 win. It was Incarnate Word Academy's 131st straight victory, putting the Red Knights eight wins away from breaking the national record of 138 in a row by
Central Plains (Claflin, Kan.) from 2015-2020.
Purcell Marian completed the Division II three-peat with a 79-52 win over
Laurel (Shaker Heights). Ohio Ms. Basketball
Dee Alexander set the state tournament scoring record with 136 points over six games. Alexander and
Ky Miller each finished with 18 points in the championship while
Samaya Wilkens added 17.
Five teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 are in the field for Chipotle Nationals (formerly GEICO Nationals), which will be held April 4-6 in Brownsburg, Ind.
Ky Miller and Purcell Marian brought home their third straight Ohio Division II title over the weekend. The three-peat cements top 15 finish in the MaxPreps Top 25 for the Cavaliers. (Photo: Scott Iles)
MaxPreps Top 25 girls basketball rankings
Record: 21-1|
Last week: 1
Grabbed the top seed for Chipotle Nationals in April.
2. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Record: 32-3 |
Last week: 2
Season complete. Open Division state champions.
3. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
Record: 30-1 |
Last week: 3
Season complete. Open Division state runner-up.
4. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Record: 32-0 |
Last week: 4
No. 2 seed in Chipotle Nationals in April.
5. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Record: 23-3 |
Last week: 5
Ascenders draw top-ranked Class of 2024 prospect Sarah Strong and Grace Christian in the opening round of the Chipotle Nationals.
6. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.)
Record: 28-5 |
Last week: 6
Season complete. Private school state champions.
7. Morris Catholic (Denville, N.J.)
Record: 29-1 |
Last week: 7
Season complete. Non-Public B state champions.
8. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Record: 31-3 |
Last week: 8
Season complete.
9. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Record: 21-4 |
Last week: 9
Looking for third straight title at Chipotle Nationals.
10. Hebron Christian (Dacula, Ga.)
Record: 30-2 |
Last week: 10
Scheduled to compete in The Throne.
11. Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 35-4 |
Last week: 11
Season complete. Class 6A state champions.
12. Johnston (Iowa)
Record: 29-0 |
Last week: 12
Season complete. Class 5A state champions.
13. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 31-0 |
Last week: 13
Season complete. Class 6 state champions.
14. Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
Record: 25-5 |
Last week: 25-5
Season complete. Class 3A state champions.
15. Purcell Marian (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Record: 28-1 |
Last week: 15
Season complete. Division II state champions.
16. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 26-5 |
Last week: 16
Season complete. Class AA champions.
17. Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 30-1 |
Last week: 17
Season complete. Class 4A state champions.
18. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 25-6 |
Last week: 18
Quakers look to avenge an 81-72 loss in February to Montverde Academy at Chipotle Nationals.
19. Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.)
Record: 38-0 |
Last week: 19
Season complete. Class 4A state champions.
20. Bradley Central (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Record: 34-1 |
Last week: 20
Season complete. Division I Class AA state champions.
21. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington, Texas)
Record: 40-2 | Last week: 21
Season complete. Class 5A state runner-up.
22. Burroughs (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 27-3 |
Last week: 23
Season complete. Class 5 state champions.
23. DeSoto (Texas)
Record: 26-3 |
Last week: 22
Season complete.
24. Putnam City West (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Record: 27-1 |
Last week: 24
Season complete. Class 6A champion.
25. Manchester (Midlothian, Va.)
Record: 27-2 |
Last week: 25
Season complete. Class 6 state champions.