Tuesday, February 16, 1999
Mason repeats; Badin 3-peats
Comets, Rams named city champs again
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
The voting by Cincinnati area girls basketball coaches was unanimous for a reason.
Undefeated and ranked No.1 in the Associated Press Ohio poll and No.2 in the USA Today Super 25 National poll, Mason repeated as The Cincinnati Enquirer's Division I girls basketball champions.
Hamilton Badin, the defending Division II state champions and the third-ranked team in Ohio, finished with an 18-2 regular-season record to emerge as the Division II-III-IV champion for the third consecutive season.
GIRLS COACHES POLLS
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Division I
(Final poll)
1. Mason (16) --160
2. Princeton --139
3. Harrison --119
4. Mt. Notre Dame --117
5. Hughes -- 92
6. Mercy -- 84
7. Oak Hills -- 54
8. Sycamore -- 44
9. Milford -- 37
10. Colerain -- 22
Others: Withrow 5, Lebanon 4, Glen Este 2.
Division II-III-IV
(Final poll)
1. Badin (15) --150
2. St. Ursula --133
3. Little Miami --100
4. Roger Bacon -- 87
5. CHCA -- 77
6. Wyoming -- 68
7. Taylor -- 63
8. McNicholas -- 52
9. Madeira -- 39
10. Kings -- 12
Others: Indian Hill 10, Waynesville 7, Summit 7, Felicity 5, Purcell Marian 4, Springboro 4, CCD 3, Ross 2, Batavia 2.
Kentucky
(Final poll next week)
1. Bishop Brossart (8) --80
2. Conner --67
3. Highlands --62
4. Holmes --59
5. Scott --37
6. Holy Cross --36
7. Notre Dame --32
8. Boone County --20
9. Beechwood --15
10. Newport --14
Others: Ryle 6, St. Henry 4, NCC 3, Campbell County 3, Bellevue 2.
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“Obviously it's an honor to win the city championship,” Mason coach Gerry Lackey said. “I didn't expect to be 20-0 because we played Pickerington and were entered in a national tournament in Milwaukee.”
En route to the undefeated season, the Comets beat two nationally ranked teams: Pennsylvania' Cardinal O'Har 56-31 in the Milwaukee Tournament and Pickerington 53-45 in Pickerington.
“Realistically, I would have been happy with two or three losses at this time,” Lackey said. “But the girls responded to the pressure.”
Mason's dominance is reflected in the statistics. The Comets averaged 71.8 points while holding opponents to 30.4.
They are on a 50-game regular-season winning streak. The last loss was to Lakota three years ago in the championship game of the Miami University Middletown Classic.
Mason has won 92 consecutive Fort Ancient Valley Conference games dating to 1992. Their last loss was to Springboro.
Lackey said the leadership of senior forward Dallas Williams has been the key this season.
“Dallas took the loss to C-J (Chaminade-Julienne) last year pretty hard,” Lackey said. “She has been our leader and worked very hard. The kids look up to her and have learned from her work ethic.”
Division I state runner-up in 1997, Mason was favored
to make a return visit to Columbus last year. But Williams was held scoreless, and Chaminade-Julienne went on to win the regional championship.
Besides Williams, who averages 18.1 points and 8.7 rebounds, the output of Michelle Munoz (16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds), Beth Jones (11.5), Jere' Issenmann (10.4), Susan Lippert (5.2) and Racquel Ellis (6.7) reflect the team effort.
“We have four players who average 2.5 or more assists a game,” Lackey said. “And five players average more than two steals.”
The accomplishments of a Badin team that lost six seniors, including all five starters, has been a surprise to coach Dan Purcell, who didn't plan to return this season.
“I own an insurance business (Dan Purcell Insurance) and work for New York Life,” Purcell said.
“In order to keep my license and contract with New York Life, I must meet certain yearly quotas. I always fall behind during the basketball season and decided not to come back. I changed my mind several months before the season.
“During the summer I didn't see the same fight in these girls like last year's group. I questioned their hearts before the season and their ability to take it to the next level.”
The inexperienced Rams changed Purcell's outlook immediately.
“They showed me right away that they could do it by beating Hughes in the opening game,” Purcell said. “We don't have the most talented kids, but they do understand basketball is a team game.”
Badin's two losses were to Mount Notre Dame and Mercy the same week, both Division I teams. They were undefeated against Girls Great er Cincinnati League Gray Division teams, beating St. Ursula twice.
Senior forward/center Lisa Knapp (19.2 points and eight rebounds) teamed with senior point guard Kerri Fiehrer (four assists) to lead the Rams.
Once-beaten Princeton (19-1) finished No. 2 in the Division I poll followed by undefeated Harrison (20-0) and Mount Notre Dame.
St. Ursula claimed the No. 2 spot for the third consecutive season in Division II-III-IV followed by Little Miami, Roger Bacon and undefeated Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy.
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