The first words from Purcell Marian basketball coach Mike Gergen after his team beat McNicholas Saturday were congratulations — for exceeding expectations.

        “The biggest thing here today was that no one except Keith (Jackson) and Tony (Fulks) had any varsity experience from last year,” Gergen said. “For us to get to Dayton is a tremendous accomplishment.”

        Purcell, last year's Division II state runner-up, won the rubber game with GCL North rival McNi cholas 70-65 before an overflow crowd of 1,600 at Anderson High School.

        The victory gave Purcell (15-8) the Cincinnati Division II upper bracket sectional title. Next is a district title matchup with Dayton Colonel White at 9p.m. Thursday at University of Dayton Arena.

        McNicholas (13-9) will miss districts for the first time since 1997.

        Jackson, the Purcell senior forward who is headed to Xavier University next season, scored 24 points. Fulks added 17 points and 10 rebounds, including seven offensive rebounds.

        Purcell never trailed. But after building a 10-point lead by the middle of the third quarter, the Cavaliers saw McNick tie the game three times in the fourth quarter.

        The final tie came at 60-60 with two minutes left. Purcell called a timeout with 1:41 to play, then scored on the inbounds play when Jackson hit a spinning 6-foot bank shot while getting fouled.

        “We set up the play where you pick the picker, and I just created off that,” Jackson said.

        “All we did was stick Keith in a different spot, and when he rolled back, the floor was open,” Gergen said. “Jerald (Cooper) read it on the inbounds pass and made an excellent pass.”

        “We knew two guys from Purcell (Jackson and Fulks) could hurt us, and they did,” McNick coach Pat Stricker said.

        Geoff Hensley led McNick with 19 points and Nat Dyment scored 17.

        McNICHOLAS (65) - Hensley 6 3 19, Cupito 2 1 6, Dyment 5 7 17, Sheehy 1 1 4, Coates 0 2 2, Brunetti 0 2 2, Lawhon 1 3 5. Totals: 18 23 65.

        PURCELL MARIAN (70) - Finnell 2 3 7, Fulks 5 7 17, Elliott 0 2 2, Jackson 8 6 24, Thornton 1 0 2, Cooper 2 6 10, Calloway 3 2 8. Totals: 21 26 70.

        McNicholas ....... 11  17  19  18-65

       Purcell Marian ....... 15  17  20  18-70

        3-point goals: M - Hensley 4, Cupito, Sheehy; PM - Jackson 2. Records: M 13-9, PM 15-8.

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