Mount Notre Dame is still savoring their 56-36 Ohio Division I state basketball championship victory over Solon High School.

On Wednesday, March 29, the team traveled to Columbus, Ohio to be recognized on the House floor by Representative Jim Raussen and on the Senate floor by Senator Patricia Clancy.  

Freshman Kendall Hackney stated, “It was an honor to be recognized at the State House; it was a very rewarding experience.”

Earlier this week, Reading Skyline Chili hosted a victory dinner for the team and their parents.  Next on the agenda will be a congratulatory dinner at Willie’s Sports Café in Kenwood.

At the school’s victory pep rally late last week, Congressman Steve Chabot was on hand to congratulate the team.  This week in Washington, D.C. he recognized the state championship Cougars on the House floor.

The state title was MND’s second in three years for the Cougars and this accomplishment distinguishes them as the first girls’ basketball team to win two state hoop titles in Greater Cincinnati.  The Cougars were state runner-up in 2005.

In the final Girls’ High School Hoops Ranking released on Tuesday by Sports Illustrated, the Cougars were ranked 11^th in the nation.  In USA Today’s March 28 Super 25 rankings, the Cougars captured 18^th place nationally.  

This group of talented young women not only excels on the basketball court, but also in the classroom.   The team’s overall cumulative GPA is 3.3.

In their quest for the state title, MND (25-3) also won Girls’ Greater Cincinnati League (GGCL) title for the fifth consecutive year.  In the last four years, MND has been 40-0 in the GGCL.  Lee Stephens, who has signed to play with Furman University, was named GGCL Scarlet Division Player of the Year and Coach Dr. Scott Rogers was named GGCL Scarlet Division Coach of the Year.

- contributed to Hacks Sports