CINCINNATI — The Mount Notre Dame basketball team is ranked No. 13 nationally this week by MaxPreps.
The reigning Division I state champion Cougars are also ranked No. 1 in the Ohio Girls Basketball Report preseason rankings, too. MND was ranked No. 13 in the final rankings last season.
MND (27-2 in 2018-19) opens the season against national No. 1 ranked New Hope Academy (Landover Hills, Md.) at 6 p.m. Nov. 23 in the Journey to the Tourney at Lakota West.
Lakota West (23-3 in 2018-19), ranked No. 8 in the OGBR state rankings, play national No. 2-ranked Hamilton Heights (Tenn.) at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23.
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MND returns several talented players including sophomore standout guards KK Bransford and Laila Phelia along with senior point guard Makira Cook (Dayton commit).
“All our kids had great summers,” MND coach Dr. Scott Rogers told WCPO earlier this fall. “It’s been fun to be around and watch them play.”
MND tied Pickerington Central (including old Pickerington High School) and Columbus Africentric Early College this past March as the only Ohio schools to win seven state girls’ basketball titles. Africentric Early College is ranked No. 16 nationally by MaxPreps.
Ryle (33-5), the reigning Kentucky High School Athletic Association Sweet Sixteen state champion, is ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps.
Ryle opens the season against visiting Campbell County at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3.
