COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With the chance to win back-to-back state titles on Saturday in the Division I state championship against Mount Notre Dame, Pickerington Central fell short in the final quarter.

Allowing an 18-0 run from the :49.9 mark of the third quarter until there was 1:38 remaining in the game, Pickerington Central fell to Mount Notre Dame in deflating fashion, 52-31.

Despite holding a 13-9 lead after a quarter of play, Central was outscored 30-5 in the second and fourth quarters which ultimatley decided the game. 

Shooting a pedestrian 25.5 percent from the floor (13/51), Central could not overcome a Mount Notre Dame team that played its entire starting rotation for all but 58 seconds on Saturday. The Cougars shot a blistering 62.1 percent from the field (18/29) and got big production from senior post Julia Hoefling who finished with 14 points and four rebounds, dominating around the basket.

The game was broken open on back-to-back trips where senior guard Gabbie Marshall knocked down consecutive cold blooded triples, putting Notre Dame ahead 42-29 with 4:28 to go. 

Central scored just two points in the entire fourth quarter, suffering an unprecedented collapse in the final frame.

Hoefling, Marshall and sophomore Laila Phelia all scored in double figures while freshman phenom KK Bransford added nine points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Makira Cook added eight points and three assists to round out the rotation for the Cougars. 

For Central, senior guard Madison Greene led all scorers with 10 points. Fellow senior Maliya Perry added eight points, however, the Tigers' senior star duo combined to shoot just 8-for-30 from the field in a tough showing.

Despite the demoralizing loss on Saturday, Central's seniors still have a ton to be proud of, as this group won a 2018 state championship and four-straight district titles. 

With the win, Mount Notre Dame ties Pickerington Central for the most state titles in school history, as the Cougars notched its seventh title since 2004. 

8:00 - PC 0, MND 0

6:53 - PC 0, MND 3 - Marshall And-1

5:25 - PC 0, MND 5 - Cook inside score

5:07 - PC 2, MND 5 - Perry post score

4:37 - PC 4, MND 5 - Greene mid range pull up

3:50 - PC 6, MND 5 - Perry mid-range pull up

3:11 - PC 6, MND 7 - Phelia FTs

1:20 - PC 8, MND 7 - Stephens ankle breaker and finish

:59.5 - PC 11, MND 7 - Greene 3

:39 - PC 11, MND 9 - Hoefling inside score

:2 - PC 13, MND 9 - Stephens baseline layup

END OF FIRST:  pickerington central 13, mount notre dame 9

8:00 - PC 13, MND 9

7:19 - PC 13, MND 11 - Bransford And-1

6:44 - PC 13, MND 13 - Bransford step through finish

5:01 - PC 13, MND 15 - Hoefling inside score

3:37 - PC 16, MND 15 - Greene pull up 3

3:23 - PC 16, MND 17 - Hoefling post score

2:24 - PC 16, MND 19 - Cook FTs

AT HALF: Mount Notre Dame 19, pickerington central 16

8:00 - MND 19, PC 16

7:52 - MND 20, PC 16 - Hoefling FT

7:26 - MND 20, PC 19 - Joc. Tate And-1

6:18 - MND 22, PC 19 - Phelia pull up transition 

5:34 - MND 22, PC 21 - Perry transition finish

5:02 - MND 22, PC 22 - Stephens FT

4:50 - MND 24, PC 22 - Bransford tough finish off glass

4:03 - MND 26, PC 22 - Cook dribble drive finish

2:55 - MND 26, PC 24 - Perry long two

2:14 - MND 28, PC 24 - Hoefling FTs

1:52 - MND 28, PC 26 - Greene mid range jumper

1:08 - MND 30, PC 26 - Hoefling off glass

:49.9 - MND 30, PC 29 - Williams 3

:35.8 - MND 32, PC 29 - Phelia transition layup

END OF THIRD QUARTER: MOUNT NOTRE DAME 32, PICKERINGTON CENTRAL 29

8:00 - MND 32, PC 29

7:46 - MND 34, PC 29 - Hoefling off glass

6:15 - MND 36, PC 29 - Bransford inside, off reb MND

5:18 - MND 39, PC 29 - Marshall 3

4:46 - MND 42, PC 29 - Marshall 3

3:40 - MND 44, PC 29 - Cook long two

2:32 - MND 46, PC 29 - Phelia FTs

2:00 - MND 48, PC 29 - Phelia inside score

1:38 - MND 48, PC 31 - Whitehead off reb, finish

1:16 - MND 49, PC 31 - Bransford FT

:58.2 - MND 50, PC 31 - Hoefling FT

:8.2 - MND 52, PC 31 - Marshall FTs

FINAL: MOUNT NOTRE DAME 52, PICKERINGTON CENTRAL 31

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270 Hoops Battle for the City

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Time: 6:30 - 9:30 PM

Location: Olentangy Orange High School

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