Cutting the net and accepting a winning medal continues to thrill Angela Vilkoski, a senior point guard for the Badin girls basketball team.

        For the sixth straight year since coach Dan Purcell took over and the third for Vilkoski, the Rams, ranked seventh in the Enquirer's poll, won the Division II district championship, defeating No.4 Purcell Marian 39-29 at Mason High School.

        “It only gets better every year,” Vilkoski said. “We started off the season at 4-6 and came to realize that it wasn't going to be as easy as in the past. That's when the team came together.”

        Purcell, whose Rams were state runners-up last year and 1998 state champions, said Vilkoski has led the way.

        “Traditionally, the point guard position (Megan McKnight and Keri Fiehrer) has been our strength,” Purcell said. “It was the question mark going into the season, but Angela stepped up down the stretch.”

        Vilkoski's two field goals late in the third quarter and early in the fourth enabled the Rams to hold off a Purcell Marian run.

        Purcell, down 22-16 in a slow-paced game, rallied behind Patti White and Keri Finnell to cut the deficit to 22-20 with 1:34 remaining in the third quarter.

        Amy Morner scored at the 1:09 mark for the Rams and Vilkoski hit a short jump shot following a steal to make it 26-20 after three.

        Vilkoski opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer from the corner with 7:02 remaining for a 29-20 lead.

        “Their defense is good, but we missed a lot of shots and putbacks,” Purcell Marian coach Mike Peddicord said. “After we got within two, we turned the ball over several times and it then got away.”

        Badin controlled the boards and held Purcell to one shot on most possessions. On the offensive end, the Rams had six putbacks from offensive rebounds.

        During the fourth quarter, Badin converted five free throws and Robin Parker led the way with five points.

        Badin advances to the regional semifinals to meet Dayton Dunbar on Tuesday (6:15 p.m.) at Vandalia Butler.

        PURCELL MARIAN (29) — Hale 1 2 5, Finnell 5 0 10, P. White 4 0 8, Reese 3 0 6. Totals: 13 2-2 29.

        BADIN (39) — Vilkoski 5 1 13, Collins 0 2 2, Parker 4 1 9, Brennan 1 0 2, Shull 3 1 7, Morner 1 0 2, Overton 1 2 4. Totals: 15 7-13 39.

        Purcell Marian 6-6-8-9--29

        Badin 11-7-8-13--39

        3-pointers: PM-Hale; B-Vilkoski 2. Records: B 15-9, PM 18-6.

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