McNicholas coach Rob Heise said he probably would have been satisfied if he'd been able to guide the Rockets to their first-ever girls basketball district championship this season.

        But that doesn't mean Heise is satisfied with having advanced two games beyond that to tonight's Division II Southwest Regional championship game against Dayton Dunbar. He figures because the Rockets have gotten this far, they might as well go all the way.

        “Coming into the year, I wanted to win the district, because we hadn't done that,” Heise said. “I figured anything beyond that would be icing on the cake, but we have a talented group. I could see us going to the state tournament, so from that respect, I'm not surprised. I thought we had the ability, but having never been there, I wasn't sure how we would respond.

        “I think the seniors have bought into the fact that they're talented and that this is their last go-around.”

        McNicholas (19-6), the No.3 team in the Enquirer's Divisions II-IV coaches poll, and Dunbar (22-3) square off at 7:30p.m. at Vandalia Butler High School. The winner advances to a state semifinal game against the Zanesville regional champion Thursday at 7p.m. at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center.

        The game matches two members of the Associated Press Southwest All-District first team: Joy Johnson, Dunbar's 6-foot senior, and her McNicholas counterpart, 6-foot senior Ashley Clark. Johnson averaged 17 points during the regular season; Clark averaged 16.5.

        Heise said the Rockets had a good tuneup for the uptempo Wolverines with their 63-59 win over Trotwood Madison in Tuesday's semifinal game.

        “Purcell Marian is similar, too,” said Heise, whose team beat the Cavaliers twice and has won nine consecutive games since a double-overtime loss to Springboro, the Enquirer's Divisions II-IV poll champion. “One difference is Dunbar probably will start a little more size, which probably matches up a little better with us.

        “But Dunbar still likes to play fast and use their athleticism.”

        Ironically, Dunbar coach Peter Pullen believes the Wolverines' win over Badin Tuesday allowed them to prepare for the Rockets' style.

        “McNicholas is well-disciplined offensively,” said Pullen, whose team has won 19 of its last 20 games. “They're patient, and that could cause some problems for us. (Kettering) Alter was the same way, and Badin was the same way.”

        Before beating Badin Tuesday, Dunbar upset Alter for a district championship.

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