Archbishop Alter wins a state championship on a court the Knights know well as fans
By Ryan Isley | Photos by Ben Jackson
DAYTON, Ohio — For Archbishop Alter girls basketball, dreams do come true.
The Knights celebrated on the floor of University of Dayton Arena on Saturday as the OHSAA Division II state champions with a 54-38 win over Thornville Sheridan.
It wasn’t just about winning a state championship — it was also about where that state championship was won.
Kettering Alter is just a 15-minute drive from UD Arena, and many of the players have been going to games there since they were kids, dreaming of a chance to step on the floor.
“When our boys played here last week, there was a kid in tears because he got to get in and make a free throw," Alter co-coach Kendal Peck said. "And what that meant to him, I was like, ‘We are going there, and it’s going to be the same for our kids.’”
And it was. The girls have all been in the arena as fans from the time they were little kids. Now they were the ones playing in the big game — and winning it.
“I think we have all been to a UD game before,” Alter senior Karlie Romer said. “I remember in grade school, we would take little class trips there. Ever since we were young, we have been here and seen it.”
The Knights saw the arena in two capacities this week, taking in games in the stands before they played and then also as players on the floor where the Dayton Flyers play. It was a surreal feeling.
“Even the game before ours two days ago for the semis we were super high up and just looking down on it like, 'Oh, we’re going to be down there,’” Romer said. “It was kind of a wave of emotions, and then actually getting to go on there, it’s like we made it.”
Alter (28-1) took full advantage of getting to play out their childhood dreams and shot the ball from 3-point range better than they had through the regionals.
After hitting 35% of their 3-pointers in the state semifinals against Bishop Hartley, the Knights made 6 of 14 from deep against Sheridan for 43%.
“We had not shot the ball well the entire tournament until Thursday,” Peck said. “We were shooting like 17% from 3 until Thursday. We are better shooters than that.”
While most teams struggle to shoot the ball when playing in a bigger gym, it was the opposite for Alter. Players said they felt more comfortable shooting at the larger venue through their two games.
“At our smaller gyms the fans are right there and you can hear them better, and you are a lot more impacted,” senior guard Emma Hansley said. “At UD, it is a lot more open, and you can get your shots up.”
With 48 seconds left, senior Caraline Kernan stepped to the free-throw line alone after an intentional foul. When she hit the first one, she put her arms up over her head in celebration and just looked around.
“All my friends were in the student section — all my cousins and aunts and uncles were here,” Kernan said. “I have been dreaming of this all four years. For me to take a breath and seeing it all, it was just an unbelievable feeling.”
“That first time getting on there, it’s like, ‘Whoa, we’re on the court. We’re not in the stands anymore looking at it,’” Romer said. “It’s definitely a crazy experience.”
That experience turned into a full-blown celebration for the Knights, who became just the eighth school in OHSAA history to win at least five state titles in girls basketball.
“This has always been the goal,” Romer said. “Ever since you’re a little girl, you want to get to state. Just to be able to share this is such an incredible experience.”
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