3A Girls Semifinal | Monroe Ends 21-Year Finals Drought | March Madness Alaska 2026

Thursday, March 19, 2026 | UAA Alaska Airlines Center

Monroe Catholic has finished third three years running. Thursday night they punched through.

The Rams doubled up Kenai Central 28-14 at halftime and never let the Kardinals back in, winning 52-32 to reach the 3A Girls championship game for the first time since 2005. Eight threes as a team, four players in double figures, and a first quarter that put Kenai in a hole they never climbed out of.

Senior captain Emersyn Cortez earned Player of the Game honors after scoring all 10 of her points in the first half. Leila Church led Monroe with 16 and Trinity Turiel added 11. Leyton Cortez chipped in 8. The Rams outscored Kenai in each of the first three quarters and held them to four points in the first.

Destiny Williams led Kenai with 14. Maci Miller — the freshman who knocked out Mt. Edgecumbe in the quarterfinals — had 5. The Kardinals competed but Monroe was the better team from the opening tip.

Monroe faces top-seeded Barrow in the 3A Girls championship Saturday. Barrow has lost to Grace Christian in each of the last three title games. Monroe hasn't been to the title game in 21 years. Saturday both programs get a chance to change their story.

Final: Monroe Catholic 52, Kenai Central 32 (3A Girls Semifinal)