Copley girls basketball's 'beyond special' season not diminished by OHSAA state semi loss

DAYTON — The tears came Friday for the Copley High School girls basketball team.

If you’ve followed coach Julie Solis at all the last 20-plus years, you know the tradition will follow.

Although Copley couldn’t find an answer in a 67-29 Division II state semifinal loss to Purcell Marian, an incredible season isn’t defined by one afternoon.

“I just want to say how proud I am of these girls this year,” Solis said. “They’re a great group and fought hard. I don't think we brought our best today. I would be lying to you if I sat up here and said that, and I think they would tell you the same thing. But what they've accomplished this year has been amazing, and I'm just glad they had the opportunity to play in Dayton in the final four.”

It’s the first time Copley has made it to the round of four since 2006.

More than that, it’s a squad that set one goal and went after it.

Copley misses ultimate goal, but shows singular focus to Dayton

Last season, Copley went 23-2, but lost in a district final to eventual state runner-up Northwest.

Fast forward to this season and many of the players were back with one thing on their mind: Dayton.

“Last year, we lost in the district final game and that was kind of a feeling for all of us that we didn't want to feel again,” guard Izzy Callaway said. “I think that we wanted to get really far this year. It was a really special ride and it meant a lot to us. Obviously, it's not what we wanted, but to get here is a great accomplishment.”

That Copley came up one game short shows just how singular this sisterhood was this season.

Yes, two-time reigning Ms. Basketball Dee Alexander (18 points, four assists), Jayda Mosley (12, four) and Ky’Aira Miller (eight, six) were as advertised for the Cavaliers (28-1). For that matter, so was Trinity Small (nine points).

None of what 2022 Division III and 2023 Division II state champion Purcell Marian did took away from the incredible season Copley had (25-4).

Callaway (six points) had a great season and showed why she was the All-Northeast Inland Player of the Year. Kami Ayoup (10 points, three rebounds) had a season worthy of her first-team all-district designation and Emily Kerekes (five rebounds) was still the force on the boards she has always been.

Copley girls basketball turns it over to its bench to keep building on tradition

Those three seniors turn the ball over to Evelyn McKnight and Audrey Parker as returning starters in 2024-25.

“It's beyond special to me personally,” Ayoup said. “I think it's beyond special to the girls, too. I'm definitely going to be back in Copley a lot.

“My family's there. I have younger siblings, so it's really home for me. Being able to go back into the gym and seeing our year up there (on the banners), I think it's going to bring back such great memories for me of this team. Just how far we got and the great memories with this team.”

The fact Ayoup, Kerekes and Zoey Van Voorhis played on the 2022 girls soccer state championship team has been well documented.

What the seven everyday players did — Angelique Lane rounded out the septet — went beyond words.

The senior class walks out 78-24 (.765).

“They're special because, one, they're not just great basketball players, but they're just great kids,” Solis said. “I think what I love about them the most is that they just love each other and the entire team — all 14 of them — they just get along very well, very supportive of each other. I know that chemistry is a huge part of success and is a reflection of leadership. In that regard, I think our three senior leaders this year were tremendous.”

The next step is holding on to that success.

A team that was low on numbers to begin the season — Copley didn’t have a junior varsity program at the beginning of the season — ended with 14 players in the program.

Only Callaway, Kerekes and Ayoup exit.

Yes, that trio is the best of Copley, but Solis has a penchant for building winners.

“I think just the experience in itself makes kids hungry, and I think for them to be able to experience it, my hope is that that feeds their fire to want to get in the gym,” Solis said. “To want to be able to experience themselves at a different level and where they're actually on that floor. It's just a tremendous experience for all kids, whether you're on the floor or not. I'm just hoping that fire continues, and they feed off of this.”

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Copley memories will outlive OHSAA girls basketball semifinal loss