CARROLLTON – The arena is alive — alive with the pulsating energy radiating from both teams, the synchronous bated breaths and exhales after each play, the screaming of the scoreboard demanding to be heard as each quarter comes to an end— until only one team can distinguish itself from the entity of the game and survive onto the next round of playoffs. 

On Monday, the Coppell girls basketball team defeated Allen, 41-38, in overtime  in the Class 6A Region I bi-district playoffs at Carrollton Creekview. The Cowgirls (34-3) will face Highland Park at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Euless Trinity in the area playoffs.

With just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, both teams are tied 31-31 when the Eagles call a timeout. In a back-and-forth game of both teams battling for the lead, the Cowgirls are ahead once again after Coppell junior guard Ella Spiller scores a 3-pointer.

As the clock ticks down to 1:09, Allen senior Alexis Cortez scores a 3-pointer, both teams now tied. Neither team was able to score again during the fourth quarter, leaving the regulation score at 34-34, the game advancing into overtime.  

The clock runs down to one minute remaining in overtime as Allen gains possession of the ball, Coppell leading, 39-34. Allen freshman Simone Richmond circles the 3-point line, prowling for points, then ascends from the left corner with a jump shot. She falls to the ground as the shot goes in, both sides of the gym roaring. 

Richmond’s teammates lift her to her feet, guiding her to the free throw line. Richmond analyzes the shot, attempting to hush out the deafening distraction of the stands. The ball ripples the back of the net, cutting Coppell’s lead to two.

According to Coppell coach Ryan Murphy, Allen posed a threat with its mid-range scorers, meaning the Cowgirls had to keep track of their personnel and recover individually after each play. Senior Jules LaMendola led all scorers with 25 points, as well as all of the team’s points scored in overtime. 

Ten, nine, the clock stops there. LaMendola’s teammates pick her up after a foul and LaMendola strides across the court to the foul line for the fourth time in overtime alone, her gaze fixed on the net. Coppell fans clench their fists, almost unable to watch as LaMendola takes the shot. 

Swish. 

The Cowgirls now lead 40-38. Everything and everyone in the arena has come to a halt except for the ball bouncing from LaMendola’s hands as she prepares herself for her next free throw. The net ripples and the scoreboard flips to 41-38 Coppell.

The clock resumes and Allen has possession with only eight seconds left. The Cowgirls battle to defend their lead, deterring Allen throughout the final seconds. The final buzzer rings through the arena and the ball is launched to the ceiling as the Cowgirls crash in on each other, celebrating their close triumph over the Eagles. 

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EULESS – Vigor. Stamina. Camaraderie. The values of the Coppell girls basketball team illuminate the dimly lit arena. The Cowgirls continue carrying their culture with them, generating excitement and hope as they move further away from home and closer to achieving its dream of a state championship. 

On Thursday, the Cowgirls faced Highland Park in the Class 6A Region I area playoffs at Euless Trinity. The Cowgirls maintained a comfortable lead over the Scots for the majority of the game, ultimately defeating them, 54-41. 

Coppell (35-3) plays South Grand Prairie at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Irving MacArthur in the Class 6A Region I quarterfinals. 

The sound of squeaking shoes vibrates across the waxy surface of the floor, drowned out by the clamorous crowd and the shrilling scoreboard, resounding through the packed gym. Familiar faces to the Cowgirls line the multitude of the stands. Parents, teachers, past coaches and friends make the journey to Euless to support Coppell and its continuation of the season, pride swelling in both the onlookers and the players. 

“DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE,” the crowd chants, desperately hoping for the Cowgirls to maintain their lead as the clock counts down the seconds in the final quarter. Ultimately, the Cowgirls’ fans have nothing to worry about as the fourth quarter is mainly offensive for Coppell.

Coppell junior guard Ella Spiller leaps into the air, cradling the ball into the basket and drawing a foul from Highland Park senior forward Paris Lauro. Spiller’s focus remains unphased, despite all of the distractions surrounding her, as she makes both of her free throw shots, extending Coppell’s lead to 48-36 with less than three minutes remaining. 

One of Coppell’s leading scorers of the game with 12 points, Coppell senior guard Waverly Hassman, fouls out with 2:38 remaining.

Coppell went 13 of 16 from the free throw line. 

“It is really important to make [our free throws] which I feel is going to be harder and harder the farther we [advance] because there is more pressure,” Hassman said. “But I feel like if [we] just focus on the free shot we are getting at the free throw line, we will be fine.”

Coppell senior guard Macey Mercer demonstrates the Cowgirls’ concentration and determination throughout the rest of the game as she finds herself at the free throw line with 1:29 left on the clock. Mercer inhales, closing her eyes and focusing on the net in front of her. The ball passes through the next and bounces back to Mercer as she prepares to take her next shot. Mercer practices her team again, and extends her arms into the air, setting the ball on its trajectory to the basket. The shot goes in.

As the time ticks away with 45 seconds left on the scoreboard, the ball darts around the court as Coppell holds onto possession in the final moments of the game. Flashes begin to go off in the stands as one by one fans on Cowgirls’ side of the crowd rise to celebrate Coppell’s impending victory. 

According to Coppell coach Ryan Murphy, Highland Park excels at hitting 3-pointers but didn’t have any in the first half, which he thinks threw them off. 

Murphy continued, explaining that Lauro is one of the most skilled players on Highland Park’s team and averages more than 20 points per game, but the Cowgirls’ defense was able to hold her 18, and forced her to work for it.

Murphy identified two of the Scot’s other top scorers, senior guard Vivian Jin and junior guard Audrey Walker. Murphy said that Jin typically scores 14 points per game but didn’t score any against Coppell and Walker usually scores double figures, but only scored five.

Coppell senior guard Jules LaMendola is left with the ball in the final seconds of the game, dribbling in the center of the court, facing the basket. The intensity in her eyes fades as a smile beams across her face. The buzzer chimes and the ball falls from LaMendola’s hands, as the first thing she does is shake hands with one of the Scots. 

For the first time this season, the Cowgirls tangibly reach out and touch their success as a gold trophy is presented to the team. LaMendola receives it, pride shining in her eyes as she looks down at her reflection in the trophy. 

LaMendola raises the trophy above her head as a crowd encircles her, first jumping up and down, unable to contain her excitement, then slows down to a halt, her head hanging down as all of the moments from the game and the season catch up to her. 

The Cowgirls now shift their attention to redemption against South Grand Prairie following last year’s playoff defeat. 

“I think this will be a battle and it will just come down to [who is] the better team that day,” Hassman said. “Last year really set a fire under us so we’re ready to take them out and go all the way.”

Until then, the Cowgirls plan on studying the Warriors’ personnel and tightening up their offensive execution. 

“We’re excited to get a rematch, to get another chance at them,” Murphy said. “You don’t always get a chance to avenge a loss, so I think we will be really locked in for that game.”

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IRVING – Basketball is a sport of constantly moving forward – forward on the court, eyes fixed on the rim, moving past the accumulating adversity and onto the next game – but that’s not all the Coppell girls basketball culture strives for. 

Tuesday night, the Coppell girls basketball team faced South Grand Prairie in the Class 6A Region I quarterfinals, defeating the Warriors, 43-39, after receiving a shot at redemption. Last year, the Cowgirls fell to the Warriors in the same round of playoffs, ending their season with a difficult loss, but was able to move forward and overcome the team this year. 

However, Tuesday night was historic for the team for another reason: Per the Coppell girls basketball team, the Cowgirls advanced to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1990, when current CHS Principal Laura Springer was the girls basketball coach. 

After their victory against South Grand Prairie, the Cowgirls advance to the Region I semifinals against Southlake Carroll on Friday at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center in Fort Worth.

As the announcer’s voice booms over the speakers, the Coppell girls basketball team steps out onto the glossy court, nearly every seat in the stands filled. 

SGP junior guard Taliyah Parker scores a 3-pointer, the Coppell stands gasping while the SGP stands cheer in excitement. The score is now 41-39 Coppell, everyone in the gym standing up now, waiting in anticipation for the game to end, to have the comfort of knowing who will advance. 

FORT WORTH – It’s official: the Coppell girls basketball team is state bound. After all of the sacrifice, the hard work put in the early mornings and the late nights, the Cowgirls are on their way to San Antonio.

Their work is not finished yet, however.

On Saturday, the Coppell girls basketball team defeated Little Elm, 51-47, in the Class 6A Region final at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center. 

The Cowgirls (38-3) play Northside Clark (32-3) at the Alamodome in San Antonio at 7 p.m. in the Class 6A semifinals. The winner advances to play the Pearland-DeSoto winner at 8:30 p.m. Saturday for the state championship.

The Cowgirls take the court as the starting players sit anxiously on the bench, their heads hanging down, their elbows pressed on their knees, as they wait to hear their name called. Cheerleaders, coaches and other players form a line, a straightforward path to success. Coppell senior guard Jules LaMendola hears her name over the speakers, jogs through the line, her eyes focused on Coppell sophomore guard Londyn Harper waiting at the end.

LaMendola stands before Harper, then leans down as Harper places a crown upon her head, one that has remained there since the beginning of their season, witnessing the Cowgirls vanquish the seasons of four teams.

SAN ANTONIO – Nearly 300 miles from its home court, the 2022-23 Coppell girls basketball team unknowingly plays their last game together after six months of success, dedication and perseverance. 

On Friday night, the Cowgirls’ momentous season came to a close. Coppell fell to Northside Clark, 49-48, in the Class 6A semifinals at Alamodome in San Antonio. 

Clark junior guard Natalie Huff’s clutch 3-pointer with two seconds remaining sent the Cougars to tonight’s state championship game against two-time defending champion DeSoto. Coppell ends its best season in school history 38-4.

Huff’s shot concluded a thrilling, albeit heartbreaking finish for Coppell, game.

“The game just went two seconds too long,” Coppell girls basketball coach Ryan Murphy said. 

The bright lights of the $186 million arena beam down on the Cowgirls, as Coppell senior guard Jules LaMendola battles to call out plays over the deafening audience. 

It’s the third quarter and both teams are tied for the ninth time of the night, 32-32, 1:53 ticking down on the clock. Coppell senior guard Waverly Hassman dishes out an assist to LaMendola, who drives to the basket, leading the Cowgirls to take control of the game once again. 

Coppell returns to the court for the fourth quarter, fans watching with bated breath. 

Hassman hands another assist to sophomore guard Landry Sherrer, who receives the ball and jumps into the air. The shot goes in, and the Coppell fans boom throughout the dome, demanding to be heard by the opposing team and stands. 

Less than a minute later, Clark junior Center Arianna Roberson catches a fast break in the paint, scoring a layup and shrinking Coppell’s lead to 36-34. 

After a series of missed shots and fouls, Roberson scores again, tying the score at 36, with 3:37 counting down on the clock. 

The Cowgirls refuse to accept another tied score, as LaMendola lobs the ball out to Coppell senior Allyssa Potter who sinks a 3-pointer, Coppell extending their lead to 39-36.

With 1:45 remaining in the game, Roberson draws a foul from Spiller. Roberson steps up to the free throw line, tuning out the thunderous noise from the Cowgirls faithful. Roberson makes both shots, diminishing Coppell’s lead to 41-38. 

Spiller immediately gains back those points, scoring a layup off another assist from LaMendola, Coppell ahead, 43-38, 1:26 gleaming on the scoreboards surrounding the court. 

It’s the last minute of the game, and everything is moving at the speed of light, the ball darting across the court, players cutting in and out of the lanes. But one thing is certain: Coppell is ahead. 

Coppell senior guard Macey Mercer stands at the free throw line, time frozen around her. Mercer looks up to the basket and watches both of her shots go in, Coppell once again holding its five-point lead over Clark. 

Huff passes the ball to her teammate, senior guard Ramsey Robledo. Robledo leaps, the ball slipping off her fingers and cutting through the air as it passes through the net. 

With 30 seconds left in the game, Mercer draws a foul from Robedo and secures both points from her free throws. Coppell fans rock the dome in celebration, their collected voices beginning to drown out those from the Cougars’ supporters.

Nineteen seconds. The clock pauses as Roberson dishes the ball to junior forward/center Kamryn Griffin who weaves between the Cowgirls’ defense and scores, pulling Clark within two points of Coppell.

Fifteen seconds. Griffin draws a foul from LaMendola and scores, Coppell now only leading by one.

Thirteen seconds. Coppell has possession and the whistle blows. A foul is called on Huff as Mercer lines up for her two shots. Mercer connects with the basket and makes the first shot, but misses the second, the Cowgirls now leading by two points. 

Play resumes and it’s Clark’s possession after Roberson snatches the rebound from Mercer’s missed shot. The Cowgirls sprint back on defense, attempting to block any and all shots.

Huff dribbles down the court with the ball, stopping at the 3-point line, Mercer standing between her and the basket. Mercer raises her hands, attempting to block Huff’s line of sight, but Huff swerves and shoots. Hassman closes in on her as the ball leaves Huff’s fingertips, but it’s too late. The shot goes in with 1.4 seconds remaining. 

The time quickly expires, and the scoreboard buzzes as Coppell girls basketball coach Ryan Murphy raises his arms in protest. 

Clark is already celebrating: the players jumping up and down together, their crowd awestruck and roaring, while the Coppell crowd is speechless, everyone in disbelief of the play.

The officials blow the whistle and deliberate, everyone waiting in anticipation for the verdict. 

The play is reviewed and it is determined that Murphy called a 30-second timeout as soon as the ball passed through the net. Coppell is given back one second.

The Cowgirls run the play from the opposite end of their basket, as they desperately lob the ball to Spiller for a desperation shot. Spiller winds up from half-court and leaps forward, but misses. 

The buzzer echoes throughout the arena and Clark continues celebrating as LaMendola falls to her knees on the court after giving her all to the game.

“[Huff’s] shot is not the reason why we lost that game,” LaMendola said. “At the end of the day, I’m just proud to be here. I’m proud of my team [and] I think we should keep our heads high.”

The Cowgirls slowly collect themselves as they prepare for the award ceremony, the last time they will step on the court together this year. 

“I’m proud of my team,” LaMendola said. “Four years ago, none of this was even in our minds. Without any one of those 13 girls on our roster, we wouldn’t be here.” 

Tears well in each player’s eyes as one by one, the Cowgirls receive their medals and stand before the crowd. Their stands rise to their feet, tears unable to be held back from them as well. 

“The girls have completely changed the culture of Coppell girls basketball,” Murphy said. “Four years ago, going to state was not something that anyone ever would have thought about.”

The bittersweet night comes to a close, the final curtain falling on the Cowgirls and their season, that is, until they take the court again next year. 

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