Cooper boys basketball team wins Ninth Region title for embattled head coach
With six minutes to go in the game, Cooper sophomore Roman Combs blocked a layup attempt by Lloyd Memorial senior Anthony Blaackar.
Combs got the ball in the backcourt and passed ahead to his brother Jaidan in transition. Jaidan Combs, a senior, made a layup and drew a foul. His free throw put Cooper up by 19 and put a dagger in Lloyd’s hopes of making a comeback.
That was one of several highlights for the brothers Tuesday night as they helped the Jaguars win their second regional championship.
They scored 18 of the team’s 25 points in the second half, helping the Jaguars to a 53-38 over Lloyd Memorial in the Ninth Region championship game of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association tournament Tuesday night at Truist Arena.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Jaidan Combs, one of three starters also on the state runner-up football team in December. “I got to go to Kroger Field for football, and that was fun. And now I get to go to basketball, too, and I get to go with my best friends.”
Cooper (23-5) plays Second Region champion Henderson County (25-6) Thursday, March 27, in the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena. Lloyd, in the regional final for the first time since 1996, finishes 26-7.
“We’re going to down to state and play our hearts out,” Cooper senior Andy Johnson said. “We’re going to play tough. I’m not saying we’re going to win every game, but we’ll play harder than any other team.”
It is Cooper’s second regional championship, first since finishing as state runner-up in 2017.
Several players from that team were in Truist Arena for the game, with a couple on head coach Tim Sullivan’s staff. Leading scorer Sean McNeil sat in the stands behind the Cooper bench and congratulated the players after.
Cooper vs. Lloyd Memorial: Key moments and statistics
Cooper’s starting five took turns building the lead throughout the game.
Roman Combs led the team with 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting, 13 rebounds and 3 assists, plus two blocks and two steals.
Senior Chris Rodriguez scored 11 points with 3 rebounds. Jaidan Combs had 10 points. Johnson had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Senior Isaac Brown scored 5 points with a team-high 5 assists plus two blocks. Julienne Knuckles scored a tough basket in the first half.
Jaidan and his brother had a fun second half.
“We have a good connection,” he said. “I think Andy wasn’t going on the scoring side in the second half, but Chris was going tonight. Isaac was going. That’s why our team is so special. If someone’s not going, other guys step up. We love and we trust each other.”
Defensively, Cooper held Lloyd to 31.4 percent shooting, 16-of-51.
Cooper held Lloyd senior E.J. Walker to 7 points on 2-of-13 shooting. One of his baskets was a breakaway dunk in transition in the first quarter, and the second came after Jaidan Combs’ basket to make it 43-24. Walker had 10 rebounds.
Cooper has no one who can match Walker’s 6-foot-8 height. Jaidan Combs, a 6-foot-1 guard, often guarded the South Carolina commit in the post while the Jaguars used their communication and schemes to make it hard for him to get an open look inside.
“I knew we were going to come out and play defense and do what we do,” Jaidan Combs said. “You want to play for Sully, you have to play defense. That’s what our program’s about. That’s why I’m on the floor. I love it.”
Said Sullivan: “They were locked. All five guarding as one. Being connected, staying engaged on the ball. E.J. is a load. It took everybody to try to guard him because they were all around the ball and they had to swarm to it.”
The Jaguars made a statement to start the game
Cooper led 12-0 late in the first quarter. Johnson, averaging 23.3 points per game for the year, scored 8 of the first 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Brown scored in transition to make it 12-0.
Johnson knew he had to make an early statement.
“I was not going down tonight and losing,” Johnson said. “I knew I had to set the tone. It was great.”
The Juggernauts settled in after hot start and climbed within six on multiple occasions, the last a 23-17 deficit late in the first half.
In the final minute, Johnson made a basket, his last points of the game. Roman Combs scored on a 3-point play and Cooper led 28-17 at the half.
The Jaguars charged past the Juggernauts to start the second half, scoring a quick 7-0 run to lead by 18 at 35-17. Jaidan Combs scored on a drive. Brown hit a 3-pointer, then Roman Combs broke free for a thunderous dunk that forced a Lloyd timeout.
The Juggernauts never came closer than 14 points after that.
The Jaguars were playing for their coach
Heading into the game, Sullivan emphasized to his team that they needed to focus on the game instead of his job status at Cooper, which is in doubt after the season. In January, principal Mike Wilson asked Sullivan to resign after the season.
More than 30 members of his family attended the game. As they had all tournament, the Cooper students were cheering his name every chance they could. Many Cooper fans had “Sully” on specially made T-shirts. His wife, Andrea, also the Scott High School volleyball coach, celebrated with the team and their children.
“The ability to ignore the noise,” Tim Sullivan said. “To make it all about us, and not me. It’s not about one of us; it’s about all of us. This group, how they’ve come together. The way they continue to stay focused on what we do and continue trusting one another, and continuing to pour their hearts into the program. I see the alumni go nuts in the stands and they’re so happy for this group because they know how special this group is.”
Their son, Elijah, a sophomore on the Cooper team, scored the final basket of the game for the Jaguars.
“That made me cry,” Sullivan said. “He took the three over here a little deep and he was excited. I love it because there have been times I’ve had to yell at him about being ready to shoot because the kid can really shoot it. He throws up the brick and I turn around to talk to one of the guys, he gets a drive to the baseline and he finished with his left hand. He’s come a long way and I’m really proud of him.”
Johnson and the Jaguars were fired up to play well for their coach.
“How big a family we are,” Johnson said. “We all love each other and winning one for him, for sure.”
Said Roman Combs: “It feels great. I’m happy for coach. I’m happy for my teammates. I’ve never had a better coach than him. He’ll get mad at us then he’ll say ‘next play.’ I’m thankful to play for him.”
What's next for Cooper boys basketball in the KHSAA state tournament?
Whatever happens in that situation after the season, Cooper’s head coach is only focused on getting his team ready for Henderson County in the Sweet 16 at 8:30 p.m., Thursday, March 27, at the University of Kentucky's Rupp Arena.
“I said ‘Fellas, you have no idea how much fun we’re getting ready to have and what kind of ride we’re getting ready to go on,’” Sullivan said. “If you think the lights are bright here, you get ready to go on that floor at Rupp Arena and the lights are really bright. You’re going to watch this community just continue to pour their hearts into you guys.”
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct Cooper football's state finalist status in December.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cooper boys basketball team wins 2025 KHSAA Ninth Region title
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