For the first time in Zia Cooke’s high school career, the pressure is completely off.
Almost 48 hours after making history by leading the Rogers Rams to a second straight title and becoming the first Toledo basketball team to repeat as state champions, the smile wouldn’t leave the 5-foot-9 point guard’s face.
That’s because she knows how rare it is for a senior to end his or her career as a champion.
“That is definitely something that topped it off,” Cooke said of Rogers’ 56-45 win against No. 1-ranked Dayton Carroll. “I would say that I am just feeling so good. I just feel blessed and just happy. Before the season was over, there was a lot of pressure, and I was just tired. Like I was going and working out three times [a day] just so I could be prepared for the state championship.”
Cooke turned in a 13-point, 11-rebound, 4-assist effort in the title game, after leading Rogers to a semifinal win two nights before with 37 points and 13 rebounds.
What a way to go out.
It is only logical Cooke has been named The Blade girls basketball player of the year for the second consecutive season.
“She should enjoy every moment of it because it’s her senior year,” coach Lamar Smith said. “I’m just excited for her, because history was made, and she’s a part of it.”
Admittedly, Cooke hasn’t had time to digest her team’s second title, the one she lists first when speaking about any of her accomplishments.
“From the game on [March 14], there was a little doubt in me, like I’m tired, hopefully I can still perform on [March 16],” she said. “For my teammates to step up, it felt so good, and to just see everybody smiling, that’s something I love to see. The crowd was going wild, and looking in the crowd seeing my dad happy, and my mom happy and crying, it was a good feeling.”
Leading her team to a second title was one of the main goals Cooke listed for her senior season.
She also hoped to reach 2,000 career points, something she was able to accomplish in Rogers’ regular-season finale Feb. 11 against Notre Dame. She closed her career with 2,197 points.
Cooke also mentioned wanting to become an All-American, and saw that dream come true when she was named one of the 24 girls selected to the McDonald’s All American team in January. She will play in the game Wednesday in Atlanta.
She also earned another first-team All-Ohio nod, and was named the Division II player of the year after averaging 21.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists this season.
“Not a lot of people can do things like that, you might set 10 goals and only get one,” Cooke said. “I’m happy about it, but most of all, the state championship was what I really wanted. So I am really happy I was able to get that done.”
While Cooke is appreciative of all the recognition, she still finds it easier to talk about the team than herself. When asked what stood out to her about this season, she mentioned how close the team was, how competitive practices were, and her relationship with the Rogers coaching staff.
There wasn’t a single individual accomplishment touched on.
That’s the bottom line for Cooke: Although she won almost every award possible, and even experienced viral fame after scoring a career-high 43 points in December, it all comes back to Rogers’ two titles.
“Zi wanted to do this when she came to Rogers, and she said, ‘Coach, we’re going to hang a banner,’” Smith said. “She separated herself as one of the best girls basketball players to come out of Toledo. I can honestly say that, and I don’t think anyone would argue with that now.”
As her high school career comes to a close with just all-star games remaining, Cooke, who always has stayed in the moment in preparing for the future, is ready to take the next step.
As the No. 7 recruit in the nation in the 2019 class, she will head to the University of South Carolina in the fall.
“She’s ready to go,” Smith said. “I hate to say it, but it’s time. She’s done enough in high school. It’s time for her to move on and grow at the next level. I’m excited to watch her.”
The same team-first, competitive mentality that made her successful in high school is part of the reason why coach Dawn Staley recruited Cooke in the first place.
“She’s a player, she’s a competitor and she doesn’t want to let anything get in the way of competing, not even an accolade or an acknowledgement,” Staley told The Blade in February. “She is somebody that wants the ball when the game is on the line. She doesn’t shy away from the pressure.”
But no matter what awaits, she is appreciative of all Toledo has given her.
“I’m not running from the work; I’m trying to get myself prepared for it,” Cooke said. “But I fell in love with Toledo, I’ve been in love with it. It’s going to be hard to leave.”
First Published March 23, 2019, 4:00 a.m.
