Joyeux Noel.
Christmas 2025 is a little less than 10 months away. Still, whether you say it in French or English, Cooper sophomore Haylee Noel gave the Jaguars an early present on Thursday – her 22 points led the three-time defending Girls Ninth Region champions to a fourth straight 33rd District trophy, a merry 58-39 win over Ryle at Boone County’s Nell Fookes Court.
“I think what I’m most proud of with this group is just the continually getting better and growing each day,” Cooper coach Justin Holthaus said.
Noel’s night included three 3-pointers – a pretty good evening when you consider she injured her right ankle in the opening minute Tuesday’s semifinal win over Boone County.
“Pretty bad,” Noel said of her injury. “I couldn’t even get back into the game, but I was icing it all day (Wednesday).”
Noel’s night was not the only reason for Cooper to rejoice.
RELATED: Noel named All-9th Region MVP
Zene Thompson, the lone senior who celebrated her 18th birthday on Thursday, scored 13 points and held Ryle’s Jayden McClain to 10 and the defense held the Raiders to seven points – with no field goals – in the fourth quarter.
Thompson “kind of hated” the switch at first.
“Guarding bigs, bigger girls, it’s terrifying,” Thompson said. “But I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to get the work done.”
Thompson mostly fronted McClain. Guarding opposing centers is a new thing – she was a guard her first three seasons.
“She’s always been undersized against a lot of the kids that she’s guarding,” Holthaus said. “But she fights, she competes. She’s got length, she’s a great athlete.”
Laynee Hampton’s field goal with 1:30 left in the third quarter was Ryle’s (9-22) last. The Raiders didn’t help themselves at the free throw line, either – an 11-for-31 nightmare for the night.
The second quarter was Ryle’s best.
After falling behind, 17-6 after one quarter, six points by Jaelyn Jones, who led the Raiders with 17, helped her team trail by just 22-20 with 2:17 left in the half.
Noel didn’t look worried – her eight points over the second quarter’s final 2:12 included two free throws, a three from the right corner with :42 left, and a top-of-the-key triple with two ticks to go. She finished the first half with 15.
Lyric Hooper’s three (on Thompson’s assist) began Cooper’s (22-5) 15-6 run over the final 5:08.
“Their defense definitely kept us from being able to capitalize on the opportunities that we had,” Ryle coach Katie Haitz said. “We didn’t have as many opportunities to be able to take some shots on the outside like we would want us to be able to do and then get the ball inside to Jayden.”
What Holthaus hopes people finally acknowledge: Despite graduating six seniors last season, Cooper is a factor in next week’s regional tournament at Northern Kentucky University’s Truist Arena.
“For these kids to kind of step in those roles and have that spotlight on them, they haven’t flinched all year long,” Holthaus said.
JAGUARS 58, RAIDERS 39
RYLE — 6-16-10-7 – 39
COOPER — 17-13-9-19 – 58
Ryle (39) — Dowell 8, Jones 17, Hay 2, McClain 10, Hampton 2. 3-Pt. FG: 1 (Jones). FT: 10-31. Fouls: 11. Fouled out: None.
Cooper (58) — Brissey 7, Hooper 8, Noel 22, Scott 8, Thompson 13. 3-Pt. FG: 6 (Noel 3, Hooper 2, Brissey). FT: 11-13. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: None.
Records: Ryle 9-22, Cooper 22-5.
All tournament team: Briajia Land (Boone County), Avery Burcham (Conner), Jaelyn Jones (Ryle), Jayden McClain (Ryle), Addyson Brissey (Cooper), Zene Thompson (Cooper).
Most Valuable Player: Haylee Noel (Cooper).
