LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Cooper High School boys basketball team will never forget its special journey to Lexington.
The legacy this team left this season is far beyond being a state quarterfinalist.
"They learned how to be men," Cooper coach Tim Sullivan said. "They learned how to grow up and make decisions for themselves and stand up for what they believe in."
Great Crossing defeated Cooper 49-36 Friday night in a UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 quarterfinal Friday night at Rupp Arena.
The Jaguars (24-6) were led by senior point guard Isaac Brown who scored 14 points and had three assists. Senior shooting guard Andy Johnson scored 12 points and had six rebounds.
"The way they went out there tonight and competed - not just tonight - but the entire year," Sullivan said. "I don't know how many people thought we were going to be in this situation in the end at this time of year for these kids."
Great Crossing, ranked No. 1 in Kentucky by MaxPreps, was No. 5 in the KHSAA RPI standings. Great Crossing was led Friday night by Vince Dawson with 20 points. Malachi Moreno, Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and a University of Kentucky signee, had 13 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks.
"We did everything we could and we fought - just got beat tonight," Sullivan said. "You look at the numbers and it tells everything. Just like I told them in the locker room - they're not going to be remembered for that game right there. They're going to be remembered for the 2024-25 group that stood up for something and made themselves a group of family that has a bond now that will last a lifetime."
Cooper, winners of the Ninth Region, made their first Sweet 16 appearance Thursday night since 2017, when the Jaguars were the state runner-up. Cooper defeated Henderson County 50-35 in a first-round game Thursday night to advance to play Great Crossing.
Cooper is ranked No. 6 in the MaxPreps Kentucky boys basketball rankings. The Jaguars were ranked No. 13 in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball RPI standings.
Friday may have been longtime Cooper coach Tim Sullivan’s final game with the Jaguars.
Sullivan, who has been Cooper’s coach since the program started in 2008 and earned his 300th career win in February, was told Jan. 21 he had the option to resign or not have his contract renewed at the end of this season.
"Tomorrow I am going to wake up and I'm still the coach at Cooper High School," Sullivan said. "We're going to be fine. These guys are always going to be my sons. I've got two sons in that locker room right now. A 10-year-old and a 16-year-old and I've got a whole group of other sons that are a part of my family now. The sun will rise and we will figure it out."
Johnson took a turn to speak after Sullivan in the postgame press conference.
"At the end of the day we're all family," Johnson said. "Everywhere he goes we're going to follow him. Doesn't really matter where he's going. If he stays, if he goes - we're all going to be around him. I just want everybody to know we lost tonight but the fight in this group and the togetherness the family in this group is second to none. And it's special."
