Ohio high school girls basketball’s biggest weekend of the season is just days away.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association girls basketball state tournament begins Thursday, March 12 in the Dayton area at three sites — the University of Dayton’s UD Arena, Wright State’s Nutter Center and Vandalia Butler High School. All three arenas will be used for the state semifinals before all seven state championship games will be played at UD Arena.
Here’s a look at the matchup featuring Copley, as well what else to know about the Division III final four.
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Dayton Chaminade Julienne vs. Copley | What to know
Copley’s OHSAA tournament history
Copley is in its second state semifinal appearance in three seasons and third in program history. Head coach Julie Solis led Copley to the 2023-24 Division II final four, where it lost 67-29 to eventual state champion Cincinnati Purcell Marian and three-time Ms. Basketball winner Dee Alexander.
Chaminade Julienne’s OHSAA tournament history
This is CJ’s first trip to the state semifinal since 2013. That said, if the Eagles reach the final four, they usually play in the championship as six of the seven previous times they’ve been to the semis, they played in the finals. They won titles in 1999, 2003 and and 2005. CJ was second in 1998, 2001 and 2004.
Copley’s 2026 OHSAA tournament scores
Copley advanced to state by defeating Barberton 85-4 in sectionals, Walsh Jesuit 62-44 and Ellet 61-39 in districts, and Canfield 46-41 and Brush 67-51 in regionals
Chaminade Julienne’s 2026 OHSAA tournament scores
Julienne advanced to state by defeating Dayton Stivers School for the Arts 72-12 in sectionals, Franklin 73-9 and Hamilton Badin 45-41 in districts, and Tippecanoe 59-54 and Dayton Carroll 49-45 in regionals
Copley’s starting five and key subs
Dayton Chaminade Julienne’s starting five and key subs
Breaking down Copley vs. Chaminade Julienne
Copley is led by Youngstown State commit Evelyn McKnight. The Northeast Inland District Player of the Year and Ms. Basketball finalist had two strong regional performances, scoring 23 points against Canfield and 34 points against Brush to push Copley to state. She averages 24.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 steals per game. … Zoey Van Voorhis averages 11.0 points per game. … Copley reached the state tournament despite Central Michigan signee Audrey Parker missing the season with an injury. … Copley head coach Julie Solis has reached the state tournament six times with three schools. Solis also reached state with Solon and Twinsburg. Solis won Division I state championships in 2011 and 2012 with Twinsburg, and also guided the Tigers to a state runner-up finish in 2013. … CJ is lead by Division I prospect and honorable mention All-Southwest District pick Janae Cain and the freshmen duo of 6-2 first-team All-Southwest District pick Ja’Kyiah Cook (10.9 ppg) and 5-8 third-team pick Mychael Hanson (11.0 ppg), who are both already getting big-time college looks. Maggie Bush stands 5-9 and causes major matchup problems.
A look at the other Division III state semifinal | Chillicothe Unioto vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary
Unioto and St. Vincent-St. Mary meet in the other Division I state semifinal at the Nutter Center, with tip scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Unioto enters the game 25-2, while STVM is 21-5 and is led by Division I recruits Melania Cornute and Sydney Ferguson. The Shermans are led by Dayton commit and Southeast District Player of the Year Milee Smith and Keyairah Beard. … Unioto makes its first state final four appearance since 1995, and it features a face who UD Flyer fans will get to know very soon as the 5-10 Smith, a senior averaging 24.9 points. Beard is a 5-6 sophomore averaging 14.9 points. Magnolia Holbert adds quality leadership, as the 5-6 senior guard averages 7.9 points.
When is the OHSAA Division III state championship game?
The semifinal winners meet in the title game at 3:45 p.m. Friday, March 13 at UD Arena.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: OHSAA girls basketball state preview, Copley vs. Chaminade Julienne
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / The Repository
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