- March 13, 2026
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The Lady Knights lined up together for a moment of silence before the team's State Final Four game began.
Ocoee's senior guard Jazmine Monroe attempted to drive into the paint before passing the ball to her teammate.
Senior guard Aniya Hester tried to find her way past Winter Haven's defense while the crowd of supporters watched.
The Lady Knights' leading scorer Dakara Merthie looked to see if she should attempt a shot. She celebrated her 2,000th career point earlier this season.
Ocoee's Aniya Hester dribbled inside of the paint, while her teammates ran a play to get themselves open.
Gabriella Fortius stretched to reach the rim. Standing at 6-foot, she's one of the tallest players on Ocoee's team.
The Lady Knights' Dakara Merthie carried herself well on the court. She will play at the University of Charleston after high school.
Ocoee's Aubrey Satterfield was playing her first-year as a Knight. The senior point guard was one of the five starters.
The Lady Knights' Aubrey Satterfield stared intensely at Winter Haven's players while she was on defense. She played hard the entire game.
Ocoee High was backed by the support of its home fans who made the two hour drive to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
Ocoee High's Stomp n Shake team came to Jacksonville in full support of the Lady Knights on the court. They were loud and showcased their Knight pride, creating a home atmosphere for the players.
As the time winded down in the game, Ocoee's speed picked up and the team was determined to continue fighting for its season to extend to the state championship.
The Lady Knights' Dakara Merthie concentrated as she skillfully dribbled the ball.
Ocoee High fans brought signs to show their support for the team.
As the game winded down, Ocoee High's head coach Marcus Spencer called a timeout to try and rally the team back together.
The infamous Cinderella story last season was the Ocoee High girls basketball team. The Lady Knights etched themselves in the record books by reaching the Class 7A FHSAA State Semifinals for the first time in program history.
This season was no different.
The Lady Knights’ district and regional championship titles earned the team a back-to-back appearance in the Final Four. Not only did the players make history for Ocoee once again, they also made history for FHSAA girls basketball by becoming one of the first four rosters to play in Jacksonville for a state title.
But, the Final Four was the team’s stopping ground.
Ocoee fell to Winter Haven 31-26 Friday, March 13, and the team’s 2025-2026 campaign came to a close.
Both teams were better offensively than the final score portrayed; Ocoee averaged 56.7 points per game, while Winter Haven averaged 57.8. The low score in the semifinal game was a product of the teams’ determination on defense and preventing Ocoee’s leading scorer, Dakara Merthie, from getting hot.
The Lady Knights ended the season 24-6, ranked first in the team’s district and No. 13 in Florida.
