Feb. 21—Madison Royal-Davis became the top high school girls basketball scorer in Toledo history Saturday night, when she led Toledo Christian to a 73-5 Division IV sectional final tournament victory over visiting Vanlue.
The 5-foot-9 senior guard passed the 2,197 career points scored by her former Rogers High School teammate, Zia Cooke, when she tallied her 13th and 14th points of the game on a steal and layup with 6:07 left in the second quarter.
“It means a lot” Royal-Davis said of passing her former teammate. “She was a great hard worker, and I looked up to her.
“I’m just glad I could make this big accomplishment, and put it on my record. I wasn’t nervous. I just played my game, and I’m so blessed that I got the opportunity to do it.”
Royal-Davis, who has signed to play at Butler University, had 31 points in the game, and now has 2,216 in her career.
She scored 1,045 points in two seasons at Rogers (2017-18 and 2018-19), where she and Cooke helped the Rams win back-to-back Division II state championships. Cooke is now a sophomore and one of the nation’s top guards playing at the University of South Carolina.
“I always told her she would get 2,000 or more by her senior year,” Cooke said. “I am very happy and proud of her and want her to finish her senior year strong. I wish her the best of luck in college.”
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Royal-Davis transferred to Toledo Christian for the 2019-20 school year, and averaged 28.0 points and 9.0 rebounds for the 21-4 Eagles. She led them to the Division IV regional semifinals, and was named Ohio’s D-IV state player of the year. While at Rogers, she was second team Division II All-Ohio as a freshman in 2018, and first team All-Ohio in 2019.
The scoring mark solidifies Royal-Davis’ Toledo basketball legacy.
“I’ve worked hard at it since I was little, and I wanted to make a name for myself when I was done with my high school career.
“Now, I just want our team to go as far as we can. I think we have a great opportunity to make it down to the final four, and maybe win it. We just have to stay together as a team, and play hard every game.”
Earlier this season, Royal-Davis became the first girls player in Ohio prep history to score 1,000 points at two different high schools.
The only boys player to reach 1,000 points at two high schools was Bob Huggins, best known as one of the winningest men’s college basketball coaches of all-time.
Huggins surpassed 1,000 points at Bowerston Conotton Valley (1968-70) and Gnadenhutten Indian Valley South (1970-72) high schools.
Toledo’s all-time high school points leader is former Ohio State and NBA star Jim Jackson, who scored 2,328 points while at the former Macomber High School from 1985-89. He led the Macmen to the the Division I state championship in 1989.
This season, Royal-Davis has scored 471 points in 19 games for TC, bringing her current total there to 1,171 points.
Royal-Davis is averaging 24.8 points and 8.3 rebounds for the 14-5 Eagles, who will play in a district semifinal Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Fostoria High School against New Riegel, which defeated Tiffin Calvert 58-43 on Saturday.
First Published February 20, 2021, 8:37pm
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