GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR At 5-foot-5, Davidson reaches redwood heights

The guard led Ursuline to the Mahoning Valley's first state title in 15 years.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Few decisions made by 4-year-olds have as much impact as the one Courtney Davidson made 14 years ago.
"My dad told me that he put a bunch of balls before me and I chose the basketball to pick up and play with," the Ursuline High senior said.
"I used to put these two 'Xs' on my basement walls, and those were my hoops. Finally, my parents got me one of those Fisher-Price hoops and that's how I started off," the 5-5 guard said.
Davidson's tremendous varsity career didn't end until she cut down the nets at the Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center after leading the Irish girls basketball team to the Division III state crown.
For becoming only the third Mahoning County player to surpass 2,000 career points and for leading Ursuline to the Mahoning Valley's first state title in 15 years, Davidson has been selected The Vindicator's girls basketball player of the year.
Milestones
Ursuline's season was loaded with milestones:
UDavidson committed to attend Michigan State University.
UThe Irish went 18-2 in the regular season, winning their first Steel Valley Conference crown. Davidson averaged 18.5 points, 8.6 assists and four rebounds per game.
UAfter four straight regional losses to South Euclid Regina, Coach Sean Durkin's team stunned the four-time defending state champs with a 65-52 victory in the regional final.
UUrsuline dominated the state tournament, romping past Plain City Jonathan Alter, 59-43, and Oak Hill, 66-52. Davidson finished her varsity career with 2,064 points (Boardman's Amber Bland and Canfield's Jenny Kulics are the only others to surpass 2,000).
The daughter of Arnold and Thais Davidson of Girard, Davidson credited them for inspiration and support.
"My dad played for South High School so he was really into the sport," Davidson said. "But he never forced it on me."
One of Davidson's toughest decisions came when she attended McDonald Middle School and chose Ursuline.
"I loved McDonald -- the school system, my friends -- but we had to do what was best for my career," Davidson said. "We needed to get a step higher -- that's why we came here."
As a freshman, Davidson started immediately, helping the Irish earn four straight Div. III regional tournament berths. She says she owes much to Durkin.
"He gave the chance to start and play varsity as a freshman," Davidson said. "That really helped me out a lot to get the confidence I needed to get my scholarship. He's been great these four years."
When her junior season ended, Davidson said the only goal that mattered was defeating Regina.
"It wasn't just to win the SVC and district, but to beat Regina and win state," Davidson said.
Replay wish
"I wish I could go back so I could actually watched what happened," Davidson said. "It [happened] so fast, so quick -- I enjoyed every moment of it. Once we beat Regina, we felt we could beat anyone."
Davidson said Ursuline's secret was not giving up.
"We were down 26-11 and I told the rest of the team that you guys can't give up," Davidson said. "If you give up, you get that defeated attitude and you're going to lose. We never gave up and we slowly came back."
Following graduation, Davidson will have a month to enjoy summer before reporting to East Lansing, Mich., on July 6 for conditioning and summer classes.
"It's kind of scary because people have expectations and you wonder if you're going to hold them up," Davidson said. "I'm going to go up there and give it my all."
williams@vindy.com