Ocoee girls basketball’s Dakara Merthie scores 1,000th point

Reaching the 1,000-point mark in a high school basketball career is a milestone moment for any player — an achievement that should be celebrated. Reaching the mark in just 55 games — meaning you’d have to average 18.1 points per outing — is even more incredible. But crossing that threshold in your first game as a junior, with essentially two full seasons of basketball ahead of you, feels like the halfway point of a once-in-a-generation player’s legendary tale. 

During Ocoee High girls basketball’s 2024-25 season-opening game against Lake Nona High (0-2) Nov. 21, that’s exactly how guard Dakara Merthie began the next chapter of heroics on the hardwood for the Lady Knights (2-0). 

In the game’s opening moments and just 12 points shy of the milestone, Merthie went to work. From her favorite left corner, her first shot was a bucket; three points. Second shot, again from beyond the arch, six points. Third shot, another triple falls, nine points, and within a matter of minutes, the junior was one shot away from 1,000.

After a few possessions, Ocoee fell into its half-court offense. Merthie stood on the right side of the court, in front of the Lake Nona bench between the three-point line and the paint, with a defender draped all over her. She slowly headed toward the baseline, almost lulling her defender to sleep before making her move. 

At full speed Merthie sprinted along the baseline, under the basket — and with the help of screens set by her team — she popped out on the opposite corner in front of the packed home crowd with her hands up, ready to receive the pass and no defender in sight. 

The pass came, and without hesitation, Merthie pulled the trigger from deep, and as ESPN NBA play-by-play announcer Mike Breen says in moments like this, “BANG!” The ball fell through the net. The crowd went nuts, the referees briefly paused the game, and her teammates and coaches rushed the court to celebrate the accomplishment. 

In just 55 games played, the Ocoee junior scored her 1,000th point. 

“I feel amazing right now,” Merthie said following the game. “I couldn’t have done it without my team. … The effort that we’re giving day in and day out is incredible. I can’t speak enough about this team’s discipline, courage and dedication. This win and this moment came because of how much work we’ve put in together and because we’re doing this as a team with no selfishness.”

Led by Merthie — who scored a career-high 38 points (including nine three-pointers) to go along with six rebounds, five assists and five steals — and the Lady Knights’ suffocating defense, which recorded 21 steals, Ocoee topped the Lions 93-14. 

With that sort of performance from his team and achievement for his star player, it’s no wonder why Ocoee coach Marcus Spencer couldn’t stop smiling following the game.

“I always try to talk to our players about celebrating and cherishing these moments because they’re going to become memories that last a lifetime,” he said. “So, to be able to have Dakara score her 1,000th point on our home court, in front of our fans, was amazing. This was one of the biggest things we’ve talked about since she arrived on campus. We have a culture here that is all about celebrating the achievements of our players, and I told her that we were going to celebrate her to the fullest. I hope she remembers this moment for the rest of her life.”

Ocoee making an early-season statement 

Beyond this monumental moment in Merthie’s career; she, along with Spencer and the entire Ocoee team, knows if they continue to perform as they have to open the season — scoring an average of 95 points per game and allowing an average of just nine points a game — this season will have plenty of opportunities for celebration, with the ultimate prize awaiting them in Lakeland. 

“If we work hard, keep getting in the gym every day and giving our 100% effort, we got this; we’re going all the way to Lakeland this year,” Merthie said. “We’re getting there, and we’re going to be state champions.”

Spencer agrees with his star junior guard’s assessment of what the team has to do to achieve their state championship goals but knows it takes more than just effort.

“We have to stay committed, stay disciplined, and as I always tell them, we have to pay attention to details,” Spencer said. “The details are going to matter in the big moments, because in those big games, that’s the difference between winning and losing.”

The Lady Knights will be back in action Friday, Nov. 29, at Merthie’s former school — Lake Mary High.