As the team embraced at mid-court, Gray's emotions were evident. Leading Copleston to an 83-68 win over Manchester Mystics meant everything to her.
However, her joyful emotions flipped to disbelief as her name was read out as the WEABL finals MVP. Her hand over her mouth, eyes wide open, she was willed on by her sisters-in-arms, smiling from ear-to-ear before collecting the golden ball.
Saving her best performance for last, Gray posted 21 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists in the win over the Mystics, her second double-double of the WEABL season.
"This wasn't just the best game of my season, but probably the best game of my life," Gray said.
"It's my last game for the academy, but we still have the Playoffs in WNBL Division One. I've missed over two seasons with injury and been sat on the bench for five National Finals, wishing I could be out there helping my teammates.
"So, to finally get to be out there, contribute, and play my best basketball was amazing."
She then joined Louisa Gibbins to collect the winners' plaque to culminate her time at the Ipswich-based school.
"This programme has been close so many times, and we certainly know how it feels not to win this competition," Gray admitted.
"We didn't just want to win it this year, but also for those girls that have been so close in the past, especially the girls that didn't get to play during COVID.
"I really looked up to those girls as a player in the Ipswich junior programme growing up."
Still a teenager, Gray overcame personal odds to land an MVP award in Manchester, sidelined with multiple set-backs over the last three years.
Devastating elbow and knee injuries kept Gray from playing the entirety of the 2022/23 WEABL campaign, as well as significant time away from Endeavour Ipswich Basketball.
So much so that the youngster questioned whether she would ever return.
"The road to recovery has been well over two years, and this was always about getting back out on court with the people that haven't given up on me during that time," she explained.
"There have been some difficult times and have been moments when I have questioned whether I could carry on.
"But with the support of my family, my teammates, and the staff at the club and academy, I haven't given up.
"And that's the message I really want to share with players who have experienced serious injury set-backs. Don't give up. And I would be happy to share what I have been through and how I have coped with any players experiencing something similar."
Gray's strong message of hope, determination, and resilience is inspirational. You sometimes have to remind yourself that she is still 19, wise beyond her years.
The WNBL1 regular season title might have escaped Ipswich's grasp. However, for Gray, there is still happiness as she waves goodbye to Copleston High School and prepares her next move, whether that is staying with the Suffolk outfit or going elsewhere.
Gray averaged 5.6 points on 34% shooting, 3.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals for Ipswich, who finished second in WNBL1, along with 12.5 points and a team-high 3.3 steals a contest for Copleston. She also led the High School in three-point percentage at 40%.
The opening round of the D1W post-season also provided a 31-point, nine-rebound Player of the Week performance against Loughborough, a sign that Gray isn't resting on her WEABL accomplishments as the WNBL season reaches a pinnacle.
But regardless of her plans for next season, or how this campaign concludes from here, Gray can look back on this season fondly. That includes a WNBL National Cup victory with Ipswich, where she pulled down five rebounds and got two steals in 15 minutes in the 81-53 win over Brent Bulls in January.
And, of course, the milestone WEABL title, one they had to share back in the 2019/20 campaign due to COVID and were so eager to have it all to themselves.
Ipswich might still have the happiest of endings to their season on Sunday, April 27, in Manchester. Time will tell.
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Words by John Hobbs
