And it got an outstanding offensive effort from Tamika Williams, who had 24 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two assists to validate her selection as Ohio's Ms. Basketball.
Unfortunately, Williams was the only player in a C-J uniform who could find the basket as Pickerington defeated the Eagles, 44-27, for a record fifth state girls big-school title before 7,408 on Saturday at Ohio State's St. John Arena.
Williams, a 6-foot-1 senior, made 10 of 16 shots from the floor, including a trio of 3-pointers.
That performance, combined with 28 points in a 57-56 win over Toledo Central Catholic in the semifinal Friday, earned Williams the Outstanding Player of the Tournament award.
The rest of the C-J team collectively went 1 for 19 from the floor (5.2 percent). Center Sarah Zawodny had one basket at 4:46 of the first quarter. Elise Ryder made a free throw with 5:18 to go in the third quarter. That was it for everyone but Williams.
A match-up zone defense mixed with an occasional switch to man-to-man kept Pickerington stumbling and fumbling the first half with 26.3 percent shooting (5 for 19) as C-J led at intermission, 19-13.
At halftime, Pickerington coach Dave Butcher made a defensive adjustment, assigning two players to Williams - one close to her when she had the ball in the open floor and another as a safety valve to pick up Williams if she got by the first defender.
"They just turned up the defensive intensity and obviously we didn't shoot well," said C-J coach Frank Goldsberry.
Pickerington hit only 3 of 11 three-point shots in the first half. But in the second half, Laura Wilder, Brianne Gray and Alissa Stapleton were repositioned to get better looks. And each went 2 for 2 from beyond the arc in the second half.
Pickerington took the lead for good at 4:21 of the third quarter on an offensive rebound by 6-2 junior center Latoya McClure.
"Tamika is a great player and played some kind of a game," said Butcher. "We just decided to concentrate on the other four players and let go, except to give help on defense when she got the ball inside.''
Pickerington finishes the season at 26-2. It was ranked No. 2 in the state in the regular season Associated Press poll. The Tigers had won previous state championships in 1985, '90, '92 and '93.
This was the first trip to the championship game for C-J, which ended the season at 24-3. One of those losses was to Pickerington, 41-25, on Dec. 14.
Joining Williams on the Division I all-tournament team were Erika Haney of Toledo Central Catholic, Brianne Gray and Latoya McClure of Pickerington, and Katelyn Vujas of Wadsworth.
* CONTACT Dave Long at 225-221 or e-mail dave_long@coxohio.com
PHOTO CREDIT: WALLY NELSON/DAYTON DAILY NEWS
(2) Chaminade-Julienne's Tamika Williams (34) gains control of a loose ball amidst Pickerington Lady Tiger defenders Saturday evening during the Division I State Finals at St. John Arena in Columbus. The Lady Tigers went on to defeat C-J 44-27. C-J finished the season at 24-3.
PHOTO CREDIT: WALLY NELSON/DAYTON DAILY NEWS