Girls Basketball: Pickerington Central locks down Watterson en route to 15th regional title
Friday, March 8, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Watterson’s Sophie Ziel (right), guarded closely by Pickerington Central’s Kennady Gordon, tries to drive during the regional final game at Otterbein Mar. 8. Photo: Joshua Morrison
Pickerington Central girls basketball coach Chris Wallace had a plan to combat Watterson’s prolific scorer Sophie Ziel. The Tigers executed it flawlessly late in the game, holding the Eagles without a basket for the last 11 minutes, 13 seconds of the game.
And when the final horn sounded of a 43-30 victory on March 8 at Otterbein’s Rike Center, Pickerington Central won its second consecutive Division I regional championship and 15th overall.
The Tigers, who improved to 25-3, face Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame or Springboro in a state semifinal on March 15 at 8 p.m. at the University of Dayton Arena.
“We ran three kids at (Ziel),” Wallace said. “I didn’t want to keep Blossom (Wallace) on her the whole night because we needed her to score. She was a factor. Kennady Gordon and Faith King – I don’t know how many points they scored (because) it doesn’t matter. They played a huge part in our success tonight. They brought great defense for us.”
King scored two points and Gordon was scoreless.
Ziel made her last field goal with 4:31 left in the third quarter and finished with 13 points and 3 blocked shots for the Eagles, who finished 20-7.
Pickerington Central’s Berry Wallace goes to the basket during the Tigers’ regional final win over Watterson at Otterbein Mar. 8. Photo: Joshua Morrison
“Each player had a big role,” said sophomore guard/forward Blossom Wallace, who went for 11 points, six rebounds, four steals and a pair of assists. “Kennady came in and locked down (Ziel). Rylee (Bess) played well and so did Berry. It was a team effort.”
Berry Wallace had 14 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks to lead Central.
Ziel was held to one 3-pointer and scored 11 points in the first half.
Lilly Mulligan had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists for the Eagles.
Watterson surprised fourth-ranked Marysville to win its first district championship since 2004 and followed that up with a win over top-ranked Olentangy in a regional semifinal.
“The way we played, I felt like we did belong,” Watterson coach Sam Davis said. “It’s a real credit to these young ladies. They bought in and played extremely hard, they really got after it defensively, the chemistry is really good and they’re fun to be around. It hurts a lot tonight, but in a couple, three days, it’ll feel a lot better.”
Pickerington Central head coach Chris Wallace talks to the Tigers before the game with Watterson at Otterbein’s Rike Center Mar. 8. Photo: Joshua Morrison
The Tigers never trailed and led almost the whole way with Watterson tying the game at 2 early on and then again on a Cameron Sparks basket with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter.
“We always pride ourselves on defense,” coach Wallace said. “What this game (came) down to was if we could defend or not. When you only give up four points in the fourth quarter – you can defend.”
Sparks, who also scored Watterson’s last basket, finished with four points and seven rebounds.
“I’m really proud of our effort – they played as hard as they can play,” Davis said. “We missed some shots and turned it over. But we held (Central) to 43 points. I thought we did what we needed to do defensively. We just did not do what we needed to do offensively.”
Zoe Coleman had seven points, four rebounds and three steals and Mikaila Asamoah had four points and four steals for the Tigers, who are trying for the eighth state title. They lost in a state semifinal to Olmstead Falls last year.
“We just had fun and we have confidence in ourselves,” said Gordon, a junior guard. “It’s amazing to get back (to the state tournament) and we’re going to try to get further than we did last year.”
Watterson’s Cameron Sparks (center) looks to shoot between Pickerington Central’s Berry Wallace (left) and Zoe Coleman during their game at Otterbein Mar. 8. Photo: Joshua Morrison