WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Complete dominance. That is the only way to describe the Pickerington Central (27-1) girls program over the last two seasons in the Division I regional tournament in Central Ohio. 

Meeting up with Reynoldsburg (21-7) for the third time this season in Friday night's final, Pickerington Central dismissed the Raiders once again, this time in dominant fashion, winning 66-39.

Knocking down two triples to start the game, Akron commit and Pickerington Central junior Nicole Stephens helped the Tigers jump out to a quick 6-2 lead. Using a quick six unanswered after this, they completed a 9-2 run to go ahead 12-2 with 2:50 to go in the quarter.

After a score from Uju Ezeudu coupled with a three-pointer from senior Destiny Fields, Reynoldsburg let everyone in the gym know they would not back down early by cutting the deficit to 12-7 with a minute left in the first.

Behind a big 11-2 run, Pickerington Central created the separation that they had been looking for early on in the second to take a 28-11 lead with 5:12 left in the half. Playing excellent defense and moving the ball exceptionally, they cruised into the half ahead 36-16.

After opening up the second half with two quick scores from Ezeudu, Reynoldsburg looked they might be primed to make a run while trailing 36-20 with 6:50 left in the frame.

However, Pickerington Central made sure this did not happen. Behind an excellent third from Auburn commit Maliya Perry, the Tigers maintained in control of this one. After they used a quick 6-1 spurt to close the third, they rolled into the final frame ahead 52-33, where they cruised to this victory.

Finishing with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals, Perry put on yet another excellent showing in the big lights. With an excellent IQ, gritty attitude, and three-level scoring ability, Perry is easily one of the top prospects across the entire state. She brings this attitude to the defensive end as well, as she is comfortable guarding positions one through five at the high school level due to her lateral quickness coupled with her strength.

Stephens also scored 12 points in her second game back from an ankle injury. A knockdown perimeter shooter who can score in more than one way, it will be interesting to see how Stephens does after this season as a primary creator for the Tigers.  However, she is a top option for this year's squad and will be expected to produce the rest of the way as she has been all season.

Penn State commit Madison Greene had another excellent night for the Tigers running the show as well. Greene is a true point guard with one of the best IQ's I have seen all season (boys included), and she puts it on display night in and night out for Pickerington Central. She is also an elite defender, as she constantly creates easy buckets on that end.

Sisters Jocelyn Tate (eight points) and Jada Tate (seven points) combined for 15 as well. They are both bruising stretch forwards who lock down the paint for the Tigers and do the dirty work.

Ezeudu led the way for the Raiders with 16 points and six rebounds in the loss. Uju is an extremely strong power forward who is one of the top interior prospects in Ohio and is committed to Denver. 

Fields also scored 10 points. Fields is a solid lead guard who can score off the dribble while possessing the ability to knock down the three-pointer as well. In a tough matchup with guards from Pickerington Central, she absolutely held her own tonight.

Freshman Alexia Mobley had a decent end to her freshman season as well. Mobley is a stretch four with great length at 6-foot-2 and a good natural feel for the game. She knocked down two promising mid-range jumpers and also scored in the post. On defense, she blocked two shots and has the potential to be a lockdown defender on both the perimeter and interior in the future.

Pickerington Central now advances to their second straight Division I final four, where they will take on the winner of Toledo Notre Dame Academy and Canton McKinley next Friday at 8 p.m. at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.

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