It was a game searching for a run.
The Chamois Lady Pirates held a 12-6 lead against the Otterville Lady Eagles at the half in Saturday night's Class 1 District 9 Tournament title game at Capital City High School. If either team was able to put together a good run of offense in the second half, it would likely win the championship.
Chamois' 1-2 punch of Katie Keilholz and Makenna Wuelling scored the knockout blow.
"Mak and Katie, I can't think more of them," Chamois coach John Leach said after two combined for 36 points in a 45-27 victory against Otterville. "They are very special players that come around once in a great while. I'm glad they're on my team."
The duo combined for all of Chamois' 17 points in the third quarter as the Lady Pirates turned that six-point halftime lead into a 14-point bulge going to the fourth.
Keilholz hit three 3-pointers and two free throws, while Wuelling made a pair of 3s in the third quarter.
Chamois struggled against Otterville's various zone defenses through the first two quarters. The Lady Pirates were just 2-of-14 from the field, including an 0-of-7 performance on 3-pointers.
"We were standing around because we were messed up because of the zones they were throwing at us," Leach said.
But Chamois held Otterville scoreless in the second quarter as the Lady Eagles were 2-of-14 from the field in the half.
"Our defense was stellar, that's what won it tonight," Leach said.
Otterville got as close as nine points in the fourth quarter, that coming when a 3-pointer by Josie Neal cut Chamois' lead to 34-25 with 5:30 to play.
But the Lady Eagles managed just two points the rest of the way.
"We had a very, very tough season and for us to have a winning record is a plus for our girls," Leach said. "They've come a long way since Day 1, I couldn't be any prouder of how hard these girls worked."
Neal finished with 17 points to lead top-seeded Otterville (18-8).
Keilholz had 19 points to pace the Lady Pirates, while Wuelling added 17.
Chamois (15-9) advances to take on Class 1 No. 1 Community (26-1) in the sectional at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Harrisburg.
"We have a tall order against Community," Leach said. "We're going to go up there loose and play our hearts out.
"Anything can happen, we're going to go and have fun and get after them."
It's the first district title for the Chamois girls program since the Lady Pirates finished second in the state in 2013.