Maranatha Christian Academy is the Class 1A defending champion for a reason -- it can slice and dice an opponent in different ways.
The savvy veteran lineup can attack the basket off the dribble, shoot the three or pound the ball in the paint to 6-2 junior center Onye Osemenam.
Isle found out firsthand just how difficult the No. 1-ranked Mustangs (26-5) can be to defend Thursday in a 76-58 loss in the quarterfinals at Williams Arena.
"It's nice having an inside-outside game like we have," Maranatha senior guard Alexis Long said. "I don't even know how we would deal with a team like ours."
With Osemenam dominating inside in the opening minutes, the smaller Huskies tried to keep pace from long distance. Isle's first three baskets were three-pointers.
Osemenam finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots.
"Onye is very tough to defend," Isle coach Paul Tinjum said. "You don't go against many Division I centers in Class 1A."
Once the 10th-ranked Huskies started to concentrate on Osemenam, the guards controlled play. Long (18 points) and sophomore Madison Lee (13) also reached double figures.
"We are really playing well together, just like we have all year," Long said.
Maja Coomes paced the Huskies (25-6) with 16 points, and had three of their six three-pointers.
The Ponies (26-5) were led by senior center Sarah Durand, who had 27 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. She scored all three of their points in overtime, and their final 13 of the game.
The Indians were making their first state tournament appearance. It showed from the outset.
There were seven ties and 12 lead changes in the opening half, which ended in a 33-33 deadlock.