By Don Ketchum

The shots weren’t falling with as much regularity as the girls’ basketball team from Phoenix St. Mary’s is accustomed.

So the Lady Knights turned to defense in their semifinal game against Mesa Dobson on Thursday (Feb. 23) in the Division I state tournament at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.

Third-seeded St. Mary’s, the Class 5A Division I champion in 2011, held Dobson to just 13 points over the final three quarters, only one point in the third quarter, and won going away 61-28.

St. Mary’s (29-0) will meet the winner of the day’s other semifinal between top-seeded Mesa Mountain View and No. 12 Chandler Hamilton on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the championship game. Dobson, the No. 7 seed, finished 24-9.

Dobson jumped to a surprising 10-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game.

That had St. Mary’s coach Curtis Ekmark thinking a bit about the 2010 5A-I title game, when Dobson defeated his team in overtime 61-59.

Post player Chantel Osahor converted a three-point play 57 seconds into the second quarter for a 17-15 lead and St. Mary’s did not trail again.

The team ramped up the defensive pressure.

“Our defense was solid in the first half, but it was spectacular in the third quarter,’’ Ekmark said. “We (coaches) told them (players) that defense was going to win it for us.’’

Ekmark said Dobson “came out really ready to play, but I’m proud of the way our kids responded.’’

Osahor, a sophomore, was the focal point in just about every aspect of the game. She scored 10 points, including a 3-pointer, had double figures in rebounds and blocked several shots.

The best part of her game is setting up teammates with her passing.

“She is the best passing post player, not just in the state of Arizona, but the nation,’’ Ekmark said without hesitation. “It’s four point guards and her.’’

St. Mary’s had a balanced scoring effort. Shilpa Tummala led the way with 16, including three 3-pointers. Cortnee Walton and Courtney Ekmark had 12 each, and Osahor 10.

Katherine Hamilton led Dobson with eight points, and Dyesha Staley had six.

St. Mary’s will have a shootaround on Friday (Feb. 24) to get ready for the title game.

“We have a veteran group, so they know what to do,’’ Ekmark said. “All year, we have focused on us playing our best basketball at the right time.’’