As a genetics teacher, Dave Cox long ago concluded that his Plymouth High School girls basketball team generally is working from the same gene pool as the school's successful boys program.

And as a basketball coach, Cox long ago realized that there would be no one better to emulate than Jack Edison, Plymouth's boys coach for 34 seasons and a two-time state champion coach.

Thus, when Cox's Pilgrims (21-4) face No. 5 Bishop Chatard (23-4) in today's Class 3A girls state title game at 6 p.m. at Conseco Fieldhouse, look for similarities in style to Edison's final team that won the 2007 boys 3A crown.

"When I got here, I looked at what (Edison was doing) and thought, 'His gene pool and my gene pool are the same,' " said Cox, who has compiled a 254-114 record in 16 seasons at Plymouth. "I also could go down the hall and see one of the best mentors in the world. Offensively and defensively, we'd like to think we're a little bit like him."

Cox said he fully committed to Edison's defensive philosophy after a game in 1997. His team was an underdog to South Bend Clay in a regional semifinal that year but managed to pull a 46-39 upset using a CliffsNotes version of Edison's "switching man" defense. Since that day, the Plymouth girls have run Edison's defense while also implementing an offense designed by the Hall of Fame coach who won 545 games over his career.

"It's a hybrid of a lot of (concepts from) college coaches that Jack calls an open offense," Cox said. "He's been in practice with us many, many, many times to put stuff in for us. He's been real instrumental in what we do."

Cox hopes that pays off against Chatard, which he described as an opponent with a "scary" offense. Seniors Anne Boese and Caroline Schutzman each average more than 20 points to lead the Trojans, while senior Megan Gardner chips in 10.7 points and a state-best 9.2 assists.

"As a coach, I look at it and say, 'Wow. How are we going to deal with that?' " Cox said.

Plymouth counters with disciplined attack where junior Lyzz Smith comes off the bench for a team-high 12.4-point average. Senior Jessica Centa (8.7), junior Alex Starr (8.5), senior Brittany Payne (7.5) and senior Leslie Swihart (6.3) also are key contributors.

"They like a low-scoring game, (where) we like to get out and run and pressure and score quickly," Chatard coach Kevin Sweeney said. "However, in the regional and semistate, we were able to grind it out. . . . I think it's an even ballgame, and it's going to come down to the team that handles the environment and all the things that are going on."

When/where: 6 p.m. today at Conseco Fieldhouse (tickets $10 per two-game session; $18 for both).

Town (county): Plymouth (Marshall).

Nickname: Pilgrims.

Colors: Crimson, white.

Enrollment: 1,100.

Coach: Dave Cox (254-114 at Plymouth and overall).

Previous State Finals: 2001 (3A runner-up).

Probable starters: F Jessica Centa (5-8, Sr., 8.7 ppg); F Brittany Payne (5-11, Sr., 7.5); G Leslie Swihart (5-6, Sr., 6.3); G Jessica McMillen (5-5, Sr., 3.1); C Marisa Green (5-11, Fr., 1.8).

Town (county): Indianapolis (Marion).

Nickname: Trojans.

Colors: Royal blue, white.

Enrollment: 653.

Coach: Kevin Sweeney (75-21 at Bishop Chatard and overall).

Previous State Finals: None.

Probable starters: G Anne Boese (5-11, Sr., 20.4 ppg); F Caroline Schutzman (5-11, Sr., 20.1); G Megan Gardner (5-11, Sr., 10.7); F Kourtney Crawford (5-9, Jr., 5.1); G Rachel Kimack (5-7, So., 3.3).