Deceivingly speedy Sibley-Ocheyedan sprints past Iowa City Regina in girls’ state basketball tournament

DES MOINES — The Regina Regals were prepared for Sibley-Ocheyedan’s size.

But not its speed.

“We knew they were going to be good, but film is deceiving,” Regina’s Grace Gaarde said. “We didn’t expect them to be that fast.”

No. 4 Sibley-Ocheyedan ran No. 5 Iowa City Regina, using its transition game to generate a good chunk of its offense in a 60-39 Class 2A quarterfinal victory at the girls’ state basketball tournament Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

Madison Brouwer posted 28 points and 10 rebounds, and the Generals (22-3) advanced to Friday’s semifinal opposite No. 1 Dike-New Hartford, a 68-34 victor over No. 15 Aplington-Parkersburg.

DNH is the two-time defending 2A champion, but Sibley-Ocheyedan might have the goods to give the Wolverines a serious test.

Back to Brouwer, a 6-footer. But not a typical 6-footer.

She is a two-time state runner-up in cross country and a University of South Dakota signee in cross country and track.

“Basketball or running, it was a hard decision,” she said. “But running is a bigger passion.”

Brouwer specifically and Sibley-Ocheyedan collectively, the Generals are deceivingly speedy.

“With the combination of their length and speed, they’re really good,” Regina Coach Mary Rogers said. “We battled some nerves, we were too stagnant on offense.

“We just weren’t good enough tonight.”

Sibley-Ocheyedan held Regina (21-5) scoreless for nearly six minutes to start the game. The Regals missed their first 10 shots from the field.

Recommended Reading

Girls’ state basketball photos: Regina vs. Sibley-Ocheyedan in 2A quarterfinals

They stabilized for a bit, getting within 10-7 on Morgan Miller’s deep 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter. But the Generals pulled away and led 28-12 at halftime.

The largest margin was 27, on three occasions.

“One of our most important aspects of our game, our identity, is that we get out and run in transition,” Brouwer said.

Sibley-Ocheyedan compiled 18 assists as a team, and Regina committed 17 turnovers.

Morgan Miller led Regina with 11 points. Gaarde added 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Alli Clark scored nine, Ella McLaughlin eight.

Gaarde is the Regals’ lone senior starter.

Sibley-Ocheyedan 60, Iowa City Regina 39

Class 2A State Quarterfinal, at Des Moines

IOWA CITY REGINA (39): Alli Clark 3-8 3-6 9, Grace Gaarde 4-10 0-0 10, Ella McLaughlin 4-7 0-0 8, Morgan Miller 4-15 0-0 11, Morgan Squiers 0-2 0-0 0, Dani Laughlin 0-6 1-2 1, Caitlin Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Lucy Nolte 0-1 0-0 0, Ella Keune 0-0 0-0 0, Maggie Sueppel 0-0 0-0 0, Maddie Squiers 0-0 0-0 0, Madelyn Greve 0-0 0-0 0, Anna Trenkamp 0-0 0-0 0, Jillian Panther 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-50 4-8 39.

SIBLEY-OCHEYEDAN (60): Bria Wasmund 0-5 3-4 3, Zoe Ackerman 8-11 0-1 17, Marissa Ackerman 2-7 2-2 6, Olivia Hensch 3-7 0-0 6, Madison Brouwer 12-19 4-5 28, Alayna Wingate 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Sayler 0-0 0-0 0, Jadyn Jensen 0-0 0-0 0, Shaelyn Kruger 0-1 0-0 0, Keytin Elser 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-51 9-12 60.

Iowa City Regina 7 5 10 17 — 39

Sibley-Ocheyedan 10 18 21 11 — 60

3-point goals: Regina 5-26 (Clark 0-1, Gaarde 2-6, McLaughlin 0-1, Miller 3-12, Morgan Squiers 0-1, Laughlin 0-4, Nolte 0-1), Sibley-Ocheyedan 1-11 (Wasmund 0-4, Z. Ackerman 1-2, M. Ackerman 0-1, Hensch 0-3, Brouwer 0-1). Team fouls: Regina 13, Sibley-Ocheyedan 10. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Regina 28 (Gaarde 8), Sibley-Ocheyedan 35 (Brouwer 10). Assists: Regina 8 (Gaarde 4), Sibley-Ocheyedan 18 (Wasmund 7). Steals: Regina 6 (McLaughlin 2), Sibley-Ocheyedan 10 (Brouwer 5). Turnovers: Regina 17, Sibley-Ocheyedan 14.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com