Defending-champ Unity just too big for Regina

DES MOINES — Yes, Iowa City Regina went down. But it didn't go down quietly.

No. 3 Unity Christian built a 21-point lead, and was simply too big and too strong for the second-rated Regals, 53-45, in a Class 2A semifinal at the girls' state basketball tournament Thursday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.

'I thought we were going to go out with a whimper, and that would have been a shame,' Regina Coach Matt Bolger said. 'To our girls' credit, they battled back.'

Regina (25-1) closed within 41-37 with 3:40 remaining behind a barrage of 3-pointers. But Unity ultimately closed the deal.

'It was getting close, but that's what state is supposed to be all about,' said Unity's Anna Kiel, whose 24 rebounds tied an all-time state-tournament record (Stacey Schutjer of Crystal Lake WCLT grabbed 24 against Highland in 2007).

Kiel's board work staked the Knights to a 46-15 rebounding advantage. Yes, 46-15.

Last year's 2A champion, Unity (24-1) advances to the championship at 8 p.m. Friday against No. 1 Western Christian. The Wolfpack (24-2) blistered No. 5 Okoboji, 70-41.

For the majority of the game, the storyline was Unity's size bottling up the Regals. Regina went scoreless through the first 7:58.

'Defense is something we really take pride in,' Kiel said. 'Offense comes and goes, but defense wins championships. Our coaches say, 'How long can we hold the other team without scoring?''

Regina had a small flurry to cut an 8-0 deficit to 12-10, but went cold again, and Unity took a 23-10 lead into halftime.

'They're really good inside,' Regina's Kennedy Brown said. 'Sarah (Lehman) and I, we tried, but they were just bigger and stronger.'

At halftime, the Regals had fewer shots made (four) than blocked (six).

It got worse for the Regals for a while, as Unity extended the margin to 31-10. Regina looked buried, but it wasn't.

Down 36-19 after three quarters, the Regals nailed five 3-pointers in the first 4:20 of the fourth period — two from Mary Crompton and Greyson Dumont, one from Cammy Verducci.

Suddenly, it was anybody's game at 41-37.

'We never gave up,' Crompton said. 'When we got in our huddles, we said, 'We can do this. We're better than we're playing.''

Kiel scored a pair of baskets inside after the Regals had closed within four, then Chanda Zomermaand finished the deal at the free-throw line.

An Iowa State University volleyball recruit, Kiel registered 18 points and seven blocks to go with her two-dozen rebounds.

Crompton led the Regals with 13 points. Lehman and Dumond added 12 apiece.

UNITY CHRISTIAN 53, IOWA CITY REGINA 45 (Class 1A State Semifinal)

At Des Moines

IOWA CITY REGINA (45): Mary Crompton 3-12 4-4 13, Sarah Lehman 5-13 2-4 12, Kennedy Brown 1-10 0-0 2, Greyson Dumont 4-6 0-0 12, Cammy Verducci 2-10 0-0 6, Lauren Gaarde 0-2 0-0 0, Kennedy Wallace 0-0 0-0 0, Madeline Hamilton 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Dunn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-53 6-8 45.

UNITY CHRISTIAN (53): Chanda Zomermaand 3-9 4-5 11, Alyssa Fedders 2-5 2-2 6, Anna Kiel 5-11 8-13 18, Deidra Noteboom 4-6 3-7 11, Josie Blankespoor 3-3 1-2 7, Justine Malenke 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Zevenbergen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-34 18-29 53.

Halftime: Unity 23, Regina 10. 3-point goals: Regina 9-22 (Crompton 3-7, Brown 0-1, Dumont 4-5, Verducci 2-9), Unity 1-7 (Zomermaand 1-4, Fedders 0-2, Noteboom 0-1). Team fouls: Regina 19, Unity 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Regina 15 (Crompton 5), Unity 46 (Kiel 24). Assists: Regina 10 (Brown, Verducci 3), Unity 11 (Fedders 4). Steals: Regina 9 (Gaarde 3), Unity 5 (Fedders 3). Turnovers: Regina 9, Unity 25.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com