Six 3-pointers from Mary Crompton sends undefeated Iowa City Regina back to state

CEDAR RAPIDS – Once the shots started falling for Mary Crompton, they usually came in pairs.

The Iowa City Regina sophomore scored 22 points with six 3-pointers as the second-ranked Regals advanced to the Class 2A girls' basketball state tournament with a 50-47 victory over North Linn in a regional final Monday night at Cedar Rapids Washington.

'That's a really good weapon to have,' Regina Coach Matt Bolger said. 'Everybody wants to take her away. We know that going in.'

Regina (24-0) – the only undefeated team in 2A – is in the state tournament for the third time in four years. The Regals will open with a state quarterfinal on March 1 at 10 a.m. against No. 7 Manson-Northwest Webster (20-4) at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

'It's a little bit different than last year,' Crompton said. 'Last year we were the underdogs for sure. … This year we have a little bit different role. We know we have a target on our backs because we're undefeated.'

With the game tied at 11-11 after the opening quarter, Regina twice pushed the lead to six. Crompton drilled 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to open the second frame, then reserve guard Lauren Gaarde delivered a spark with a 3-pointer followed by a steal and layup for a 22-16 Regals' lead.

'It was a confidence-booster for sure because they were staying off of me,' Gaarde said. 'So I just decided to shoot.'

Regina's lead grew to double digits at 33-23 midway through the third quarter after Crompton again connected on 3-pointers in consecutive possessions.

'When you hit two in a row, you feel very confident,' Crompton said. 'When anybody makes two shots in a row, the team just feeds off of it and gets everybody going and creates a little bit more energy in the game.'

Crompton's sixth 3-pointer capped an 11-0 burst and gave Regina its largest lead at 38-23, but North Linn rallied. 5-foot-11 Lynx senior Morgan Boer utilized her height advantage and scored 17 of North Linn's final 24 points to get within a point at 48-47 with under a minute to play.

'It got close, so as seniors we try to look to lead and really play through our effort on defense,' Regina senior Cammy Verducci said.

Regina senior Kennedy Brown tallied 12 points, while Boer finished with a game-high 24 for the Lynx.

Crompton nearly managed to dribble out the clock, then calmly sank two free throws with just four seconds left. The Lynx were unable to get another shot at the basket, and their season ends at 20-4.

'I couldn't be more proud of our team,' North Linn Coach Brian Wheatley said. 'The way they kept fighting in there and they left it all out on the floor. We just came up a little short tonight.'

AT C.R. WASHINGTON

NORTH LINN (47): Kylie Kurt 1 0-0 2, Katie Kurt 1 3-4 6, Rachel Supple 1 0-0 2, Morgan Boer 7 9-12 24, Anna LeGrand 4 0-1 9, Ashley Tull 2 0-2 2, Totals

16 12-19 47.

IOWA CITY REGINA (50): Mary Crompton 7 2-2 22, Lauren Gaarde 2 0-0 5, Sarah Lehman 1 0-0 2, Kennedy Brown 4 4-5 12, Greyson Dumont 2 0-0 4, Cammy Verducci 1 1-2 3, Katie Dunn 1 0-4 2, Totals

18 7-13 50.

Halftime – Iowa City Regina, 27-19. Three-point goals – Regina 7 (Crompton 6, Gaarde 1), North Linn 3 (Ka. Kurt, Boer, LeGrand). Total fouls – Regina 15, North Linn 13. Fouled out –

None.

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com