Western escapes Regina’s upset bid

DES MOINES - They were close. Agonizingly close.

'A couple more shots, and we'd have had that game,” Iowa City Regina's Hannah Stein said. 'We went out and played our hearts out. Just a couple more shots.”

Second-ranked, three-time defending-champion Western Christian overcame a stirring performance by No. 12 Regina, earning a 50-45 Class 2A quarterfinal victory at the girls' state basketball tournament Tuesday morning at Wells Fargo Arena.

It was Western's closest call at Wells Fargo during its title reign since a two-point quarterfinal win over Estherville ELC in 2012.

'I couldn't be prouder,” said first-year Regina coach Matt Bolger, whose team closed at 21-4. 'On paper, I don't know if anybody gave us a chance. But it's a testament to the kids.”

Western (22-3) will face No. 3 North Linn (24-1) in the semifinals at 1:30 Thursday afternoon. The Wolfpack led the whole way Tuesday, but there were some tense moments in the fourth quarter.

Twice, the Regals got within a point. At 43-42, Greyson Dumont had a good look at a 3-pointer that could have put the Regals ahead with about 2 minutes left, but misfired.

The Wolfpack made 6 of 8 free throws in the final 90 seconds to pull away.

Western got a double-double from a starter (Jamie Gesink posted 11 points and 10 rebounds) and a reserve (6-foot-2 freshman Ashtyn Veerbeek added 17 points and 10 rebounds).

'The last seven or eight games, (Veerbeek) has really come into her own,” said Western Coach Bill Harmsen, who improved to 100-8 in his four seasons at the Hull-based school. 'What you saw today is the way she has practiced since the start of the season.”

Despite all that, the Regals gave themselves a shot at a major upset.

Down 34-26 late in the third quarter, Regina made a push. A 3-pointer by Sarah Lehman and a basket by Lauren Gaarde brought the Regals within 34-31 entering the final period.

Mary Crompton hit a 3-pointer and two free throws to make it 41-40 with 4:25 left, then Stein's basket made it 43-42 with 2:42 left.

But some missed opportunities - including a pair of unconverted bonus attempts - prevented Regina from finishing the climb.

Stein posted 12 points, Lehman 11, Kennedy Brown 10 for Regina. Stein is the only senior on the Regals' roster.

WESTERN CHRISTIAN 50, IOWA CITY REGINA 45 (Class 2A State Quarterfinal)

At Des Moines

IOWA CITY REGINA (45): Mary Crompton 2-3 2-2 7, Sarah Lehman 4-9 1-5 11, Kennedy Brown 4-6 2-3 10, Cammy Verducci 1-8 0-0 3, Hannah Stein 4-20 4-5 12, Lauren Gaarde 1-1 0-0 2, Greyson Dumont 0-3 0-0 0, Christina Hora 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Wick 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Dunn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-50 9-15 45.

WESTERN CHRISTIAN (50): Payton Harmsen 4-9 1-2 12, Kaira Moss 1-3 0-0 2, Kenzie Bousema 1-8 2-2 4, Jamie Gesink 1-9 9-12 11, Abbie Wolterstorff 1-1 1-2 4, Erika Feenstra 0-2 0-1 0, Erica Bousema 0-2 0-0 0, Katie Scholten 0-0 0-0 0, Ashtyn Veerbeek 6-9 5-6 17. Totals 14-43 18-25 50.

Halftime: Western 29, Regina 22. 3-point goals: Regina 4-14 (Crompton 1-1, Lehman 2-4, Verducci 1-5, Stein 0-1, Dumont 0-3), Western 4-15 (Harmsen 3-8, K.Bousema 0-3, Wolterstorff 1-1, Feenstra 0-1, E.Bousema 0-2); Team fouls: Regina 19, Western 16. Fouled out: Brown. Rebounds: Regina 32 (Lehman, Stein 7), Western 40 (Gesink, Veerbeek 10). Assists: Regina 7 (Brown, Dumont 2), Western 10 (E.Bousema 4). Steals: Regina 7 (Brown 3), Western 7 (Harmsen 3). Turnovers: Regina 8, Western 12.

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