Experience carries Regina girls

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Experienced talent handled young talent Saturday afternoon.

Class 2A third-ranked Iowa City Regina built a 20-point first-half lead and downed Monticello, 61-39, in a River Valley Conference cross-divisional girls' basketball game as part of Rivalry Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Center.

"That experience helps a lot," Regina Coach Clark Anderson said after the Regals improved to 8-2 and left behind a Friday loss to West Branch. "There were some times in which (Monticello) was really getting after us. But we were able to keep our composure."

Anderson starts four seniors -- including all-stater Jenna Lehman -- while Monticello (5-4) counters with a junior, three sophomores and a freshman.The Panthers' day will come. But Regina was at a higher level Saturday.

Friday's defeat served as fuel.

"I wouldn't say we were angry," said Hannah Stein, who led the winners with 17 points. "We were just motivated to get back to winning."

Regina led 10-5 after a quarter and extended it to 29-9 when Stein hit one of her seven field goals (in nine attempts), at the 1:35 mark of the second quarter.

Monticello showed some glimpses of a promising future. For instance, the Panthers put together a mild surge to get within 32-20 early in the third period. But the Regals weathered it, scoring the next six points.

Katie Wick added 12 points for the Regals. Lehman posted nine points, 11 rebounds and six steals.

Shay Stephen, a freshman, led Monticello with nine points. Allison Ries added eight.

IOWA CITY REGINA 61, MONTICELLO 39

At U.S. Cellular Center

IOWA CITY REGINA (61): Katie Wick 5-0 2-3 12, Nicole Becker 0-1 2-2 2, Hannah Seaman 0-2 1-2 1, Jenna Lehman 4-14 1-2 9, Hannah Stein 7-9 3-4 17, Kennedy Brown 2-4 3-5 7, Cameron Verducci 2-6 2-3 7, Sarah Lehman 0-0 0-0 0, Jenny Wick 1-2 4-4 6, Ashley Gaffey 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Corkery 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-45 18-25 61.

MONTICELLO (39): Mandi Miles 0-3 0-3 0, McKenna Kremer 1-2 2-2 5, Ellen Schlarmann 2-4 1-2 5, Allison Ries 3-9 2-4 8, Krysten Tighe 0-0 0-0 0, Traci Plummer 3-8 0-4 6, Macey Spensley 0-1 0-0 0, Kori Bohlken 0-0 2-2 2, Rashida Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Sonya McCormick 2-8 0-2 4, Becca Burmahl 0-0 0-0 0, Jazmine Reynolds 0-0 0-0 0, Shay Stephen 4-6 1-3 9, Sydni Tuetken 0-1 0-0 0, Jacqueline Peterson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-43 8-22 39.

Halftime: Regina 31, Monticello 15. 3-point goals: Regina 1-9 (Becker 0-1, Seaman 0-1, J.Lehman 0-3, Verducci 1-3, J.Wick 0-1), Monticello 1-12 (Miles 0-2, Kremer 1-2, Schlarmann 0-1, Ries 0-4, McCormick 0-1, Tuetken 0-1, Peterson 0-1). Team fouls: Regina 20, Monticello 17. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Regina 36 (J.Lehman 11), Monticello 21 (Plummer 6). Assists: Regina 13 (Brown 5), Monticello 9 (Miles 5). Steals: Regina 12 (J.Lehman 6), Monticello 7 (Schlarmann 2). Turnovers: Regina 22, Monticello 13.