Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports

It is the offensive production that has stood out for Regina during its 7-0 start to the season.

The top-ranked Regals are averaging 68.4 points per game, 13th best in the state and have scored at least 70 points in four straight games.

It is the offense that has garnered the attention but it is the Regina defense that is behind those lofty scoring totals.

Regina has used its full-court pressure to hold opponents to 34.3 points per game this season but what the Regal’s aggressive, attacking defense has been most effective in doing is quickening the pace of games.

Through seven games Regina has attempted an average of 21 more field goal attempts per game than opponents while winning games by an average of more than 34 points per game.

“We have a lot of athletes and we are pretty deep,” First-year Regina coach Jeff Wallace said. “We think if we can get a lot more possessions than the other team that is a huge advantage for us.”

The strategy has worked well for the Regals.

Regina is averaging 57 field goal attempts per game this season.

Last year the Regals attempted 45 shots per game while averaging 56 points during a 25-1 season.

“We like to be a solid team defensively,” Regina junior Mary Crompton said. “When you are a solid team defensively it keeps it you grounded and you are able to build off of that and turn that into offense.”

Wallace implemented the full-court press this season and the Regals have executed it effectively.

The extended pressure defense has been a change for Regina though it hasn’t been completely new.

Regina spent much of the season practicing its extended pressure but used it sparingly in game action.

“We didn’t do a lot of it last year but it’s something that we practiced a lot last year,” Crompton said. “We were pretty familiar with it just through practices.

The fast pace has fit well with the Regals’ personnel this season.

Wallace has regularly used nine players this season though that number has dropped to eight with junior guard Lauren Gaarde sidelined with a concussion.

Three Regals average more than 12 points while six Regals are scoring more than four points per game.

“It’s definitely fun to play fast,” Crompton said. “Most of us really enjoy playing that way.”

Part of the key to the pressure defense and sped up offense is sticking to the system.

The pressure defense will lead to easy transition opportunities for Regina but also for the opponent.

Wallace knows the risk reward.

Against Monticello Regina allowed 16 points in the first quarter and 19 in the third. However, in the other two quarters the Panthers managed just 10 points and had 15 turnovers.

“When you press you have to have a little courage to stick with it,” Wallace said. “They could get some easy baskets out of it but we want to get the game going up and down.”

Memorable moment: City High junior Ashley Joens made some history with her 27-point performance against Dubuque Senior on Friday.

Joens became the seventh player in City High history to eclipse the 1,000-point barrier, joining older sister Courtney on the list.

Following her 27-point performance, Joens has scored 1,010 points in her career becoming the first City High player to reach 1,000 points as a junior.

“She is the fastest ever to get to 1,000 here, it’s been impressive for sure,” City High coach Bill McTaggart said.

Top performances: Regina sophomore Alex Wiese had 17 points and 14 rebounds in a 70-50 win over West Branch.

City High junior Ashley Joens had 18 points and 17 rebounds in a 74-73 win over West High.

West High senior Maddie Huinker had 18 points, four rebounds and three assists in a 74-73 loss to City High.

Solon senior Josie Durr had 24 points and 10 steals in a 52-47 loss to Anamosa.

Clear Creek Amana freshman Karsyn Stratton 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in a 50-17 win over Vinton-Shellsburg.