Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

MOUNT VERNON – The marquee matchup of the inaugural River Valley Conference shootout had the matchup, atmosphere and overall feel of a postseason classic.

The only thing missing for Regina was a win.

Class 2A fifth-ranked Cascade (14-1) held off a late rally by sixth-ranked Regina to win a 52-49 thriller over the Regals in the finale of the River Valley Conference shootout at Cornell College in Mount Vernon.

“I thought the atmosphere was great we were in it, we were locked in they just made a couple more plays than us tonight,” Regina coach Mary Rogers said. “I thought the crowd was good, it was fun, I think the girls enjoyed it and liked it minus the loss.”

Cascade only had five players attempt a field goal and only four Cougars scored but all four reached double figures led by Alyssa Lux with 18.

Molly Roling had 12 points and Devin Simon and Josie Manternach each added 11 as Cascade shot 55 percent while winning its sixth straight.

Regina made 8-of-13 field goal attempts in an 18-point first quarter but shot just 34 percent over the final three quarters while dropping to 14-3.

“I thought defensively we were in a little bit of foul trouble and we had to shift a few things on defense and they hit some big buckets,” Rogers said. “Then we didn’t get openings and we were kind of stagnant on offense.”

Cascade scored the first six points of the game before Regina answered with an 18-5 run over the final five minutes of the opening quarter.

The Regals led 18-11 after the opening quarter but saw the lead evaporate after going scoreless for nearly six minutes to open the second quarter as Cascade took a 23-22 halftime lead.

“I wish that six-minute lull in the second quarter wasn’t there but luckily we were still in it at halftime,” Rogers said. “That’s just the ebbs and flows of a good game.”

Regina led just once in the second half at 24-23 after a Dani Laughlin basket 15 seconds into the second half.

Cascade shot 62 percent from the floor after halftime including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

“I just love the fight and the effort we had,” Rogers said. “We could have folded when they were up eight and they just kept scoring, scoring, scoring and this just sets us up for what is to come against great quality teams.”

Regina trailed by as many as eight in the fourth quarter but climbed back into the game.

Alli Clark had five of her 11 points in the fourth quarter as Regina closed to within six on three occasions before the two-minute mark.

“The fourth quarter our execution on offense was obviously a lot better,” Rogers said. “We got Clark inside moving to the rim and getting to the free throw line.”

Sophomore Morgan Miller had a game-high 19 points to lead Regina while Clark had 11 and Laughlin had eight points.

“I think tonight she stepped up as a natural leader,” Rogers said of Morgan. “She hit some really clutch shots, some big shots when we needed it badly. She stepped up.”

Regina                       18   4   12  15  –  49   

Cascade                      11  12  14  15  –  52

Regina (49) – Alli Clark 4-8 3-4 11, Grace Gaarde 3-7 0-0 6, Dani Laughlin 3-10 2-3 8, Caitlin Martin 0-1 0-0 0, Morgan Miller 7-13 0-0 19, Morgan Squiers 1-4 0-0 3, Madelyn Greve 1-2 0-0 2. ­­

Cascade (52) – Devin Simon 5-9 0-0 11, Alyssa Lux 7-11 0-0 18, Addison Frake 0-2 0-0 0, Molly Roling 6-11 0-0 12, Josie Manternach 4-7 3-4 11, Totals 22-40 3-4 52.

3-point field goals – ICR 6-17 (Clark 0-2, Gaarde 0-1, Laughlin 0-2, Miller 5-9, Squiers 1-3), CAS 5-12 (Simon 1-1, Lux 4-7, Roling 0-3, Manternach 0-1). Rebounds – ICR 20 (Clark 4, Miller 4), CAS 27 (Manternach 10). Turnovers – ICR 16, CAS 19. Total fouls – ICR 13, CAS 11. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.

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