Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – The primary concern for a team that has some time off before the start of the postseason is a slow start in its return to the court.

That wasn’t an issue for Regina and junior standout Alli Clark on Tuesday.

Fifth-ranked Regina scored the first 11 points of the game and Clark poured in a game-high 30 points in a 77-51 win over Durant in a Class 2A, Region 6 quarterfinal in Iowa City.

“We had a lot of energy going into the game which I think helped us a lot because a lot of our game is playing with energy,” Clark said. “When we are knocking down shots it just adds to that.”

Regina (19-4) raced to a 7-0 lead 68 seconds into the game, made five of its first six shots while building a 16-2 cushion and cruised into the Region 6 semifinals where it will host Wilton (10-12) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Wilton defeated Columbus 62-25 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday to set up a third meeting with Regina this season.

Regina defeated Wilton 63-34 and 74-34 during the regular season.

“We don’t want to look past anyone even if we have beat them twice,” Clark said. “We will use our knowledge of that past games hopefully to our advantage and hopefully get a win.”

Playing for the first time since a 64-36 win over West Liberty in its regular season finale on February 7, Regina avoided any early rust.

The Regals made 9-of-17 first-quarter field goal attempts and led 22-9 after the opening quarter.

Clark made her first four field goal attempts and had 12 of her game-high 30 points in the opening quarter.

“She is so incredible and especially as she has grown up more she has gotten more confident with who she is as a player its’ been incredible watching her,” Regina senior guard Grace Gaarde said of Clark. “Playing with her is so fun, she is such a great player to play with.”

Regina hit a brief lull in the second quarter as Durant (7-15) climbed back into the game behind the play of junior Isabelle DeLong.

DeLong had nine of her team-high 20 points in the second quarter as Durant trimmed the Regina lead to 35-25 at the half.

“They made shots, I don’t know how else to say it,” Rogers said. “Was our defense probably not in the space they needed to be in, maybe not but they hit really big crutch time shots.”

Regina quickly refocused after the half.

The Regals opened the second half on a 10-2 run and pushed the lead to 58-37 with a 9-2 run to close the third quarter.

Regina shot 57 percent from the field in the second half and 52 percent for the game.

“We did have a little lull in the second quarter and we said at halftime that we had to pick it up and start off really strong,” Clark said. “We changed our mindset for the third quarter and tried to start off strong again.”

Clark was at the center of the efficient offensive effort from Regina.

The junior guard was 11-of-14 from the floor, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range.

Gaarde added 13 points and sophomore Morgan Miller had 10 on 5-of-6 shooting.

“Alli Clark stepped up and that’s what great about what I think our team is all about, I think we are truly a team,” Rogers said. “We have efficient scorers all over the floor.”

Durant                        9   16  12  14  –  51

Regina                        22  13  23  19  –  77

Durant (51) – Savannah Meinert 0-3 0-0 0, Avery Paper 6-9 2-3 17, Isabelle DeLong 6-15 6-8 20, Kiyah Daily 0-1 0-0 0, Adison Daufeldt 0-2 0-0 0, Katelyn Toft 1-4 0-0 2, Joslyn Entsminger 1-3 0-0 2, Addison Schuett 0-0 2-2 2, Paige Happ 3-5 0-0 8, Totals 17-42 10-13 51.

Regina (77) – Alli Clark 11-14 5-6 30, Grace Gaarde 5-13 0-0 13, Dani Laughlin 1-5 0-0 2, Ella McLaughlin 1-6 2-2 4, Caitlin Martin 1-1 1-1 3, Morgan Miller 5-6 0-0 10, Morgan Squiers 3-8 0-0 9, Maggie Sueppel 0-1 0-0 0, Madelyn Greve 2-2 0-0 4, Jillian Panther 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 30-58 8-9 77.

3-point field goals – ICR 9-21 (Clark 3-3, Gaarde 3-6, Laughlin 0-3, McLaughlin 0-2, Squiers 3-7), DUR 7-18 (Meinert 0-2, Paper 3-5, DeLong 2-7, Daily 0-1, Daufeldt 0-1, Happ 2-2). Rebounds – ICR 29 (Clark, Gaarde 6), DUR 29 (DeLong 9). Turnovers – ICR 10, DUR 26. Total fouls – ICR 15, DUR 9. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.

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