Douglas Miles

Your Prep Sports

NORTH LIBERTY – Drew Streb doesn’t spend a ton of offseason time playing basketball.

After all, the Iowa City Regina senior has a college football future already lined up at Wartburg College.

With the Regals, Streb is also a part of the wrestling, baseball and track and field teams, so determining his a second-favorite sporting venture might prove difficult.

But don’t ask Pella Christian.

After Streb’s performance Saturday night, any one of the fifth-ranked Eagles would surely believe Streb is a 12-months-a-year hooper.

“It means everything,” Streb said after posting 16 points and eight rebounds as the Regals eliminated Pella Christian, 64-59, in a Class 2A substate final at Iowa City Liberty High School. “We’ve been working so hard this whole season. In and out, every practice, working hard, working on our defense. It’s really coming together.”

The win is the fourth in five games for Regina (17-6), which advances to the state tournament for the first time since 2019 and the 12^th time overall.

The Regals – seeded eighth in the 2A state bracket – will chase their first boys’ basketball state championship since 1979 when they open tournament play with a state quarterfinal game against top-seeded Western Christian on Monday, March 4 at 5:30 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“A lot of credit to our seniors,” first-year Regina Coach Paul Rundquist said. “Really good leadership and of course, happy for the kids.”

This is the seventh state berth as a head coach for Rundquist, who got Mount Pleasant to Des Moines four years in a row (2010-13) and later in back-to-back seasons (2017-18).

“I love him so much,” Regina senior Michael Martin said. “He came in brand new. He knew what he was doing. He knew how to coach us. He knows how to play basketball the right way. He has done wonders for our program and turned it right around in the first year. I love him so much. He’s done a great job.”

Martin led all scorers with 20 points, including a crucial three-point basket with 2:02 to go that gave the Regals some breathing room at 62-56.

Streb was also a force in the fourth quarter by corralling tough rebounds and scoring six fourth-quarter points.

“He played his heart out,” Martin said. “He had his best game of the season right here and he showed out and played. I love him so much.”

Pella Christian seemingly had no answer for Streb close to the basket, and he helped Regina fortify that area during a 25-point second quarter that ended with a 7-0 Regina surge and a 39-35 halftime advantage.

“I try to use my size to an advantage,” Streb said. “I feel like I am stronger than most people that we play. I just try to get into them, box them out and get those short boards and putbacks.”

With Regina clinging to a 62-59 lead, junior Connor Nicpon came down with the most important rebound of the game off a long Martin miss that gave the Regals new life with just 28.3 seconds to go.

“I knew it was going to be short,” Nicpon said. “I kind of saw it opening and my guy kind of lost track of me, so I found an opening and I took it. … I’m honestly just really happy right now.”

Nicpon got the ball back to Martin, who was fouled and calmly stepped to the line to clinch the game with a pair of free throws.

Regina reserve Lucas Schechinger chipped in 10 points for the Regals.

Dane Geetings led all scorers with 24 points for Pella Christian (18-6), which was seeking a state berth for the third year in a row and fourth time in five years.

NAIA-level Dordt signee Tysen De Vries – who entered the game averaging more than 14 points per contest – had just three in the first half, two in the pivotal final frame and 11 all game.

The Eagles drilled seven three-point baskets in the first half, but just two after halftime.

“They were hitting really good shots,” Streb said. “In that halftime, we were saying, ‘We need to rebound, win the boards and play great defense. They are going to hit shots, but they are not all going to fall like they did in the first quarter and first half.’ They were doing great and the whole halftime, just like last game, it’s our defense. Our defense will keep us in games and our offense will consistently hit shots.”

Pella Christian scored just nine points in the final frame.

For a Regina bunch with three pivotal senior starters in Martin, Petersen and Streb, closing out their prep basketball careers at the state tournament is exactly how they drew it up.

But there is a difference between satisfied to get there and hungry to do damage.

“It all goes back to our defense and preparing in practice,” Streb said. “I feel like if we really work hard, our defense is willing to take us all the way.”

Regina (64) – Eddie Petersen 3 0-0 7, Connor Nicpon 0 0-0 0, Michael Martin 7 3-4 20, Tate Wallace 1 0-0 2, Drew Streb 7 2-3 16, Will Litton 3 0-0 7, Lucas Schechinger 4 0-0 10, Andrew Greve 1 0-0 2, Totals 26 5-7 64.

Pella Christian (59) – Tysen De Vries 3 3-4 11, Isaiah Breems 2 2-2 6, Caleb Van Arendonk 1 0-0 2, Dane Geetings 9 3-4 24, Josiah Vos 4 0-0 11, Cooper Spronk 0 0-0 0, Deacon Branderhorst 1 0-0 3, Benny Schirz 1 0-0 2, Totals 21 8-10 59.

Regina                                    14  25  14  11  –  64

Pella Christian                      17  18  15   9   –  59

Three-point goals – ICR 7 (Martin 3, Schechinger 2, Litton 1, Petersen 1); PC 9 (Geetings 3, Vos 3, De Vries 2, Branderhorst 1). Rebounds – ICR 20 (Streb 8); PC 16 (Breems 4, Van Arendonk 4, Vos 4); Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.

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