Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

CORALVILLE – A year ago Regina lost back-to-back games to open the season before rattling off 13 wins in a row.

The Regals dropped their season opener again this season falling at Northeast last week but for the second year in a row appear to have wasted no time getting on track.

Regina posted its second consecutive win on Monday rolling past Lisbon 74-34 in a non-conference contest at Xtream Arena in Coralville.

“It’s early, you look at last season we lost our first two or three games and then went on a 13-game winning streak,” Regina coach Paul Rundquist explained. “We just want to get better and stayed dialed in each practice and each game and tonight it was nice to see us play more efficiently tonight.”

Regina (2-1) was a model of efficiency on both ends of the court on Monday.

The Regals shot 57 percent from the floor and committed just seven turnovers on its way to a season-high scoring output.

Sophomore Will Litton had a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Regina and sophomore Tate Wallace added 20 points.

“We want to play our best in March and we know if struggle a little early we can work back into it,” Wallace said. “We had a 13-game winning streak last year so we know we can get going.”

Litton and Wallace set the tone early as Regina pounded the ball into the sophomore duo in the post.

Wallace and Litton had all 19 of the Regal’s first quarter points on combined 8-of-11 shooting as Regina raced to an early 19-6.

The game was tied 6-6 with under five minutes to play in the opening quarter but Regina closed the quarter on a 13-0 run led by Litton and Wallace.

“We try to set the tone early and physicality is a big thing for us in doing that,” Wallace said. “We wanted to get the ball in the paint and once we get it in there we can do anything. We can dish it out for threes or post up but it’s nice with our size to set the tone.”

Regina was just getting started.

Senior Tate Lynch hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter and 6-foot-7 freshman Ben Wade had all six of his points in the second quarter as Regina built a 42-12 halftime lead.

Regina shot 69 percent from the floor in the first half (18-of-26) including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.

“For the most part we were efficient on offense,” Rundquist said. “We only had a few turnovers which hadn’t been the way we had played the last couple of games and we know if we take care of the ball and get a good look at the basket each time we’ll have a chance.”

Regina was nearly as impressive defensively.

The Regals held Lisbon (1-2) to season-low 34 points on 29 percent shooting and forced the Lions into 17 turnovers.

“We prepared really well for tonight and that was a big thing for us,” Litton said. “We were ready for tonight both offensively and defensively.”

Junior Drew Greve had 11 points for Regina and Wade grabbed eight rebounds as the Regals finished with a 32-23 rebounding edge.

“We’ve been better in not turning the ball over,” Litton said. “Getting shots up every time is a big thing for us and today we were good about taking care of the ball.”

Lisbon                         6    6   16   6   –  34

Regina                        19  23  21  11  –  74

Lisbon (34) – Tyler Sauser 2-8 0-0 5, Henrik Whitney 0-1 2-2 2, Jackson Powers 2-7 0-0 4, Devin O’Brien 2-3 0-0 6, Nathan Ahrendsen 1-3 0-0 2, Carew Kamaus 0-1 0-0 0, Grayson Wollum 4-10 2-2 12, Ian Whittenbaugh 0-2 0-0 0, Henry Reiling 0-2 0-0 0, Daylin Schaefer 1-4 1-2 3, Totals 12-41 5-6 34.

Regina (74) – Connor Nicpon 1-3 0-0 2, Evan White 0-1 0-0 0, Drew Greve 4-6 1-1 11, Tate Wallace 8-12 4-6 20, Ethan Beard 1-2 0-0 2, Jackson Kopecky 1-1 0-0 3, Will Litton 10-14 1-2 22, Ben Wade 3-5 0-0 6, Tate Lynch 2-5 0-0 6, Carter Carolan 1-2 0-0 2, Matt Colony 0-1 0-0 0, Lincoln Dardis 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 31-54 6-9 74.

3-point field goals – Lisbon 5-15 (Sauser 1-3, Powers 0-2, O’Brien 2-3, Kamaus 0-1, Wollum 2-3, Whittenbaugh 0-1, Reiling 0-1, Schaefer 0-1), Regina 6-17 (Nicpon 0-2, Greve 2-3, Wallace 0-1, Beard 0-1, Kopecky 1-1, Litton 1-1, Lynch 2-5, Carolan 0-1, Dardis 0-2). Rebounds – Lisbon 23 (Powers 5), Regina 32 (Litton 10). Total fouls – Lisbon 7, Regina 10. Turnovers – Lisbon 17, Regina 7. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.

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