Pat Harty

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Ryan O’Hern spent three years as the Regina Athletic Director, and during that time, he enjoyed watching Masen Miller make big shots at pivotal times.

O’Hern watched Miller do that again on Thursday, but there was nothing to enjoy this time.

Regina’s sharpshooting junior guard made a 3-point basket with four seconds remaining to lift the Regals to a 56-53 victory over West Burlington in a Class 2A District semifinal at Regina.

“I’ve seen him shoot that shot a thousand times and that’s why you spend all the time in the gym shooting those shots in the offseason to make that game winner,” said O’Hern, who is in his first season as the head coach for West Burlington.

Miller used a screen near the top of the key from senior center Luke Stein that created just enough space to make the shot.

“We were just a hair late on the hedge, Stein set a nice screen and our kid went over the top like we’ve been telling him to,” O’Hern said. “The hedge was just a little late, which is my fault.

“But it was deep now, and as soon as I saw it leave his hands, I knew it was in.”

Regina head coach Jared Galpin felt the same way as the ball left Miller’s hand.

“Every shot he takes I think is going in,” Galpin said of Miller, who led the Regals with 19 points. “As long as he has a little bit of room, and he doesn’t need much room, and gets it off clean and gets a good look, he’s clutch.”

Regina improved to 18-2 on the season and will face Danville in a district final on Tuesday in Mount Pleasant.

West Burlington finished 11-10 in O’Hern’s debut season.

Regina called a timeout with 28 seconds remaining to set up what proved to be the game-winning shot.

Senior guard Bryce Barnett dribbled some time off the clock before getting the ball to Miller.

“It felt great,” Miller said of when the shot left his hand. “I had missed a few earlier in the game, but you’ve just got to keep shooting it and don’t think about the last play and let it go.”

Miller had a stretch where he missed six consecutive shots from the field in Thursday’s game and he only made 7-of-18 field-goal attempts overall.

But he still made the biggest shot with the game on the line.

“You’ve got to have the confidence,” Miller said. “Even if you miss a couple, just put it out of your mind shoot the next one that is open.”

Miller’s game-winning shot is what will be remembered the most from Thursday’s nail-biter, but there was so much more drama and big plays than that.

Senior Scott Arendt made a huge impact on offense with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field. But it was Arendt’s defense, which included at least four steals that really stood out.

He turned two of his steals into easy layups in transition early in the third quarter when the Regals were struggling on offense.

“Scottie carried us for a long time in that game on both ends,” Galpin said. “We talked about that in the lockerroom. He just took his game to a whole different level defensively, getting tips and run-out layups. He saw that we were struggling.

“Scottie has been that kind of player all year. You call him a utility player. He plays a lot of different positions for us. He guards guys of various sizes and he does it to a really high level. And his tip-outs and layups helped us keep the game close when we were losing.”

Barnett also made a big basket from 3-point range that cut the deficit to 38-36 with 3 minutes, 12 seconds left in the third quarter.

Regina then recaptured the lead for the first time since early in the third quarter at 42-40 when Miller drained a three with 16 seconds left in the third quarter.

Neither team led by more than three points for the remainder of the game.

Galpin switched from playing man-to-man to zone defense in the second half after having watched the Falcons shred his zone for seven 3-point baskets in the first half.

The decision paid huge dividends as West Burlington only made one 3-point basket in the second half.

Arendt repeatedly disrupted things for West Burlington on offense. His ability to anticipate passes helped lead to the steals.

“I’m not that good on offense, so I’ve got to try a lot harder on defense,” Arendt said. “I usually just sit on that backside and wait for the lob pass in the air, so I just go and take it.”

Sophomore forward Ashton Cook finished with 12 points despite barely playing in the second quarter after having picked up two fouls.

Two of his points came on a baseline dunk that gave Regina a 50-47 lead with 5:16 remaining.

Cook’s dunk also gave his team a bolt of energy that was needed down the stretch.

“That was sweet,” Arendt said. “That got everybody hyped. That was awesome.”

The Regals prevailed despite only making 22-of-55 field-goal attempts and 6-of-12 free throw attempts.

“I’m just proud of my guys because they didn’t panic,” Galpin said.

Both head coaches had high praise for each other after the game.

O’Hern was working at Regina when Galpin was promoted to head coach before the start of last season.

The Regals have won all but two of their games despite being without sophomore center Nick Wagner, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and without 6-9 junior center Even Brauns, who transferred to West High last season.

“Just a plug for Jared, Jared has done a fantastic job,” O’Hern said. “I think he’s the coach of the year in 2A. Obviously, losing Brauns to West High and then losing Nick Wagner to the injury, Jared has done a great coaching job.

“And I was here when we hired him, and he’s a good friend of mine. And I hope they get to the state tournament.”

West Burlington   14  18   8   13  –  53

Regina                 15  14  13  14  –  56

West Burlington (53) – Tanner Snodgrass 4-10 4-6 13, Colton Sherwood 3-5 2-3 11, Jonah Marlow 4-10 1-3 12, Darian Johnson 3-6 0-0 7, Marvion Jackson 4011 2-2 10, Reece Richards 0-0 0-0 0, Cole Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-42 9-12 53.

Regina (56) – Bryce Barnett 2-10 0-0 5, Masen Miller 7-18 1-1 19, Scott Arendt 6-8 2-4 15, Ashton Cook 5-10 2-3 12, Luke Stein 1-4 1-2 3, Patrick Clark 0-0 0-0 0, Jack Keller 1-1 0-2 2, Alec Wick 0-4 0-0 0, Joey Molony 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-55 6-12 56.

3-point field goals – West Burlington 8 (Sherwood 3, Marlow 3, Snodgrass, Johnson); Regina 6 (Miller 4, Barnett, Arendt). Fouls – West Burlington 12, Regina 16.