Regina rallies for win over Hiland

BERLIN -- It was a battle between one of the best in Division III against one of the best in Division IV.

And Division III came out on top.

South Euclid Regina rallied from 14 points down in the third quarter to record a come-from-behind 60-56 win over Hiland in a high school girls' basketball showdown at the Reese Center on Thursday night.

Regina, ranked No. 2 in Division III, improved to 15-2 on the season. Hiland, ranked No.3 in Division IV, dropped to 15-2.

Nirra Fields paced the Royals with 31 points and 12 rebounds and Tay'ler Mingo added 13 second-half points.

Noelle Yoder led Hiland with 27 points, but no one else reached double figures. Hilary Weaver, McKenzie Miller and Jessica Stutzman each added seven points for the Hawks.

Hiland led 21-18 after the first quarter, 34-25 at the half and was on top 41-27 at one point in the third quarter before Regina came roaring back.

The Royals trimmed the Hawks' lead to 48-43 going to the final frame and eventually took a 54-51 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Miller drilled a 3-pointer to knot the game at 54-54 with 1:29 left, but Fields countered with a 3-ball to give the visitors the lead for good at 57-54 with 40 seconds to play.

Yoder nailed two free throws with nine seconds left to trim the Royals' lead to one at 57-56. Sharday Baines split a pair of freebies to give the Royals a 58-56 lead with 7.5 seconds left, but left the door open for the Hawks to tie or win the game.

However, Hiland turned the ball over on its ensuing possession and Baines sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 1.3 ticks left.

Regina made 23 of 59 action shots and 9 of 11 free throws. Hiland was 18 of 39 from the field and 8 of 17 from 3-point land. The Hawks were 12 of 14 from the line.