DES MOINES — Steady play and a defense that helped create 20 turnovers led fourth-seed Panorama (25-1) to a 46-38 win over fifth-seed Iowa City Regina (20-4) in the Class 2A Quarterfinals Tuesday.
The win sets up a 10 a.m. showdown Friday with top-seed Dike-New Hartford (23-2), the defending state champs. D-NH was a 64-44 winner over eight-seed South Central Calhoun (19-6) in the first quarterfinal.
Denver (23-2) faces Underwood (22-2) and Central Lyon (23-2) battles Cascade (20-4) in the other quarterfinals, which will be the first two games played Wednesday.
Neither the Regals nor the Panthers shot well beyond the 3-point arc, with ICR finishing only 4-of-21 and Panorama 3-of-13 from deep. A big difference came at the foul line, where the Panthers finished 11-of-15 as opposed to 2-of-2.
Panorama rallied to take a 13-10 lead after the first quarter, then opened a wider gulf in the second frame before settling for a 26-21 halftime advantage.
Poor shooting and facing a Panther defense that clogged the passing lanes at key times began to wear down the Regals, who had to launch a mini-surge to come to within 32-26 entering the final period.
Panorama maintained control of the flow of the game, leading 39-31 before four quick ICR points brought the visiting team on the scoreboard to within four points. A pair of Jaidyn Sellers free throws, a Payton Beckman basket and two Beckman foul shots quickly snuffed the threat, creating a 45-35 score and all but settling the issue.
Beckman led all scorers with 20 points, giving her 517 for the season and 1,668 for her career.
Sellers was impressive on both ends of the floor. The sophomore had seven rebounds and five steals while blocking three shots and was constantly involved in the action, helping to shut down Regal post Lily Simpson.
Angel Poldberg sank several key baskets for nine points, with Laci Rishel adding six points, Zoey Hambleton two and Tyme Boettcher one. Beckman and Rishel each had three assists with Mia Waddle clearing five rebounds.
Simpson led ICR with 10 points and eight rebounds, with Alli Dillon providing eight points and six caroms.
