DIVISION III GIRLS Regina shows power, tops JFK

By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
ROOTSTOWN -- Simone Redd and Ari Moore each scored 18 points as the defending Division III state champion, Regina High, rolled to an 83-23 victory over Warren John F. Kennedy in the district title game at Rootstown High School Saturday.
Regina (21-3) scored 40 of the game's first 43 points, building a commanding 46-9 lead at the break.
"I'm not sure they were ready for our pressure," Regina coach Patrick Diulus said. "It was just one of those games where everything just went our way.
"We have good balance inside and out and we were able to mix our defenses. So far this year that has been what has carried us."
The Royals forced 33 turnovers, committing 16 themselves.
Regina had more rebounds, 39-12.
The Royals defeated JFK in the district title game for the second straight season, winning 69-29 last year in the title tilt.
Overwhelmed: "The first couple of minutes are so crucial," JFK coach Denise Smith said. "They just didn't work for us today.
"Regina is a talented, well-coached team and it seems like they are just everywhere on the floor. Their size was a huge factor and while we weren't intimidated by their size, we were never able to get good position."
Five Royals scored in double figures. In addition to Redd and Moore, Sarah Burgess had 13 points, Siedah Williams 11 and Edwina Williams added 10.
"If they can play like they have been, they could very easily win their second straight state title," Smith said of Regina.
Williams narrowly missed a double-double, as she pulled in nine rebounds while Rachel Spadafore had seven rebounds and Moore five steals and five assists.