Again, Ursuline will try to hurdle tough Regina

After being routed by the Royals in recent years, the Irish have more hope of winning this time.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ursuline High girls basketball coach Sean Durkin doesn't have many fond memories of his team's games with South Euclid Regina.
Take the 1998-99 season, for example, when the Irish faced Regina in his first season as coach.
"We were down 19-0 and I blew three time-outs in the first three minutes of the game," Durkin recalled. "It was a culture shock my first time around."
Ursuline lost that game 74-34 in the Division III regional.
Last season, the Irish were one win from qualifying for the state tournament. Regina prevented that with a 64-34 victory.
At Ursuline, state tournament aspirations are packaged with every scheme and dream possible to beat Regina in the regionals.
Another challenge: That's no different this season as the teams meet again Wednesday in a 6:15 p.m. semifinal at Cuyahoga Falls High.
"That's why we schedule as difficult as we do -- to prepare not only for the district, but when you get to regionals you've played some quality teams," Durkin said. "The challenge is something you look forward to."
But Regina, two-time defending state champion, has proven it is the class of Div. III. The Royals have graduated seven Div. I college standouts the last two seasons and have senior guard/forward Sarah Burgess heading to South Carolina next season.
Burgess injured: Weighing heavily on Wednesday's game, however, is the status of the 5-foot-10 Burgess, who injured her right knee in the team's district title victory over Bedford Chanel. She was to undergo tests and is questionable to play.
"One thing I do know is it's not good," Regina coach Pat Diulus said. "It's devastating to us."
Durkin and the Irish aren't taking any chances, continuing to prepare to face Burgess, whom Diulus said was on crutches.
"She's not only a great player but their leader," Durkin said. "The ball is in her hands a lot."
Even without Burgess, Regina would still pose a challenge to Ursuline, which already knows the type of team it will face.
Durkin said Regina's foundation is based on its "overall speed and athleticism. Normally you don't see five kids on the floor as agile as they are."
Not as tall: The difference this season is the Royals aren't as tall as their previous teams, Durkin said.
"We have to limit our turnovers. [Regina] thrives off that," the coach said. "We need to get in the passing lanes, get up and down the floor and take care of the ball. We need to limit how many opportunities [Regina] gets offensively."
Ursuline carries with it the momentum gained from winning a second straight district title. In doing so, sophomore point guard Courtney Davidson went over the 1,000-point mark for her career.
Leader: "She's the engine that takes them where they need to go," Diulus said. "She has such a quick release, and she's pretty unflappable back there. No question, she's the focal point of what they do."
Durkin said his team gained hope from watching Poland nearly upset Regina in the final regular season game. The Royals held on 52-47.
"We have to match Poland's toughness," Durkin said. "That's what kept them in that game."
Off-par performance: Diulus said, "That game would have given anybody confidence; we didn't play well. My guess is [our players] will have a different perception about Wednesday. They realize they're in the regional semifinals now."
If Ursuline can upset the state's fourth-ranked team, the road won't get any easier. Top-ranked Cleveland Villa-Angela St. Joseph is in the other semifinal.
"When you get this far, you're shooting to win the whole thing," Durkin said. "You have to get through those teams at some point anyway."
richesson@vindy.com