Crestview enjoys experience, falls to Regina

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By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

CUYAHOGA FALLS — Crestview High girls basketball coach Tanja Simione knew perspective was important to maintain during her first regional game in 10 years of coaching the Rebels.

So even though her team trailed South Euclid Regina 30-12 early in the second quarter, Simione maintained her poise, offering support, claps and smiles to her Inter Tri-County League champions despite their uphill struggle with a powerhouse.

Against the team most consider the best in the state, the Rebels set some goals and achieved a few during Wednesday's 98-57 defeat in the Division III regional semifinal at Cuyahoga Falls High School.

"They played their hearts out," Simione said. "We always wanted a chance to play Regina and I thought our girls offered a good showing."

Since 2000, Regina has won five state titles, getting knocked out in 2004 by Ursuline, the United High district champion six straight years before the Rebels won last Saturday.

"We got everyone involved," Simione said of Wednesday's game. "We reached some personal team goals for the game. There comes a point where you realize that we're not going to be the ones who come out with the victory so we said let's try and score 55 on them and try not to let them get 100 on us."

Topped expectations

Crestview's Elyse Mongillo said her senior year has topped expectations. She, along with most of the Rebels basketball players, went to the Division III volleyball regional last fall.

"My senior year has not been what I expected," said Mongillo, who scored 11 points in her final varsity start. "It feels great to able to go this far in both sports."

Mongillo said playing a perennial power like Regina "was an experience I'll never forget. And I know it will help our younger girls next year when they go up against our league. They are very athletic and it's not what we see [in our league]. It should give them some confidence.

"We lost a lot of seniors last year from volleyball and basketball, and younger players stepped in and played well," Mongillo said.

One of them is Crestview sophomore Chelsea Bowker who led the Rebels with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

"She's very good and she's going to make it far," Mongillo said.

Bowker called the regional game "awesome. We just wanted the chance to be here. It was an honor to play against them."

Regina jumped out to a 6-0 lead when the Rebels responded with their own six-point run as Bowker and Mongillo made baskets and senior Chelsie McCall made two free throws.

The Royals (23-1) closed the first quarter with a 12-4 run, then took complete control by opening the second quarter with a 12-0 run.

Leaders

Emily Hoscilowicz led the Royals with 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Shay Selby scored 17 and Lauren Gray had 18 points and five rebounds.

For the Rebels (20-4), McCall scored 10 points and Hillary Phillis netted nine.

Simione said the Rebels will miss their seniors (Mongillo, McCall and Julie Simmons) but acknowledged that the Rebels have a strong nucleus that includes juniors Tess Reash and sophomores Bowker, Phillis and Haley Graham.

"Our seniors showed great leadership qualities, they made things funs for everyone," Simione said. "They weren't 'point-the-finger' types or dictators. They led by example. Without our seniors, we would not have been league and district champions."

As for Bowker, Simione said, "the sky's the limit for her. She works 365 days a year in volleyball and basketball. She's a dedicated athlete and it shows in everything she does, including the classroom.

"When we need control of the game, she took control. Her teammates trusted that and they wanted to go to her.

"When we were up 15 points, she was getting everyone involved," said Simione of the Rebels' 20-win season. "She sees the whole court. For being a sophomore, I can't believe where she can go from here."

williams@vindy.com

Thursday, March 8, 2007