The Sevastopol Pioneers girls' basketball rode their defense to their first regional championship since 1985 on Saturday night, beating Lena 56-19 in front of a partisan crowd in Institute.

Despite struggling offensively themselves in the first half, the Pioneers' defense made sure it was not a problem. The Wildcats could only muster a single point before registering their first made field goal with approximately six minutes left in the first half. In the meantime, Naomi Rikkola scored six of her 12 points and Libby Ash connected on one of her two three-pointers to stake the Pioneers to an 18-5 lead at the break.

Bailey Rikkola came alive in the second half, scoring 13 of her game-high 16 points in the second half, while Kayla Ranly combined her hard-nosed defense with six second-half points. The Pioneers' defense proved to be almost as suffocating in the second half as they were in the opening frame, keeping the Wildcats off the scoreboard from the field until nine minutes were remaining. Whitney Potter led the Wildcats with six points, and Eva Brooks was held to just four points.

The Pioneers' win was the first time they had won a regional championship since 1985 and the first time they did so in front of a home crowd that stuck around long after the final buzzer. They will now head to Gillett for the sectional semi-final where they will meet top-seeded Wabeno-Laona. After blowing out Wausaukee in their tournament opener, Wabeno-Laona narrowly defeated Niagara 49-45 Saturday night at home. Tim Kowols and Bryan Mazur will have the call from Gillett on U 102.1 and NEWRadioSportsNetwork.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.