It was a tale of two very different halves for the Sevastopol Pioneers, but the Ladies survived the challenge and defended a packed home gymnasium, defeating the Florence Bobcats 50-31 and capturing a Regional title. This is the Pioneers' second Regional Championship in three years.  

The first half got off to a hot start as Naomi Rikkola drained a three on the Pioneers' opening possession. However, the Florence Bobcats used a full-court press that Sevastopol has not seen too often this year to frustrate the Pioneers the entire half. The Pioneers' trap defense kept the game close, though, as it entered halftime with the Bobcats holding a small 20-17 lead.

Coming out of the half, the Bobcats would add to the lead, as the Pioneers were held over 4 minutes without a basket to open the half, but the defense of Sienna Cain and Kayla Ranly also ramped up.  Those two would force nearly a dozen turnovers in the second half alone. Combining the Pioneers' ramped-up defense and a hot hand of Naomi Rikkola, who would hit a trio of threes in a matter of minutes, they soon found themselves up by 6 in just over 2 minutes.  The defense of the Pioneers found its footing in the second half, holding the Bobcats to just 11 second-half points compared to the Pioneers' 33 second-half points. 

The Pioneers' leading scorers in the Regional Championship were Naomi Rikkola, with 29, Kayla Ranly, with 11, and Sienna Cain, with 4.

The Pioneers will now face Oneida Nation on Thursday Night at a neutral site. That game can be heard on U102.1 and New Radio Sports Network.