Girls 4A: Claire Dingus scores 28 points, University advances to quarterfinal

Claire Dingus scored 28 points with 14 rebounds, four assists and six steals and No. 14 seed University (17-8) handled No. 6 seed Bellarmine Prep (20-6) 72-48 in a State 4A first-round game at the Tacoma Dome on Wednesday.

Ellie Boni added 23 points with six assists for Titans, who advance to a quarterfinal and will face No.4 seed – and undefeated – Moses Lake on Thursday at 9 a.m.

“It was a great team effort,” Boni said. “We wanted it super-super bad. We haven’t been (to state) since 2007. We work our butts off every single day in practice and this was a great experience.”

Asked if coming in as the third seed from District 8 if U-Hi had something to prove at state, Boni responded “Yeah, we’ve got to show them what we’re made of.”

“The girls came out ready to play,” said UHi coach Jay Kennedy. First-quarter jitters a little bit but they’re a great group. They play as one and when they play like that they’re tough to beat.”

Makiah Reed led Bellarmine Prep with 12 points. The Lions were without leading scorer Shalyse Smith, out since districts with an ankle injury.

UHi came out cold and Bellarmine Prep raced out to an 11-4 lead, including a long 3-pointer by Reed.

“We came out a little nervous” Kennedy admitted. “One of the girls said ‘I don’t think I can even feel my arms.’ Nerves got them a little bit in the first quarter but after that we just settled down and played.”

Dingus picked up a couple of short jumpers, Boni made a runner and Jenna Vansteenkist hit a jumper from the elbow and UHi drew within two at 11-10.

Boni’s fastbreak layup just before the buzzer put UHi up 12-11 after one.

Boni made added a short jumper and a layup to put the Titans up 16-13, then late in the second quarter Dingus took over.

She grabbed an offensive rebound and her follow made it 19-17, then she converted a three-point play. She scored on an inside play, then her fastbreak layup just before the horn made it 30-22 at intermission.

The Titans outscored Bell Prep 23-10 in the third quarter to open it up. Dingus had seven and Boni six in the frame.

Dingus made all six free throw attempts in the fourth quarter and finished 11 of 14 from the line.