Freshman Ashtyn Veerbeek helped Western Christian stay in the hunt for a fourth consecutive state championship.

Veerbeek came off the bench to score 17 points and grab 10 rebounds as the second-ranked Wolfpack held off No. 12 Iowa City Regina 50-45 to complete first-round action in Class 2A.

 Payton Harmsen added 12 points for Western Christian (22-3) and Jamie Gesink scored 11 and pulled down nine rebounds.

Veerbeek, a 6-footer with strong moves around the basket, made 6 of 9 shots and had four blocks, including two key ones late in the game.

With Western leading 45-42, Veerbeek blocked Hannah Stein's shot and Gesink, the all-tournament captain last year, sank a free throw to make it a two-possession game.

A minute later, Veerbeek went to the free throw line with her team again ahead by three and calmly sank both shots for the game's final points with 11.3 seconds remaining. To top things off, Veerbeek swatted away a final 3-point shot just before the buzzer.

   Stein, a 5-8 center and Regina's only senior, worked hard against Western Christian's taller front line and finished with 12 points and seven rebounds to lead the young Regals (21-4). Sophomore Sarah Lehman had 11 points and seven rebounds and junior Kennedy Brown scored 10.

   Western Christian built an 18-10 lead in the first quarter, then found itself fighting off Regina the rest of the way. The Regals twice got to within a point down the stretch, but never could get the lead.

Veerbeek answered with a bucket inside the first time the lead was at one. Gesink sank a pair of free throws after Stein's jumper cut the lead to 43-42, and the Wolfpack hit five more from the line to secure its hard-fought victory.

   Western Christian will play No. 3 North Linn in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Regina looks to have the ingredients to be in contention for another state berth next year.