The Newell-Fonda girls basketball team will play for the class 1A state championship for the 4th time in the last five years and the 8th time in the last 11 seasons after they beat North Linn 66-48 in their semi-final game Friday afternoon.
Mary Walker scored 24 points and Kierra Jungers added 19 and 10 rebounds andthe Mustangsoutscored the Lynx 38-20 in the 2nd half.
The Mustangs will now faceAlgonaGarrigan, the defending champion and the team Newell-Fonda defeated in the 2020 and 2021 title games. Bishop Garrigan advanced with a 73-39 win overRemsen St. Mary’s behind 26 points from Audi Crooks. Crooks in two state tournament games this year has scored 68 points and has made 30-of-36 shots from the floor to go along with 24 rebounds and eight blocked shots.
The two teams will square off Saturday night at 7pm and the game will be broadcast on Mix 101.7FM KAYL.Newell-Fonda, now24-2, also won the title in 2019 and 2015.
Kamryn Kurt led North Linn with 16 points, Ellie Flanagan scored 15 on 5-for-7 3-point shooting.
North Linn finishes 23-2, its 13thstraight season with at least 20 victories and fifth straight appearance at state.
The victory was Newell-Fonda’s 30thin state tournament play, which ranks fourth on the all-time list, one behind Mediapolis and West Des Moines Dowling Catholic. Ankeny is the leader with 43 state tournament wins.
