Newell Fonda clinched their 8th straight girls basketball state tournament trip tonight (Wed), and 20th in school history, with a 71-40 win over Coon Rapids Bayard in a 1A region final at Fort Dodge.
The game was tied twice early, and CRB took their only lead of the night at 4-2. The Mustangs went on a 12-0 run, and ended the 1st quarter on an 18-2 stretch to take a 20-6 lead. Newell Fonda got the lead up to 15 during the 2nd quarter, and took a 30-19 lead into halftime.
The Mustangs built the lead to 18 during the 3rd quarter, and led 48-34 going to the 4th before outscoring the Crusaders 23-6 in the final period.
Kinzee Hinders led three Mustangs in double figures with 18 points, followed by Ellie Sievers and Jocee Walsh with 13 each. Hinders made eight of ten shots from the field, and had seven rebounds and six assists. Walsh also had seven rebounds, and grabbed eight of the Mustangs 18 steals. Newell Fonda hit eight threes on the night. Malia Clayburg topped CRB with 16.
Newell Fonda coach Dick Jungers, along with Hinders and Sievers, talked afterward…
3rd-ranked Newell Fonda is now 20-4. Coon Rapids Bayard falls to the Mustangs in the region final round for the second year in a row. The Crusaders finish at 18-5.
Newell Fonda is the 3rd seed in the 1A state tournament. The Mustangs will face 6th seed Springville (also 20-4) in a quarterfinal game next Wednesday, March 5th at 6:45pm in Des Moines.
(photo credit to Scott Kilbride)
