Olivia Larsen lifts Newell-Fonda past Kee in state quarterfinals, 61-45

DES MOINES — There's more than one way to beat a zone. Simply shooting over it isn't the only option.

'Coach said that with a 1-3-1 zone, it gets wide when you reverse the ball,' Olivia Larsen said. 'So it was reverse, attack and go to the hoop.'

Larsen slashed her way to 28 points as fourth-ranked Newell-Fonda defeated No. 9 Lansing Kee, 61-45, in a Class 1A quarterfinal at the girls' state basketball tournament Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

The 5-foot-6 junior guard hit 12 of 19 shots, mostly on aggressive drives to the basket, and Newell-Fonda capitalized on 23 Kee turnovers. As a result, the Mustangs (25-0) advance to face No. 2 Central Decatur (25-0) — a 52-48 victor over No. 10 Montezuma — in a 1A semifinal at 3:15 p.m. Friday.

'It's just our desire and willingness to get it done,' Larsen said.

Kee (22-2) saw its 19-game winning streak come to an end. The Hawks were right there at halftime, trailing 31-28. But Newell-Fonda scored the first nine points after intermission for a 12-point lead, and the margin never wavered below eight again.

'We just made too long of passes, and that led to turnovers,' Kee's Nicki Wood said.

Kee built a 40-29 rebounding advantage, but wasn't able to capitalize.

'I was able to use my size,' said Chloe Severson, who snagged 18 rebounds. 'They had quick girls that I was able to box out. But we missed a lot of bunnies.'

The Hawks shot 2 of 14 from the field in the first period and trailed, 11-6, then heated up significantly in the second period, hitting 9 of 11. Kee rallied for a 19-17 lead, but couldn't stop the drives and cuts of Larsen, who scored the Mustangs' last nine points of the half, including a three-point play with 3 seconds left that put Newell-Fonda in front, 31-28, at halftime.

'(Larsen) had a fantastic game, and that's what we needed,' Newell-Fonda Coach Dick Jungers said. 'With their size, I knew we would give up some A-zone shots, but we were able to force enough turnovers to offset that.'

Wood led Kee with 13 points. Kendra Cooper added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

NEWELL-FONDA 61, LANSING KEE 45

Class 1A State Quarterfinal, at Des Moines

LANSING KEE (45): Kendra Cooper 4-8 4-5 12, Ashley Schwartzhoff 1-9 4-8 6, Chloe Severson 1-7 2-2 4, Nicki Wood 5-8 1-4 13, Makayla Walleser 4-10 0-0 8, Katie Brennan 0-0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Seitz 0-0 0-0 0, Annabelle Dibert 0-0 0-0 0, Meredith Gruber 1-1 0-0 2, Heather Mooney 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-43 11-19 45.

NEWELL-FONDA (61): Emma Stewart 4-11 0-0 11, Jenna Coppock 0-2 0-0 0, Megan Morenz 2-7 2-6 6, Olivia Larsen 12-19 3-7 28, Ella Larsen 2-7 0-0 6, Camryn Wilken 0-3 0-0 0, Bailey Sievers 1-1 0-0 2, Ellie Lago 0-1 0-0 0, Beth Greenfield 0-0 0-0 0, Maggie Walker 2-4 0-0 4, Paige Roberts 0-0 0-0 0, Anna Tiefenthaler 0-0 0-0 0, Ashley Archer 2-4 0-0 4, Jordyn Whitson 0-0 0-0 0, Kylie Robinson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-59 5-13 61.

Halftime: Newell-Fonda 31, Kee 28. 3-point goals: Kee 2-10 (Schwartzhoff 0-4, Wood 2-3, Walleser 0-3), Newell-Fonda 6-21 (Stewart 3-7, Coppock 0-2, O.Larsen 1-6, E.Larsen 2-3, Wilken 0-3). Team fouls: Kee 12, Newell-Fonda 18. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Kee 40 (Severseon 18), Newell-Fonda 29 (Morenz 10). Assists: Kee 8 (Walleser 4), Newell-Fonda 9 (four with 2). Steals: Kee 4 (four with 1), Newell-Fonda 16 (four with 3). Turnovers: Kee 23, Newell-Fonda 8.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com