Newell-Fonda denies North Linn a return trip to the 1A title game

DES MOINES — For about nine minutes, North Linn played virtually perfect basketball.

The Lynx were hitting shots. More importantly, they were protecting the ball.

But Newell-Fonda’s trademark is its relentless pressure. And, as is often the case, that pressure ultimately took its toll.

Third-ranked Newell-Fonda held No. 2 North Linn to two fourth-quarter points and pulled away for a 48-38 victory in a Class 1A semifinal at the girls’ state basketball tournament Friday afternoon at Wells Fargo Arena.

“It just wears on you,” North Linn Coach Brian Wheatley said. “They just keep coming. We knew it was going to be a 32-minute game, and we were right there until the last minute.”

The Mustangs (22-4) ended the game with an 11-0 run. Freshman Ellie Sievers nailed a pair of gutsy 3-pointers that sprung them free.

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As a result, they reach their 13th 1A championship game, most of any team in any class. The opponent is No. 1 Council Bluffs St. Albert (24-1), at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“Any time you end the season here, it’s an accomplishment,” Newell-Fonda’s Kinzee Hinders said. “Getting to the championship game, even more so.”

Last year’s 1A champion, North Linn finished 24-2. All things considered (graduation since last year, first and foremost), a heck of a season.

“If you’d have seen us play at the Okoboji (summer) camp, you would have thought we might be a .500 team,” Molly Boge said. “It wasn’t pretty.”

It was beautiful for a while Friday.

Emilee Beuter made her first five shots, North Linn committed just one first-quarter turnover, and the Lynx led 20-9 early in the second period.

“I thought we were ready,” Wheatley said. “The girls knew what they had to do, and what defenses (Newell-Fonda) ran.”

Back-to-back three-point plays by Hinders got the Mustangs going though, and it was a dogfight by halftime.

North Linn led, 25-22.

The third quarter featured six lead changes. North Linn led for the final time, 38-37, when Beuter beat everybody downcourt for a layup with 6:23 left in the game.

The Lynx didn’t score again.

“When they started really coming at us, we couldn’t handle it as well,” Boge said.

Beuter led North Linn with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

“I couldn’t have gotten one shot without my teammates,” she said. “They found me when I was open.”

Boge added 13 points.

For Newell-Fonda, Hinders led the way with 22 points. Sievers added 12. The Mustangs avenged last year’s 67-51 championship-game loss to the Lynx.

Newell-Fonda 48, North Linn 38

Class 1A State Semifinal, at Des Moines

NEWELL-FONDA (48): Jaicee Vanderhoff 0-1 0-0 0, Mareni Brabec 0-4 2-2 2, Anna Mercer 0-2 0-0 0, Kinzee Hinders 7-14 5-6 22, Jocee Walsh 3-6 0-0 6, Ellie Sievers 4-13 2-6 12, Camryn Puhrmann 0-0 0-0 0, Rylee Hogrefe 0-4 0-0 0, Ava Vie 2-5 0-0 6. Totals 16-49 9-14 48.

NORTH LINN (38): Allie Haughenbury 0-3 2-2 2, Mackenzie Bridgewater 0-6 2-2 2, Molly Boge 5-14 0-2 13, Carly Ries 2-6 0-0 6, Emilee Beuter 7-11 1-2 15, Ava Hoover 0-0 0-0 0, Samantha West 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-41 5-8 38.

Newell-Fonda 9 13 12 14 — 48

North Linn 17 8 11 2 — 38

3-point goals: Newell-Fonda 7-22 (Vanderhoff 0-1, Brabec 0-2, Hinders 3-5, Walsh 0-1, Sievers 2-5, Hogrefe 0-3, Vie 2-5), North Linn 5-12 (Bridgewater 0-1, Boge 3-6, Ries 2-5). Team fouls: Newell-Fonda 14, North Linn 14. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Newell-Fonda 28 (Sievers 6), North Linn 35 (Beuter 11). Assists: Newell-Fonda 9 (four with 2), North Linn 8 (Bridgewater 4). Steals: Newell-Fonda 10 (Walsh 4), North Linn 7 (Bridgewater 3). Turnovers: Newell-Fonda 8, North Linn 17.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com