Newell-Fonda edges Springville for 1A title

DES MOINES — It took six tries, but Newell-Fonda finally has its happy ending.

Hailey Falline took a feed from Maddy Morenz and scored the go-ahead basket with 1.2 seconds left, and the seventh-ranked Mustangs edged No. 11 Springville, 45-43, in a ragged but thrilling Class 1A girls' basketball championship game Friday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

'It's so bittersweet,' said Mustangs Coach Dick Jungers. 'I feel bad for our previous teams that came so close. But it's awesome for this group of kids.'

'The jinx has been broken,' Falline said. 'It feels to get one.'

Newell-Fonda was the 1A runner-up in 1997, 2000, 2008, 2013 and 2014. The Mustangs (23-4) graduated four starters from last year's team, but got another opportunity. And this time, they cashed in.

'We found a way to grit one out against a very good Springville team that wanted it as bad as we did,' Jungers said.

The game featured 45 turnovers, but what it lacked in eye appeal, it made up for in excitement and competitiveness. Neither team led by more than five points, and the game featured six ties and eight lead changes.

Springville (23-4) took a brief 43-42 lead when Mikayla Nachazel scored on a turnaround with 50 seconds left, but Newell-Fonda got the lead right back on Jordan Wilken banked one home.

Madi Wagaman hit the first of two free throws to tie it at 43 with 12 seconds left.

But Maddie Morenz drove, then located Falline underneath for the game-winner.

'I knew she was sealing for me,' Morenz said. 'I knew if I got it to her, she would put it up strong.'

Falline said, 'We've done this simulation in practice. It's just easy for me. I put it in. It's what I'm taught to do.'

The buzzer sounded after Falline's basket, but the Orioles had gotten a timeout called beforehand, and 1.2 seconds were put back on the clock. Sarah Matus got a decent look at a half-court shot, but it fell short.

Matus was named the 1A all-tournament captain. She scored nine points Friday, and set a tournament record with 12 3-pointers throughout the week.

Springville's Rylee Menster also was on the team, as were Erin Gerke and Brianna Wells of Newell-Fonda, Taylor Hickey of Burlington Notre Dame and Rachel Smith of Exira/Elk Horn-Kimballton.

Menster collected 10 points, five assists and six steals Friday.

Springville won the 2008 title and finished second here in 2009. After five straight losing seasons, the Orioles resurfaced and came within a whisker of winning it all.

'It's been an incredible run,' said junior Megan Wagaman, who contributed nine points and 11 rebounds. 'First or second, it doesn't matter. To get to this game, it's incredible.

Said Rachel Gloeckner: 'We're a family, through and through. I'm not sad that we lost. I'm sad that it's over.'

Springville shot well enough (43.6 percent) to win, but committed 22 turnovers and was outrebounded, 36-22.

'Their defense got us out of our regular flow,' Matus said. 'It slowed us down a little more.'

The first half was cluttered with turnovers — 15 by Newell-Fonda, 14 by Springville — and the Mustangs led, 23-22, at intermission.

It got particularly messy for the Orioles in the final 6 minutes of the half, when a 10-4 Mustangs run erased an 18-13 lead.

Newell-Fonda got numerous second and third chances, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds before intermission. Springville was able to stay in the game by shooting 50 percent from the floor in the first half, compared to 28 percent by the Mustangs.

Gerke led Newell-Fonda with 17 points. Falline scored 10.

NEWELL-FONDA 45, SPRINGVILLE 43 (Class 1A State Championship)

At Des Moines

SPRINGVILLE (43): Megan Wagaman 4-6 1-1 9, Rylee Menster 4-7 2-3 10, Sarah Matus 3-7 0-0 9, Rachel Gloeckner 1-2 0-0 3, Mikayla Nachazel 3-9 0-0 6, Alyssa Jaeger 1-6 0-0 2, Chrissy Hoogland 1-1 1-4 3, Madi Wagaman 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 17-39 5-10 43.

NEWELL-FONDA (45): Erin Gerke 5-13 6-7 17, Brianna Wells 2-8 0-1 5, Abby Smith 0-2 3-4 3, Maddi Morenz 2-12 0-1 6, Hailey Falline 5-6 0-0 10, Jordan Wilken 1-1 0-0 2, Morgan Magnussen 0-2 0-0 0, Kate Christiansen 0-0 0-0 0, Mallory Sievers 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 16-46 9-13 45.

Halftime: Newell-Fonda 23, Springville 22. 3-point goals: Springville 4-6 (Matus 3-5, Gloeckner 1-1), Newell-Fonda 4-15 (Gerke 1-3, Wells 1-6, Morenz 2-5, Magnussen 0-1). Team fouls: Springville 14, Newell-Fonda 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds: Springville 22 (Meg.Wagaman 11), Newell-Fonda 36 (Falline 7). Assists: Springville 12 (Menster 5), Newell-Fonda 9 (Wells, Morenz 3). Steals: Springville 11 (Menster 6), Newell-Fonda 19 (Falline 4). Turnovers: Springville 22, Newell-Fonda 23.

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