Iowa high school girls basketball state tournament: North Linn rolls over Newell-Fonda, taking Class 1A crown
DES MOINES, IOWA – North Linn raced out to a big lead and never looked back to win the Class 1A state championship Saturday night 67-51 over Newell-Fonda.
The Lynx sizzled from the field, hitting 64.3 percent (27 of 42) for the game and an incredible 90.9 percent in the second quarter, making 10 of 11 shots.
Kamryn Kurt led all scorers with 23 points, hitting 9 of 13 from the field, and Macy Boge also scored in double figures with 17 points. Both players were named to the all-tournament team with Boge named captain.
“It was unreal. You just have to tip your hat,” Newell-Fonda head coach Dick Jungers said of the incredible shooting from North Linn. “They moved the ball really well, and they knocked down some shots and seemed like every time they got a look it just kind of fell in. You know that happens in this crazy sport sometimes that happens.”
The Lynx did an outstanding job against Newell-Fonda’s tenacious full-court press, committing only nine turnovers.
Newell-Fonda had three players reach double digits – ked by Kierra Jungers with 17 points, Kinzee Hinders with 16 and McKenna Sievers with 15.
All eight players who played scored in the first half for North Linn when it had runs of 14-1 in the first quarter and 10-0 with eight coming in the second quarter. The Lynx held a 19-11 lead after the first quarter and 40-23 at halftime. Meanwhile, the Mustangs connected on just 7 of 23 (30.4 percent).
Newell-Fonda has a proud history, winning three consecutive state championships from 2019-21, wasn’t about to go down without a fight. The Mustangs closed to within 45-34 on a jumper in the lane from from Kierra Jungers midway through the third quarter.
Head coach Brian Wheatley immediately called timeout, and the Mustangs’ momentum ended when Macy Boge buried a 3-pointer. North Linn was able to push the lead back up to 56-38 after three quarters and coasted home to the title.
“We just could not just get that momentum going back our direction long enough to get back in that one so I just tip my hat to North Linn. They played a heck of a game today. You know what, we try to play again tomorrow and see if the outcome would be different. That's just kind of how we look at things.”
Newell-Fonda finished the season 23-3 with seven straight state tournament appearances in Junger’s 22nd season. Both regular-season losses to were to Class 3A runner-up Estherville-Lincoln Central
“I just couldn't be prouder of them, and you know it didn't turn out like we wanted today but at the end of the day there is no better place to end a season than right here in a championship game,” coach Junger said. “I wish we could have turned that water faucet off on all the shots that they were drilling on the other side of the court tonight, but at the end of the day our kids gave it their all, and sometimes you have to tip your hat, and that's what we're going to do today.”
The Lynx end the season 26-1 with their only loss coming to Class 3A semifinalist Mount Vernon. It marks North Linn’s first championship since 2020 when it beat Osage in the 2A final.
Wheatley, who was celebrating with his fans and unavailable after for comment, has coached the Lynx to six consecutive state tournament appearances and 14 straight 20-win seasons.
--Chris Short | @SBLiveIA
