Class 1A Championship Game
Algona Bishop Garrigan 68, Newell-Fonda 57
Audi Crooks put the finishing touches on a spectacular high school career with a two records and another championship.
Crooks scored a state tournament record 49 points and led Algona Bishop Garrigan to its second straight Class 1A title with a 68-57 victory over Newell-Fonda, which had denied the Golden Bears championships by beating them in the 2020 and 2021 state finals.
Crooks, a 6-foot-3 senior who’ll play at Iowa State next season, made 21 of 27 shots – most after the ball was lobbed to her in the low post – grabbed 16 rebounds, blocked three shots and altered several others. The old record was 48 points by Elle Ruffridge of Pocahontas against Center Point-Urbana in 2017.
The Bishop Garrigan star also shattered the full tournament record, racking up 117 points in her three games. The old mark was 95 by Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s Karen Schulte in 1993.
Crooks finished her career with 2,734 points and 1,339 rebounds, both figures ranking third on the state’s all-time list. To no one’s surprise, she was voted captain of the all-tournament team. She made all-tournament team in each of the four years she played at state.
Molly Joyce added 11 points and 10 assists for the Golden Bears, who won their final 26 games to finish 26-1. Abbie Capesius did not score but pulled down 12 rebounds and handed out eight assists and Emmi Bartolo scored five points in 20 minutes off the bench.
Mia Walker’s 15 points led Newell-Fonda, which played in the championship game for the 11th time and has won four titles. Mary Walker added 11 points and Kierra Jungers had seven points and six rebounds. The Mustangs finish another successful season with a 24-3 record.
Newell-Fonda went into the game hoping its frenetic pressing defense could force enough turnovers to keep Bishop Garrigan from getting the ball down the floor and into Crooks’ hands. The Mustangs succeeded for a while and led 13-8 after the first quarter.
But once the Bishop Garrigan ball handlers broke the press, all they had to do was lob the ball into Crooks and there was little the Mustangs could do to stop it. Still, they managed to keep hanging around and eventually forced 21 turnovers.
Newell-Fonda trailed just 62-54 with 4 minutes left, plenty of time cut further into the lead. But Crooks quickly ended those hopes. She made a free throw, scored inside and converted a three-point play for her final points, stretching the lead to 68-54 and finishing off the Mustangs.
Joyce, Mary Walker and Jungers also made the all-tournament team, as did Kamryn Kurt of North Linn and Whitney Jensen of Remsen St. Mary’s.