The final championship pairing has been set for the 2024 state tournament and it should be a dandy.

Second-seeded Newell-Fonda punched its ticket to the Class 1A title game with a 60-35 victory over previously unbeaten Remsen St. Mary’s and will face top-seeded North Linn at 7 o’clock Saturday night. North Linn advanced with a 60-37 victory over Council Bluffs St. Albert.

It’ll be a matchup of two teams that mirror each other in style. Both like to run, both harass opponents with trapping, pressing defenses and both have the potential to string together big runs.

Newell-Fonda jumped to a 6-0 lead against third-seeded St. Mary’s and stayed in front the rest of the way in reaching the championship game for a record 12th time. The Mustangs improved to 23-2 and will be going for their fifth title.

Kierra Jungers led the charge with 14 points and 11 rebounds. She scored on a variety of moves around the basket in going 7-for-11 from the field and tacked on an assist and a steal.

Kinzee Hinders added 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting, McKenna Sievers put up 12 points and seven assists and Isabel Bartek had seven points and five assists. The Mustangs’ starters made 12 of their 16 shots in the first half and finished 19-for-32. Sophomore Ava Vie came off the bench to hit two 3-pointers and score eight points.

Newell-Fonda shot 47 percent as a team, had assists on 15 of its 24 baskets and made 13 steals in forcing 20 turnovers. The Mustangs made 24 steals in their quarterfinal victory over Calamus-Wheatland.

Carmindee Ricke led Remsen St. Mary’s with 12 points. Whitney Jensen added seven points, seven rebounds, three assists, four blocks and three steals. Mya Bunkers also scored seven.

Ricke, Jensen and Bunkers all scored 1,000 points in their careers and helped the Hawks to a four-year record of 83-16, including a 24-1 mark this season.

Newell-Fonda was on the mark early, making 9-of-14 first-quarter shots in building a 21-6 lead. A 6-0 run midway through the second quarter made it 30-10 and the Mustangs led 37-16 at halftime.

After making just two shots in the third quarter, Newell-Fonda stared with final period with eight straight points to go up 53-24, which would be the Mustangs’ biggest lead.

Newell-Fonda is now 32-14 in state tournament play. Only Ankeny, with 43 victories at state, has more.