DES MOINES, Iowa — Newell-Fonda is a state champion again — after almost giving it away.
The Mustangs built a 22-point lead, then held off a late charge by Algona Bishop Garrigan to win the Class 1A championship with a 64-56 victory that closed out the 2026 Iowa Girls state tournament.
It’s the fourth state title for Newell-Fonda in the last eight years and fifth overall, tying coach Dick Jungers’ program for fifth on the state’s all-time list of champions. Only Ankeny (9) and Cedar Rapids Xavier (6) have more.
The Mustangs capped a 25-2 season with their fourth consecutive appearance in the state finals and are now 37-16 in state tourney games. Ankeny, with 44, is the only school with more.
Ellie and Quinn Siever led this latest title-winning effort, scoring 16 points each. Ellie, a senior who was voted captain of the all-tournament team, tacked on three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Quinn, a 5-foot-4 freshman, had five rebounds, an assist and two steals.
Rylee Hogrefe added 15 points for the Mustangs and Jocee Walsh scored 11.
Bishop Garrigan (24-3), the state champion in 2022 and 2023, got 16 points each from Sacha Alesch and Graclyn Eastman and 12 apiece from Emmi Bartolo and Madelyn Tigges,
Eastman also grabbed 16 rebounds to finish the tournament with 44 and was an intimidating presence on defense, forcing the Mustangs into some tough shots around the basket. Tigges had 12 boards to help the Golden Bears to a 43-21 rebounding advantage. Eighteen of those rebounds came on the offensive end, helping Garrigan stay in it despite 38 percent shooting and 18 turnovers.
The game was vintage Newell-Fonda for long stretches, the Mustangs stealing the ball, creating turnovers and generally causing havoc with their traps and quick hands. They shot 61.5 percent in taking a 22-12 lead after one quarter, led 39-19 at halftime and were up 43-21 early in the third quarter.
A 14-4 run helped Garrigan slice into the lead and the Golden Bears continued to chip away from there, drawing to 60-56 when Tigges stole the ball and drove for a basket with 49 seconds left. But the threat ended there.
Newell-Fonda forced Bartolo into taking a long 3-point shot that sailed wide of the mark on the Golden Bears’ next possession and the Mustangs finished it off with free throws, making four of six in the final 44 seconds.
This was the fourth time the two rivals met in the championship game. Newell-Fonda beat Garrigan for its 2020 and 2021 titles. Garrigan won the matchup in the 2023 finals.
Quinn Sievers, Eastman and Bartolo also were all-tournament selections. They were joined by Avah Underwood of Council Bluffs St. Albert and Jacey Johnston of Saint Ansgar.
