DES MOINES, Iowa — Newell-Fonda’s game has remained amazingly consistent over the years: Create havoc on defense, take advantage on offense.
That approach has made the Mustangs one of the most successful state tournament teams in history and it worked once more against Saint Ansgar, carrying Newell-Fonda to a 77-58 victory and into the Class 1A semifinals.
The second-seeded Mustangs scored 36 points off Saint Ansgar’s 32 turnovers, made 21 steals and generally had their way in reaching the semis for the ninth straight year. They’ll play again at 3:15 p.m. Friday, when coach Dick Jungers’ crew will seek the school’s 14th appearance in a championship game.
Newell-Fonda (23-2) has won four state titles, including three straight from 2019-21. The Mustangs are 35-16 in state tournament play, tying Dowling Catholic for second all-time in victories. Ankeny is the leader with 44 state tourney wins. Dowling and Ankeny both will play in the 5A semifinals on Thursday.
In the tournament for the 21st time, Newell-Fonda hasn’t lost in the opening round since falling to eventual champion Martensdale-St. Marys 47-34 in 2011.
Ellie Sievers led this latest state tournament victory for Newell-Fonda with 18 points. Freshman Quinn Sievers delivered 17 points off the bench and Rylee Hogrefe added 12. Jocee Walsh chipped in with six points, eight rebounds and a team-leading five steals. Seven players recorded at least two steals for the Mustangs and eight players scored.
Jacey Johnston put together a big game for seventh-seeded Saint Ansgar (20-5), scoring 28 points, grabbing six rebounds and handing out two assists. She made eight of her 16 shots and was sharp at the line, knocking down 10 of 12 free throws.
Lindsay Kruse added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Saints, while Quinn Osgood scored 11. This was the Saints’ first trip to state in five years and eighth overall.
Saint Ansgar actually had Newell-Fonda on its heels for a bit, building a 15-9 lead a little more than 4 minutes into the game. But the Mustangs responded with 10 straight points and never trailed again.
Newell-Fonda led 38-30 at halftime before a 2-minute burst at the start of the third quarter illustrated the game in a nutshell. Sievers scored nine straight points on three layups and a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 47-30. Three of the baskets followed steals and the other came after the Saints lost the ball out of bounds.
Saint Ansgar never got closer than 12 points after that and the Mustangs led by as many as 20.
