Iowa high school girls basketball state tournament: North Linn, Newell-Fonda punch final tickets in 1A

DES MOINES – Top-rated North Linn doesn’t have a starter taller than 5-foot-8. 

But the Lynx have a nasty, in-your-face, full-court defense. And if you leave them open anywhere behind the 3-point line, they will make you pay.

Fourth-ranked Council Bluffs St. Albert was the latest foe to find that out Friday, as North Linn forced 23 turnovers and made 11 3-pointers in a 60-37 Class 1A girls semifinal rout in the state basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Arena.

“That’s kind of the way we have to play,’’ North Linn head coach Brian Wheatley said. “We’re small and quick, right? That also plays into the strengths of our kids. We have some skilled basketball players, and to play fast you have to have skill. You’ve got to be able to dribble and pass and do all that stuff on the run. I thought today’s game was going to be all about pace. Who could control the pace?’’

The answer was North Linn. The top-seeded Lynx sped up St. Albert (23-2) and advanced to their third championship game in school history. They’ll meet second-rated, second-seeded Newell-Fonda (24-2) in the title game Saturday night at 7.

Wheatley has a senior daughter, Meghan, on the team. She was the 1A state runner-up in cross country last fall and will run track and cross country at Northern Iowa. Needless to say, Coach Wheatley and these girls go way back.

“They’ve been an absolute joy to coach, and having my daughter on the team, I think I watched their first game in first grade,’’ he said. “It’s been a great ride and I’m glad they get to end it on the biggest stage.’’

Making its seventh state appearance and third trip to the semifinals, Hawkeye Ten Conference champion St. Albert had an upset on its mind. But the Saintes couldn’t handle the ball well enough, committing 10 turnovers in the first half. Molly Wise’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 27-21 with 2:40 left before the intermission, but the Lynx outscored St. Albert 9-2 the rest of the way to lead 36-23 at the break.

“It’s not something you see every day,’’ St. Albert coach Dick Wettengel said of North Linn’s full-court defense. “In a day-and-a-half span, that’s kind of tough to get ready for. We’ve seen some of that at some of the games we’ve played this year, but it’s not equivalent to what you see here. They are really outstanding at it.’’

The Saintes never drew closer than 10 in the second half, and it was 22 entering the fourth quarter. Avah Underwood, a 6-foot sophomore, was the lone bright spot for St. Albert. She had 23 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.

“I was really, really impressed with the Underwood kid,’’ North Linn’s Wheatley said. “She’s a fantastic athlete and she played a great game.’’

Molly Boge made 4 of 8 3-pointers and led the Lynx with 16 points and four steals. Macy Boge added 12 points and Sklyar Benesh, a Northern Iowa softball recruit, added nine points off the bench. Benesh sank 3 of 6 from beyond the arc after making 5 of 24 on the season entering the game.

Benesh missed part of the season with a wrist injury on her shooting hand.

“I said, ‘I totally understand if you want to shut it down,’’’ Brian Wheatley said. “She said, ‘Coach, I’m a senior. I’m playing.’ That’s the kind of kids we have on our team.’’

The Lynx coach is excited to meet Newell-Fonda in the finals. It’s a game many have been anticipating.

“It’s going to take a great game,’’ he said. “We’re going to come, try to give our best, and whatever happens, I’m going to be so proud of these kids either way.’’

Newell-Fonda back in familiar place

There are more than 100 Class 1A girls basketball teams in the state of Iowa, and it’s been that way since the state expanded to five classes in the 2012-13 season.

In those 12 seasons, Newell-Fonda has now advanced to the state championship game in nine of those seasons.

The second-ranked, second-seeded Mustangs extended their remarkable run on Friday, overwhelming third-rated, third-seeded Remsen St. Mary’s 60-35 in a 1A semifinal at Wells Fargo Arena.

Newell-Fonda gained another admirer in Remsen St. Mary’s coach Scott Willman.

“Tonight wasn’t probably our very best game, but kudos to Newell-Fonda,’’ he said. “They get in your presence and make you work for everything that you get. There’s a reason why Newell-Fonda’s been that good.’’

The ability to play at breakneck speed while under control has been a constant in all nine of these championship-game appearances. It’s the case again this season, as Newell-Fonda improved to 24-2 by forcing 20 turnovers and hitting 24 of 51 (47.1%) from the field.

“Defensively, we just really made it tough on them,’’ Newell-Fonda coach Dick Jungers said. “They had a hard time getting good looks.’’

The Mustangs (24-2) advance to Saturday’s 7 p.m. championship game against top-rated, top-seeded North Linn (25-1).

“Brian Wheatley does a great job over there,’’ Jungers said. “It’s going to be two really good teams going toe to toe.’’

Newell-Fonda raced to a 37-16 halftime lead over Remsen St. Mary’s. McKenna Sievers led 10 points and five assists before the intermission to lead the way. Ava Vie added eight points on a pair of 3-pointers.

“They’re very unselfish,’’ Jungers said of his team. “They pass up a lot of good shots to get great shots.’’

Kierra Jungers, the coach’s daughter, led the winners with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Kinzee Hinders added 13 points and five rebounds, while Sievers had 12 points and seven assists.

Carmindee Ricke led Remsen St. Mary’s with 12 points.

“I really can’t say enough about our girls,’’ Willman said. “They put together, I think, a legacy season, and they’ll be remembered well in northwest Iowa.’’

Last season, Newell-Fonda beat North Linn 66-48 in the semifinal round.

“They’ll be good at taking away some of our strengths. Hopefully we can take away some of theirs,’’ Dick Jungers said. “I can see that thing being a shootout and I can see that thing really grind down into a lower scoring game, too.’’

Said Hinders: “We’re just going to play how we play. Go hard for 32 minutes. Pressure with a good press and do what we can do.’’

--Kevin White I @SBLiveIA