Des Moines, Iowa — Newell-Fonda sticks to its formula and it keeps working because the Mustangs keep winning.
They press, they trap and they run and they did it to perfection in racing past Kingsgley-Pierson 88-47 in Class 1A quarterfinal play.
The two-time defending state champions hit the Panthers with first-half runs of 12-0, 10-0 and 22-0 in building a 60-24 halftime lead, giving coach Dick Jungers a chance to get all 15 players who suited up into the game, often substituting five at a time. Ten of those players scored.
The second-ranked Mustangs collected 20 steals in forcing 26 turnovers, shot 57.4 percent and cruised through a second half that was played with a continuous clock. They scored 37 points off turnovers in the first half and 43 for the game.
Ella Larsen led the way with 19 points on 7-for-8 shooting, which she complemented with eight rebounds and five steals. Macy Sievers had 15 points, six rebounds and six steals, while Bailey Sievers and Mary Walker each scored 13.
Delaney Iseminger led seventh-ranked Kingsley-Pierson with 17 points, including four 3-pointers. Brooklyn Beery added 11 points for the Panthers and McKenzie Goodwin had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Kingsley-Pierson came into the tournament with only one loss and was allowing just 44.3 points a game. But facing Newell-Fonda’s relentless pressure is something teams don’t see every day and it takes a toll.
What was so impressive — and so devastating for the Panthers — was how quickly the points mounted. Newell-Fonda’s 12-0 run took only a minute, 22 seconds. The Mustangs needed just 64 seconds for their 10-0 run and their 22-point burst took the score from 31- 17 to 53-17 in just 3:16.
Newell-Fonda improved to 24-1 and will play in the semifinals for the fourth straight year at 4 p.m. on Friday. Kingsley-Pierson finishes 23-2.
