2011 Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament

Class 1A First Round

Martensdale-St. Marys 47, Newell-Fonda 34

Top-ranked Martensdale-St. Marys survived a strong challenge from Newell-Fonda to win the opening game of the Class 1A state tournament.

Seniors Sam Norris and Mackenzie Morrison both recorded double-doubles to lead the Blue Devils to a 47-34 victory over unranked Newell-Fonda in a game that was tougher for the winners than that score indicates.

Norris, a 5-foot-5 guard, scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. She also handed out three assists and made two steals. The 6-foot-4 Morrison, who has signed with William & Mary, added 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks.

Teammate Brittney Kubik just missed double figures in rebounds, pulling down nine to go with three points.

Despite their 45-28 rebounding edge, the Blue Devils found themselves clinging to a 32-31 lead after Newell-Fonda's Alyssa Henrich sank two free throws early in the fourth quarter. But Norris fed Morgan Halverson for a layup in transition just 5 seconds later, starting a 15-1 run that secured the victory.

Martensdale-St. Marys, in the tournament for the third straight year, advances to a semifinal game at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday with a 24-2 record.

Newell-Fonda made it back to the tournament despite losing all five starters from a team that reached the semifinals last year. The Mustangs started a freshman, a sophomore and a junior, but gave Martensdale-St. Marys all it could handle for three-plus quarters.

The Mustangs led 19-15 late in the first half and tied the game at 23 midway through the third quarter. Norris broke the tie with a free throw, then slipped inside to get the rebound after missing the second shot and scored on a putback. The Blue Devils led the rest of the way.