Newell-Fonda is getting another chance to win a state championship.
The
second-ranked Mustangs got off to a fast start with accurate 3-point shooting
and rolled past Marquette Catholic of Bellevue 69-52 to reach the Class 1A
championship game.
Renee Maneman shot 5-for-9 from 3-point range
and finished with 21 points to lead Newell-Fonda. She also handed out six
assists and made four steals. Andrea Christensen added 16 points for the
Mustangs and Claudia Larsen scored eight.
Kelsey Tebbe led Marquette with 17 points,
while Danielle Bender had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Newell-Fonda started the game by making
four 3-pointers -- three by Maneman -- and led the
rest of the way. When Marquette got to within five points midway through the
second quarter, the Mustangs answered with six straight points and the lead was
never below double figures after that. Maneman
continued to hit from the outside, while Christensen and Larsen scored near the
basket.
Newell-Fonda will play in the title game for the fourth time and is
seeking its first championship. The Mustangs lost in the state finals in 1997,
2000 and 2008.
They'll play for the championship at 4 p.m. Friday against either
top-ranked Central Lyon or No. 5 Burlington Notre Dame. They meet in the other
semifinal game at 10 a.m. Thursday.
Marquette, ranked 13th, made the tournament for the second time in three
years. The Mohawks finished 17-7.