Storm Lake Times Pilot

Newell-Fonda wins first district title in 8 years

Mustangs beat WC 71-51, play Remsen S.M. in substate finals on Saturday

Newell-Fonda’s Trey Jungers attempts a shot in front of Woodbury Central’s Dallas Kleunder and Kaleb Bleil during Tuesday’s district final game at Kingsley. TIMES photos by JAKE KURTZ

Newell-Fonda showed how quickly it can score points.

The ninth-ranked Mustangs did not score their first point of the game until just under 4 minutes left in the first quarter, but they scored 17 points the rest of the period to take control and go on to beat Woodbury Central 71-51 in a Class 1A district final game on Tuesday night at Kingsley.

It was Newell-Fonda’s first district title in eight years.

Newell-Fonda, now 22-2, will play No. 3 Remsen St. Mary’s (23-0) in a substate game on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Sioux Center. The winner advances to the state tournament March 7-12.

Newell-Fonda fell behind 6-0 early and didn’t score until Mason Dicks made a layup with 3:54 left. The Mustangs followed that with a 7-1 run to take a 9-7 lead.

Woodbury Central led for the final time in the game when Aidan O’Mara made a 3-pointer to give the Wildcats a 10-9 lead.

Trey Jungers answered with a 3-pointer to put the Mustangs ahead for good at 12-10. Jaron Vanderhoff made a 3-pointer and Caden Meyer a basket with 3 seconds left to give the Mustangs a 17-10 lead after the first quarter.

Newell-Fonda extended its lead to 22-12 on a 3-pointer by Beau Wilken to start the second quarter. The lead fluctuated between seven and nine points until Wilken made another 3-pointer to make it 31-21.

Ryan Greenfield would score four of the team’s next five points to close the first half as the Mustangs took a 36-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Newell-Fonda began the second half with a 7-2 spurt to increase its lead to 20 at 43-23. Vanderhoff made a 3-pointer to make it 46-25 before Woodbury Central scored eight straight points to pull within 46-33. A 3-pointer by Dicks pushed it back up to 49-33.

Moments later, a basket by Carter Sievers gave the Mustangs a 51-33 lead, but the Wildcats scored seven unanswered points to pull within 51-40 by the end of the third quarter.

The Mustangs extended their lead to 15 at 55-40 on a basket by Meyer and never let the lead get under 14 points the rest of the way. A Sievers 3-pointer, a Dicks layup and a Meyer layup made it 69-48 with under 2 minutes remaining.

Newell-Fonda’s Carter Sievers attempts a shot between Woodbury Central’s Dallas Kluender and Drew Kluender during Tuesday’s game.

Sievers scored 16 points to lead Newell-Fonda. Meyer added 14. Jungers, Dicks and Vanderhoff all scored nine points. Wilken had six, Greenfield four, and Caden Vanden Bosch and Guyson Lyman two apiece.

Meyer led in rebounding with 11. Jungers added eight, and Sievers and Greenfield three apiece. Jungers handed out 10 assists. Sievers, Greenfield and Meyer all had two. Jungers led in steals with three. Greenfield had two. Meyer and Jungers each blocked two shots.

Newell-Fonda made 26 of 59 field goals for 44 percent, including 7 of 19 from 3-point range. The Mustangs were 12 of 16 from the free-throw line.

Dallas Kluender scored 13 points to lead Woodbury Central (15-8). Drew Kluender added 12 and O’Mara 10.

Woodbury Central was 22 of 59 from the field for 37 percent, including 4 of 18 from   3-point range. The Wildcats were 3 of 13 from the free-throw line.

“The guys played great,” Newell-Fonda coach Chad Buchholz said. “Our defense was great all night. We held their big kid to two points in the first half and their good shooter to only two points in the second half. Our defense, the pace, and our ability to get to the free-throw line were key to winning the game.

“Offensively, we shared the ball very well again,” Buchholz added. “It was a well-balanced night scoring again, which makes it tough on our opponents. We enjoyed the win and it was the first time we have won a district championship since 2014. Now we got substate on Saturday. We need to get refocused and have three good practices before we take on Remsen St. Mary’s.”

Newell-Fonda’s Jaron Vanderhoff intercepts a pass intended for Woodbury Central’s Kaleb Bleil during their district tournament game on Tuesday in Kingsley.

Newell-Fonda’s Austin Walsh attempts a shot while being guarded by Woodbury Central’s Wyatt Ofert during Tuesday night’s district final game at Kingsley.

Newell-Fonda’s Ryan Greenfield attempts a shot while being guarded by Woodbury Central’s Carter Bleil during their district tournament game on Tuesday.