Submitted photo: Newell-Fonda girls basketball team members are, front row (left to right): assistant Chad Hinders, Emma Stauter, Emma Erickson, Laney Hogrefe, Mia Walker, Mary Walker and assistant Kevin Larsen. Middle: Camryn Puhrmann, Greta Larsen, McKenna Sievers, Mareni Brabec, Kiana Brown, Jaicee Vanderhoff, Isabel Bartek and Lindsay Wolf. Back: head coach Dick Jungers, Grace, Erickson, Kinzee Hinders, Kierra Jungers, Anna Mercer, Ava Vie, Jocee Walsh, Riley Hogrefe and assistant Courtney Darrow. Not pictured: Mylie Hinders.

DES MOINES — From the outside looking in, it may seem like the road to state is one paved with easy wins and little to no resistance for the Newell-Fonda girls.

Legendary head coach Dick Jungers would tell you otherwise.

Jungers and the second-ranked Mustangs begin their quest to championship No. 5 here on Wednesday when the Class 1A tournament begins inside Wells Fargo Arena.

Up first for Newell-Fonda (22-2 overall) will be No. 9 Woodbine (23-2) at 5 p.m. The winner takes on either third-rated North Linn (22-1) or No. 8 Winfield-Mount Union (22-1) on Friday in the semifinals.

“It is always so incredible and rewarding to qualify for state,” Jungers said. “The journey through the season is tough, and all it takes is one mistake to not reach the goal.

“So, to finish and qualify again, that is what it’s all about.”

The Mustangs have reached the state field 14 times — including each of the last six years — under Jungers, who is 465-73 in his career at the school. That includes four championships, including three straight from 2019-21, along with four more runner-up trophies.

Newell-Fonda is 99-5 over the last four seasons, reaching the final eight with a 76-39 victory over AGWSR last week in Fort Dodge. In that game, senior Mary Walker went over 1,000 points in her career. She has been a key piece to the attack for the Mustangs since her arrival along with classmates Mia Walker, Emma Erickson and Laney Hogrefe.

“The girls just work so hard and put in the time and effort to accomplish these great things,” Jungers said. “This is a very athletic group that likes to work hard. Our girls just do a great job of reading what is there and taking it.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of them.”

During the postseason, the Mustangs held each of their three opponents to just one made field goal in the first quarter. They outscored AGWSR, Baxter and Glidden-Ralston, 83-17.

Mary Walker, softball all-stater Kierra Jungers and McKenna Sievers all average double figures for Newell-Fonda, who ranks second in the state in points, assists and field goals made, and are sixth in steals.

The Twin Lakes Conference champions have a point difference of 36 per game, averaging 74 points a night while shooting 48 percent from the floor with 180 made 3-pointers. Both of the losses came to top-ranked (3A) and fellow state qualifier Estherville-LC, with only Spencer, who won 16 games and reached a 4A regional final staying within double figures during the year.

“One of our goals was to get back to state,” Jungers said. “The score makes it look like it was easy, but none of this was easy. The way these girls work, that is what makes the score look like that.

“It truly is a testament to our kids and how hard they work.”

Woodbine is led by sophomore Charlie Pryor, who averages 15 points per game, along with senior Addison Erickson and junior Amanda Newton. They have won three straight and 10 of the last 11, with the lone loss coming to Westwood, who they knocked off in the regional final.