Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: The Newell-Fonda girls basketball team poses with their Class 1A state runner-up trophy on Saturday night in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — The emotions poured out of Newell-Fonda’s seniors here Saturday night.

Mustang players Greta Larsen, Isabel Bartek, McKenna Sievers and Kierra Jungers all put on their high school uniforms for a final time, as Newell-Fonda fell top-ranked North Linn in the Class 1A championship game inside Wells Fargo Arena, 67-51.

A fast start gave the Lynx (26-1 overall) control of the contest, adding to their 2020 Class 2A championship while avenging a loss to Newell-Fonda (24-3) in the semifinals last year.

The Mustangs have now played in a record 12 championship games, earning eight runner-up trophies. They rank second all-time with 32 wins at the state tournament.

Sievers and Jungers were named to the all-tourney team, combining for 32 points in the finals. Kinzee Hinders, a junior, added 16 points.

North Linn, which shot 64 percent from the field for the game, was led by game MVP Kamryn Kurt’s 23 points. All-tournament team captain Macy Boge had 17 and Molly Boge eight.

“You’ve just got to tip your hat sometimes,” N-F head coach Dick Jungers said. “We couldn’t turn the faucet off. If the other team hits 64 percent, either you have to force a lot of turnovers or win the rebounding effort.”

After the break, the Mustangs made a mini-run, cutting the deficit down to 45-34 in the third period. North Linn, though, answered with a 7-0 run to take back momentum.

“Being on this fun ride and adventure with these kids has been the experience of a lifetime,” Jungers said. “It didn’t turn out like we wanted, but at the end of the day, there is no better place to end the season than right here in a championship game.”

This was the final game for Jungers to coach his daughter, Kierra, who will play softball at Des Moines Area Community College next year. It also marked the final game for his long-time assistant, Kevin Larsen — Greta’s father.

Newell-Fonda, which trailed for just brief moments in its first two games at state, led for only 2:26 of this one as the Lynx built a 20-point advantage by the fourth.

NORTH LINN 67, NEWELL-FONDA 51

Newell-Fonda — Greta Larsen 1-2 0-0 3, Isabel Bartek 0-4 0-0 0, McKenna Sievers 6-10 0-0 15, Kinzee Hinders 4-6 7-7 16, Kierra Jungers 7-13 2-3 17, Jaicee Vanderhoff 0-0 0-0 0, Camryn Puhrmann 0-1 0-0 0, Mareni Brabec 0-2 0-0 0, Anna Mercer 0-1 0-0 0, Rylee Hogrefe 0-0 0-0 0, Ava Vie 0-1 0-0 0, Jocee Walsh 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 18-41 9-10 51.

North Linn — Allie Haughenbury 1-2 2-2 4, Mackenzie Bridgewater 2-2 0-0 4, Macy Boge 7-11 1-2 17, Molly Boge 3-8 0-0 8, Kamryn Kurt 9-13 5-6 23, Meghan Wheatley 1-1 0-0 3, Skylar Benesh 2-2 0-0 4, Ava Hoover 0-0 0-0 0, Carly Ries 0-1 0-0 0, Aubrey Wade 0-0 0-0 0, Emilee Beuter 2-2 0-0 4, Samantha West 0-0 0-0 0, Bryn Collum 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-42 8-10 67.

Quarter scores: North Linn led 19-11, 40-23, 56-38. Three-point goals: Newell-Fonda 6-21 (Larsen 1-2, Bartek 0-2, Sievers 3-7, Hinders 1-1, Jungers 1-4, Puhrmann 0-1, Brabec 0-2, Vie 0-1, Walsh 0-1), North Linn 5-14 (Ma. Boge 2-4, Mo. Boge 2-5, Kurt 0-3, Wheatley 1-1, Ries 0-1). Total rebounds: Newell-Fonda 17, North Linn 20. Steals: Newell-Fonda 7, North Linn 10, Assists: Newell-Fonda 12, North Linn 15. Turnovers: Newell-Fonda 13, North Linn 9. Personal fouls: Newell-Fonda 12, North Linn 10.