Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: The Newell-Fonda girls celebrate their regional title on Wednesday night in the Dodger gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Fort Dodge continues to be a familiar — and comfortable — pit stop on the road to the state tournament for the Newell-Fonda girls.

The third-ranked (Class 1A) Mustangs eliminated Coon Rapids-Bayard on Wednesday night inside the FDSH gym for a second consecutive season, punching their 20th state appearance all-time with a 71-40 victory.

Newell-Fonda (20-4 overall) will now face No. 7 Springville (20-4) on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. in a quarterfinal contest at Wells Fargo Arena.

Kinzee Hinders scored 18 points, with N-F teammate Jocee Walsh adding 13 points, eight rebounds and eight steals. The Mustangs have advanced to Des Moines for an eighth consecutive season.

“It’s wonderful,” N-F head coach Dick Jungers said. “Each time (qualifying for state) is a new experience. I see a lot of former players up in the stands here and that’s is just amazing. They all know that the memories you made are what makes this so fun and exciting.

“These kids and this community are passionate about basketball and it’s just a wonderful feeling.”

Newell-Fonda has become one of the premier programs in the state under Jungers, who has directed them to 16 of those 20 state trips. The Mustangs have finished second each of the past two seasons and are seeking their fifth title all-time to go along with gold in 2015, ’19, ’20 and ’21.

As for getting to clinch the regional title on Dodger court, Jungers called it a “great place to play and a terrific atmosphere.”

“We love coming to Fort Dodge,” he said. “We’ve spent many summers here at the state softball tournament and played a few regional finals here now. We also had a regional final in volleyball here a year ago.”

For Coon Rapids-Bayard (18-5), they were led by Malia Clayburg, as the junior scored 16 points. The Crusaders knocked out St. Edmond last week in overtime in a regional semifinal.

Anna Hart added nine points with five steals, while Ashtyn Klocke had four points, eight rebounds and three steals. CR-B’s roster features no seniors, with five players — including three starters — all back from last year, when they were ousted by the Mustangs in an 80-33 rout.

“We knew it would be a physical game,” Jungers said. “They are a strong team that really gets after it. We just had to match that early on.”

Newell-Fonda, which raced out to a 25-5 lead after the first period here a season ago, built a 20-6 advantage this time on the heels of an 18-2 run. Hinders, fellow senior Jaicee Vanderhoff, Mareni Brabec and freshman Ellie Sievers all sank triples in the first quarter.

Walsh, a 6-foot junior, took over in the second quarter. She scored seven points as the Mustangs took a 30-19 lead into the break.

The Newell-Fonda post players dominated the night, with Hinders constantly dropping it off inside to Walsh and others.

“We really work on ball movement and making that extra pass,” Jungers said. “We were able to get some nice seals and that created great looks inside.”

The Crusaders were able to get within 12 late in the third period before Hinders scored four quick points to put the game back out of reach.

Hinders — who has signed with Briar Cliff University and former Iowa Central head women’s coach Brian Ortmeier — now has 1,277 points in her career, including 40 in two substate finals vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard.

With the win, Newell-Fonda secured its ninth straight season with at least 20 victories. The Mustangs are now 92-12 over the last four years. They have won at least 20 contests a dozen times over the past 13 seasons.

NEWELL-FONDA 71, COON RAPIDS-BAYARD 40

Newell-Fonda — Jaicee Vanderhoff 2-3 0-0 6, Mareni Brabec 3-6 0-2 7, Anna Mercer 3-5 0-2 6, Kinzee Hinders 8-11 0-1 18, Jocee Walsh 6-10 1-2 13, Ellie Sievers 5-10 0-0 12, Rylee Hogrefe 3-5 1-1 8, Ava Vie 0-4 0-0 0, Ella Roberts 0-0 0-0 0, Camryn Puhrmann 0-1 0-0 0, Danika Meyer 0-0 0-0 0, McKayla Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, Bailey Mandernach 0-1 0-0 0, Abby Leu 0-0 0-0 0, Vienna Wingert 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 30-56 3-9 71.

Coon Rapids-Bayard — Ashtyn Klocke 1-4 2-2 4, Anna Hart 4-18 0-2 9, Malia Clayburg 6-15 4-8 16, Ella Heithoff 2-3 0-0 4, Aubrey Hofbauer 0-4 0-0 0, Lauren Cook 2-3 0-0 4, Mya Downing 1-1 0-0 3, Amelia Eddy 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Wiskus 0-0 0-0 0, Maddy Mason 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 16-49 6-12 40.

Quarter scores: Newell-Fonda led 20-6, 30-19, 48-34. Three-point goals: Newell-Fonda 8-23 (Vanderhoff 2-3, Brabec 1-4, Hinders 2-3, Walsh 0-1, Sievers 2-5, Hogrefe 1-3, Vie 0-2, Puhrmann 0-1, Mandernach 0-1), Coon Rapids-Bayard 2-9 (Klocke 0-2, Hart 1-3, Clayburg 0-2, Hofbauer 0-1, Downing 1-1). Total rebounds: Newell-Fonda 31, Coon Rapids-Bayard 22. Steals: Newell-Fonda 18, Coon Rapids-Bayard 15. Blocked shots: Newell-Fonda 3, Coon Rapids-Bayard 2. Turnovers: Newell-Fonda 27, Coon Rapids-Bayard 29. Team fouls: Newell-Fonda 22, Coon Rapids-Bayard 15.