-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Newell-Fonda react after losing to St. Albert 61-58 in the 1A Championship on Saturday inside Wells Fargo Arena

DES MOINES — There were plenty of tears flowing from the faces of the Newell-Fonda girls here Saturday night.

Following 40 minutes of intense, back-and-forth action for the Class 1A state championship with top-ranked Council Bluffs St. Albert, the Mustangs were left with nothing in the tank, as the Saintes won their first-ever title with a 61-58 double-overtime triumph.

The loss, though, did nothing to damper the thoughts legendary head coach Dick Jungers had for the effort put forth by his players inside Wells Fargo Arena.

“I’ve been so blessed over the years to play in a few of these games,” Jungers said. “It’s always a special experience and you always want to come out on top, but my goodness, you couldn’t ask for a better game for our kids to be part of.”

That it was.

Newell-Fonda, playing in its third consecutive finals and state-record 13th overall, constantly fought back despite not having its best shooting game. Still, they had a chance to win it in regulation and in the first extra session, and an opportunity for a game-tying shot in the second OT.

Kinzee Hinders, playing in her final game in a Mustang uniform, scored a game-high 22 points with nine rebounds and three assists. Jocee Walsh added nine points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals, while Ellie Sievers had eight points, three assists and two steals.

“I’m just very proud,” Hinders said. “It was an awesome season, and I wouldn’t want to end it in any other game. There were two teams left — I’m just sad we fell short.”

Council Bluffs St. Albert, who also scored a regular season win over the Mustangs, claimed the first girls basketball title ever for a Council Bluffs school. Avah Underwood, who set three rebounding records and was named all-tournament team captain, had 20 points with 24 rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks.

Jungers, who has led Newell-Fonda to all four state titles in school history and now seven of the nine runner-up finishes, was as calm as ever throughout. The television cameras caught him during an intense moment late asking the girls how “awesome is this that you get to play another four minutes in this awesome atmosphere.”

The Mustangs graduate three key seniors in Hinders, Jaicee Vanderhoff and Anna Mercer.

Hinders and Sievers — just a freshman — were named to the all-tournament squad along with Bishop Garrigan sophomore Graclyn Eastman, Underwood, Maura Ryan of St. Albert and Molly Boge from North Linn.

COUNCIL BLUFFS ST. ALBERT 61, NEWELL-FONDA 58 (2OT)

Newell-Fonda – Jaicee Vanderhoff 1-3 0-0 3, Mareni Brabec 2-9 2-2 6, Anna Mercer 1-2 2-8 4, Kinzee HInders 9-17 4-7 22, Jocee Walsh 3-7 3-6 9, Ellie Sievers 3-14 2-2 8, Rylee Hogrefe 1-4 0-0 3, Ava Vie 1-6 0-0 3. Totals: 21-62 13-25 58.

Council Bluffs St. Albert – Ellie Monahan 2-7 0-0 5, Maura Ryan 2-12 2-2 6, Molly Wise 4-12 0-0 12, Payton Johnsen 2-5 1-2 5, Avah Underwood 8-17 4-8 20, Eleanor Coughlin 3-7 0-0 7, Kirsten Piskorski 0-1 0-0 0, Alexa Lenz 0-1 1-2 1, Lexie Pearce 0-2 0-0 0, Eva Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Lexie Darrington 2-4 1-1 5. Totals: 23-68 9-15 61.

Quarter scores: Council Bluffs St. Albert led 17-15, 29-28; Tied 41-41, Tied 51-51. Three-point goals: Newell-Fonda 3-27 (Vanderhoff 1-3, Brabec 0-6, Mercer 0-1, Hinders 0-3, Walsh 0-1, Sievers 0-3, Hogrefe 1-4, Vie 1-6), Council Bluffs St. Albert 6-20 (Monahan 1-6, Ryan 0-1, Wise 4-9, Johnsen 0-1, Coughlin 1-1, Piskorski 0-1, Pearce 0-1). Total rebounds: Newell-Fonda 40, Council Bluffs St. Albert 53. Assists: Newell-Fonda 8, Council Bluffs St. Albert 14. Blocked shots: Newell-Fonda 4, Council Bluffs St. Albert 5. Steals: Newell-Fonda 12, Council Bluffs St. Albert 9. Turnovers: Newell-Fonda 16, Council Bluffs St. Albert 21. Team fouls: Newell-Fonda 18, Council Bluffs St. Albert 24. Fouled out: Hinders, Darrington.