Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond's Jakob Koopman grabs a rebound against Bishop Garrigan on Monday night in the Gael gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The St. Edmond boys proved here Monday night that not all free throws are created equal.

After starting the game 5 of 13 from the charity stripe, the Gaels drilled all 10 of their attempts in the final 82 seconds to help them secure a season opening 56-51 victory over Bishop Garrigan.

Junior Hunter Horn knocked down all eight of his tries, while classmate Jack McElroy made both of his as well to seal the deal.

Horn finished with a game-high 21 points, including 12 in the final eight minutes. Classmate Jakob Koopman flirted with a triple-double by recording 13 points, 14 rebounds, seven steals and three blocks.

“We made some big plays there in the fourth,” SEHS head coach Adolph Kochendorfer said. “I thought we looked a lot better defensively during that stretch and rebounded much better. (Garrigan) is a big, physical group, but Hunter and Jakob battled in there for every loose ball.

“As for the free throws, I knew we were missing a bunch early on, but those kids stepped up and delivered when it mattered most. That’s what you want to see out of your leaders.”

For the Golden Bears, Michael Joyce scored 20 points while Carter Schwab added 19 points and 10 rebounds. The two combined with Amaury Thomas to score all 19 points in the fourth, as Bishop Garrigan trimmed the deficit down to three.

A key moment for St. Edmond outside of the free throw performance late came with 4:30 to play. Horn scored and was fouled, missing the shot from the line. Junior Carson Bargfrede, though, was right there with a rebound and putback to give the Gaels a 43-37 edge.

“For the first time out, I saw a lot of good things,” Kochendorfer said. “It’s hard to simulate that in-game atmosphere in practice or at a scrimmage. We had to adjust to what they were doing and as things progressed, I thought we did a nice job of that.

“We played a much better second half compared to the first in terms of defense and rebounding.”

Despite being undersized, St. Edmond was plus-1 on the glass. Horn had nine boards to go along with two blocks. Bargfrede, a Webster City transfer, added three rebounds in his first game as a Gael.

McElroy finished with nine points. Senior Andrew Clavey and sophomore Ty Mericle both sank three-pointer.

“Jakob played an incredible game,” Kochendorfer said. “Hunter came on there in the fourth and took over, and I thought Jack did a nice job — especially guarding Joyce. When we had Grant (Galles) on Joyce, he played good defense against him too.”

The Gaels begin North Central Conference play on Friday when at Clarion-Goldfield/Dows. Bishop Garrigan heads to Belmond-Klemme Tuesday night.

ST. EDMOND 56, BISHOP GARRIGAN 51

St. Edmond — Andrew Clavey 1 0-0 3, Jakob Koopman 5 2-2 13, Jack McElroy 3 3-6 9, Grant Galles 1 1-2 3, Hunter Horn 6 9-13 21, Carson Bargfrede 2 0-0 4, Ty Mericle 1 0-0 3. Totals: 19 15-23 56.

Bishop Garrigan — Michael Joyce 7 3-3 20, Carter Schwab 8 2-6 19, Trayton Cink 0 0-0 0, Amaury Thomas 2 4-4 8, Nick Leerar 2 0-1 4, Drew Muller 0 0-2 0, Tate Foertsch 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 9-16 51.

Quarter scores: St. Edmond led 16-8, 26-22, 37-32. Three-point goals: St. Edmond 3 (Clavey 1, Koopman 1, Mericle 1), Bishop Garrigan 4 (Joyce 3, Schwab 1). Total rebounds: St. Edmond 36, Bishop Garrigan 35. Steals: St. Edmond 10, Bishop Garrigan 3. Blocked shots: St. Edmond 5, Bishop Garrigan 3. Turnovers: St. Edmond 10, Bishop Garrigan 15. Team fouls: St. Edmond 18, Bishop Garrigan 19. Fouled out: Leerar.