The St. Edmond boys get their season going here Monday night, hosting long-time rival Bishop Garrigan.

Tip is set for 6:30 p.m. inside the Gael gym.

Coming off a 12-12 season, St. Edmond (0-0 overall) returns four starters, led by junior Hunter Horn. An all-North Central Conference selection, Horn shot 50 percent from the field while averaging a team-leading 20 points and 10 rebounds a night.

Classmates Jakob Koopman, Jack McElroy and Grant Galles all were in the starting lineup a year ago alongside Horn. Carson Bargfrede now joins the group as a transfer from Webster City.

McElroy averaged seven points and four rebounds a night, Koopman chipped in five points and 6.5 boards, and Galles averaged five points and 2.5 rebounds at the varsity level a year ago.

The wins were the most since the 2018-19 season for the Gaels, who will play at home just one other time before the Christmas break when they host Hampton-Dumont on Dec. 20. A scheduled home game vs. South Hamilton was shifted to January 2 and will be played in Des Moines from Wells Fargo Arena.

Bishop Garrigan (0-0) is coming off another deep playoff run in football, as it advanced to the eight-player semifinals. The Golden Bears won the football title last year, then scored a 61-53 victory over St. Edmond to open the campaign, improving to 7-1 over the last eight meetings in the rivalry.

The Golden Bears finished the 2023-24 season 15-10, their second straight winning season and seventh in the last eight years. Leading scorers Michael Joyce and Carter Schwab return, along with regulars Tate Foertsch, Daniel Meis, Drew Muller, Trayton Cink, Amaury Thomas and Nick Leerar.