The St. Edmond basketball teams finally return home later this week but first, the Gaels make one more road trip in 2024.

Before of a home doubleheader with Hampton-Dumont/CAL Friday, the Gaels first travel to Algona on Tuesday night.

Tip in both twinbills is set for 6:15 p.m. with the varsity girls contests. The boys games are scheduled to start at approximately 7:45 p.m.

The St. Edmond girls (1-2 overall, 0-0 in the North Central Conference) and head coach CJ Tracy are coming off a 53-18 victory over Southeast Valley last Tuesday, as Josie Harvey scored 12 with 10 rebounds. The Gaels raced out to a 24-2 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.

Harvey, a senior, leads the squad at just under nine points per game with eight rebounds and two assists. Chloe Palmer adds eight points a night, and Anna Lursen chips in 8.3 rebounds with 2.3 assists.

Eighth-ranked (Class 3A) Algona (2-2, 2-0) has won two straight over Clear Lake and Iowa Falls-Alden after starting the year with losses to No. 2 Estherville-LC and fourth-rated Forest City. Sophomore Hayden Kuhlmann leads the way with an 11.5-point average. Senior Lauren McLaughlin contributes nine, and 10th-grader Hayden McLaughlin eight.

Hampton-Dumont/CAL (5-0, 2-0) entered the latest 3A rankings at No. 15 following convincing wins over Webster City, AGWSR, Clear Lake, Nevada and Aplington-Parkersburg. Brooklyn Valley, Lily Hambly and Jordan Valley are all double-digit scorers, with Hambly also at 11 rebounds per contest.

The St. Edmond boys (3-0, 1-0) will look to keep the momentum going in the right direction after besting Bishop Garrigan, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows and Southeast Valley to begin the season. Junior Hunter Horn is averaging 23 points and 13 rebounds, with classmate Jakob Koopman adding 12 and nine.

For Algona (2-1, 0-0), Ben Helmers is one of the top scorers in the state at just under 28 per game on 57 percent shooting. Junior Evan Allie adds 16 points per game.

Hampton-Dumont/CAL (1-2, 0-1) owns a win over AGWSR around losses to Webster City and Nevada. The Bulldogs, who are coached by Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Brian Niesen, are led by Brady Harr’s 12 points and 10 rebounds per game.