Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Josie Harvey drives for St. Edmond against Clear Lake on Friday night in the Gael gym. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The St. Edmond girls didn’t pull out a win here on Friday, but head coach CJ Tracy was much more pleased with his team’s effort the second time around against Clear Lake.

The Gaels (5-14 overall) who lost by 40 points in the first meeting with the Lions on the road, showed solid improvement in a 49-43 setback versus Clear Lake (8-11) last night.

“That’s probably the most complete game we have played (this season),” Tracy said. “We played with the three E’s: energy, effort and execution.”

The North Central Conference foes fought to an 11-all tie at the end of the first quarter, and Clear Lake took a three-point edge (21-18) into the locker room on a last-second bucket. A two and three late by Chloe Palmer had St. Edmond within a point.

The Gaels regained the lead with 3:07 in the third quarter, anchored by a pair of three-pointers.

“We just needed to execute a few more plays,” Tracy said. “They are strong on the boards with their size, so that was tough to contend with.”

St. Edmond trailed only 42-39 in the final frame before the Lions went on a mini 7-2 spurt to all but seal the win.

Clear Lake was big in the paint, but the Gaels were able to limit them to 14 points on the low blocks.

Payton Bradley had a strong night from three-point range, hitting three triples and finishing with 16 points.

Palmer had 14 points and pulled down six rebounds. Josie Harvey reached double figures as well with 11 points.

Anna Lursen grabbed 12 rebounds for St. Edmond.

Harvey is 22nd on St. Edmond’s all-time scoring list with 432 points. She trails Jodi Bradley (1993-95) who had 436.

The Lions’ interior play of Madi Ott and Taylor Schwenn was too much to overcome. Ott finished with a double-double, scoring 15 points and pulling down 18 rebounds, while Schwenn contributed nine points and 14 rebounds.

“We knew they like to feed the post, so we were able to get a few more rebounds by crashing the boards,” Tracy said.

Aspen Hill had a big night from three-point range, hitting three triples and scoring 13 points.

The Lions won the first outing in Clear Lake, 65-25.

St. Edmond is back in action on Tuesday at Webster City. Tip is set for 6:15 p.m.

CLEAR LAKE 49, ST. EDMOND 43

Clear Lake — Alexis Theiss 0-5 0-0 0, Lydia Brattrud 1-3 0-0 3, Jacelyn Ainley 1-9 4-6 7, Madi Ott 7-12 3-10 17, Taylor Schwenn 2-16 4-6 9, Aspen Hill 4-8 2-2 13. Totals: 15-53 13-24 49.

St. Edmond — Anna Lursen 0-2 1-2 1, Payton Bradley 4-5 5-6 16, Chloe Palmer 4-5 5-6 14, Abby Huss 0-7 1-2 1, Josie Huss 5-14 1-3 11, Maggie Flaherty 0-0 0-0 0, Sophia Schlienz 0-0 0-0 0, Ava Bradley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-42 8-13 43.

Quarter scores: Tied 11-11, Clear Lake led 21-18, 37-33. Three-point goals: Clear Lake 6-22 (Hill 3-6, Schwenn 1-5, Ainley 1-6, Brattrud 1-2, Theiss 0-3); St. Edmond 5-16 (Bradley 3-4, Palmer 2-3, Harvey 0-4, Huss 0-5); Total rebounds: Clear Lake 40, St. Edmond 25; Total fouls: Clear Lake 12, St. Edmond 18; Turnovers: Clear Lake 9, St. Edmond 14.