MASON CITY — A quick start was all the fourth-ranked (Class 1A) Bishop Garrigan girls needed to secure another trip to the state tournament.

The Golden Bears rolled past No. 12 Saint Ansgar here Wednesday night in a regional final, 73-44.

Bishop Garrigan (23-3 overall) will open play in Des Moines from Wells Fargo Arena next Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. vs. sixth-ranked Montezuma (19-5). This is the sixth consecutive season the Golden Bears have advanced to state.

It was all Garrigan from the start, as the Golden Bears raced out to a 21-4 lead and held a 26-point cushion at the break in winning for the fourth time in four meetings with the Saints (18-6).

Bishop Garrigan has now knocked Saint Ansgar out of the postseason each of the past three seasons, winning by an average of 24 points per game.

The rest of the 1A field will see top-ranked Council Bluffs St. Albert take on Dunkerton, with the winner meeting either Garrigan or Montezuma in the semifinals.

On the bottom half, Newell-Fonda faces Springville and defending state champion North Linn squares off with Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

Pocahontas Area knocked out by Rock Valley

KINGSLEY — The quest for a state tournament appearance came to an end for the Pocahontas Area girls here Wednesday night in a Class 2A regional final.

The Indians fell to No. 6 Rock Valley, 65-51.

Pocahontas Area (18-6 overall) held a slim 11-10 lead after the first before the Rockets (20-3) went on a 20-5 run to gain control of the contest.

This marked the second straight season the Indians were ousted in the regional final after qualifying for state in 2023.

Wednesday marked the final game for Pocahontas Area seniors Amanda Davis, Madison Vial and Natalie Point.

Rock Valley will take on Hinton in the quarterfinals next Wednesday in Des Moines from Wells Fargo Arena.