Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: St. Edmond honored the 2000 state championship team on Friday night in the Gael gym. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the title run. For more photos, visit CU.messengernews.net

The St. Edmond boys didn’t back down from top-ranked (Class 3A) and unbeaten Clear Lake here on Friday night.

The Gaels (17-3 overall) hung with the powerful Lions (18-0), but in the end, the visitors held enough breathing room to post a 69-54 victory.

“We didn’t quit,” said SEHS head coach Adolph Kochendorfer. “But we got into a little rut here and there, and they got out to a good start. That was tough to overcome.”

On a night that St. Edmond honored the 2000 Class 2A state championship squad — the only boys hoop champion in school history — the Gaels wouldn’t go away.

Clear Lake built a 42-25 halftime lead, but the Gaels trimmed the deficit late in the third quarter.

The Lions scored 32 points in the paint and hit seven threes on the night to keep St. Edmond at bay, though.

“We couldn’t get to their shooters,” Kochendorfer said. “And they were tough to guard inside with their size.”

With the score 53-30 in the third, St. Edmond went on an 8-0 run to get back within 15, led by six Hunter Horn points.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions led 67-43 before St. Edmond went on a 11-0 run to trim the margin to 67-54.

“Playing a team like this will only help us down the stretch,” Kochendorfer said. “They are solid all around and have good play inside and outside.”

Horn had another double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Jakob Koopman added 10 points and Grant Galles contributed nine for St. Edmond.

Horn now has 939 career points and is ranked 12th on St. Edmond’s all-time scoring list. He currently trails Dave Lang (1981-83) who had 946 points.

The Lions had three players in double figures, led by Thomas Meyer and Titan Schmitt with 19 points each. Jaxson McIntire contributed 12 and Samuel Howland added eight for Clear Lake.

The Gaels finish the regular season on Tuesday when they host Webster City at 7:45 p.m.

CLEAR LAKE 69, ST. EDMOND 54

Clear Lake — Thomas Meyer 6-10 5-5 18, Titan Schmitt 5-12 3-4 19, Jaxson McIntire 5-8 0-0 12, Max Larson 1-5 0-0 2, Carson Riser 2-5 0-0 4, Trevor Theobald 2-4 0-0 4, Samuel Howland 4-5 0-0 8, Gage Larson 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Ainley 0-1 0-0 0, Luke Fuhrman 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Kerr 0-1 0-0 0, Cade Dillavou 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 26-54 8-9 69.

St. Edmond — Andrew Clavey 1-4 0-0 2, Jakob Koopman 4-6 0-0 10, Jack McElroy 1-5 0-0 2, Grant Galles 3-8 3-5 9, Hunter Horn 9-12 5-8 26, Carson Bargfrede 2-6 0-0 5, Ty Mericle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-41 8-13 54.

Quarter scores: Clear Lake led 23-13, 42-25, 57-40. Three-point goals: Clear Lake 7-19 (Schmitt 4-9, McIntire 2-3, Meyer 1-1, Larson 0-1, Riser 0-3, Theobald 0-1, Ainley 0-1); St. Edmond 6-9 (Horn 3-3, Koopman 2-2, Bargfrede 1-3, Galles 0-1); Turnovers: Clear Lake 6, St. Edmond 12; Total fouls: Clear Lake 10, St. Edmond 11. Technical fouls: St. Edmond bench.