—Photo by Jodie Casey HUNTER HORN OF ST. EDMOND drives to the basket against Mason City Newman in a Class 1A district final on Tuesday night in Webster City.

HUMBOLDT — The fourth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond boys can see the light at the end of the tunnel known as Wells Fargo Arena and the state tournament.

But to get there for the first time since 2012, the Gaels will have to go through long-time rival Bishop Garrigan.

The two former North Central Conference foes square off here Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the 1A, Substate 2 championship. The winner punches their ticket to state, which starts March 10 in Des Moines.

Hunter Horn scored 28 points with 15 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a 63-54 victory over Mason City Newman earlier this week in a district final. Carson Bargfrede added 13, Jakob Koopman had eight points and seven rebounds, and Jack McElroy dished out 10 assists.

After falling behind early, St. Edmond used a 24-point third quarter to take the lead on the Knights.

Horn leads the team at 24.4 points and 9.5 rebounds a game followed by Koopman (11.3 points, 8.4 rebounds) and Bargfrede (9.2 points). McElroy averages almost six assists a night.

The last time the Gaels advanced to the elite eight, they finished as the 2A runner-up that season, the fourth second place finish under head coach Adolph Kochendorfer. St. Edmond, who won its lone state title in 2000, has qualified 13 times for state, with nine of those coming with Kochendorfer at the controls.

Kochendorfer is now tied with Fran Schnoes for 20th on the all-time wins list at 592, as 489 of those have come with the Gaels. He is sixth among active coaches for victories.

Bishop Garrigan (21-3) has reached the state tournament four times, placing second in 2020 in its last appearance. The Golden Bears also reached state in 1993, 2010 and ’19.

Many of the key players in the rotation for Garrigan have helped the football team win an eight-player state title two years ago while returning to the semifinals this past fall.

The Golden Bears advanced with a 63-51 victory in a district final over Lake Mills. Michael Joyce scored 17 points, Amaury Thomas added 16 and Tate Foertsch finished with 15.

Joyce, Thomas and Foertsch combined to go 16-for-27 from the field with six made 3-pointers. Carter Schwab finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Schwab, a junior, leads the team in scoring at 14.3 per game, adding five rebounds and almost five assists. Joyce, a sophomore, also averages 14,3 with Thomas contributing 13.5 and just 10 rebounds a game.

Ironically enough, St. Edmond and Bishop Garrigan opened the season against one another, with the Gaels securing a 56-51 victory. Now, one of them will see the season come to a close against the other.

Since 2006, St. Edmond holds a 15-8 advantage over the Golden Bears, with Garrigan winning seven of the last nine meetings.

The other 1A substate finals will pit Boyden-Hull vs. No. 3 MMCRU, top-ranked Bellevue Marquette vs. Don Bosco, No. 8 North Linn vs. 10th-ranked Burlington Notre Dame, North Mahaska vs. No. 6 Gladbrook-Reinbeck, Ankeny Christian vs. second-rated Madrid, Coon Rapids-Bayard vs. No. 9 Woodbine and fifth-ranked ACGC vs. Remsen St. Mary’s.