Submitted photo: Members of the state-bound Bishop Garrigan girls basketball team are, front row (left to right): Addison Faris, Shilo Trainer, Lilly Erpelding-Wickman, Ava Roethler, Alyssa Haugland, Graclyn Eastman, Zoe Montag, Molly Peterson, Sacha Alesch, Emmi Bartolo and Carley Nielsen. Back: Joe Bartolo, Mick Elbert, Brandon Schwab, Madelyn Tigges, Bree Ludwig, Brooklyn Berte and Jenna Peterson.

DES MOINES — The 2024-25 version of the Bishop Garrigan girls basketball squad is more motivated than ever to get back to what has made them so successful at state over the course of the last decade.

Head coach Brandon Schwab has helped turn the Golden Bears into a Class 1A powerhouse, as they return for the sixth straight season and seventh of the last eight.

Last season, Bishop Garrigan lost at state in the first round. The previous two years, they were Class 1A champions behind now-Iowa State star Audi Crooks during a stretch of four consecutive appearances in the state finals.

“We are a very motivated group that plays for each other,” Schwab said. “They are as close as we’ve had here.

“They are a tight-knit bunch that plays for our program and plays for our school.”

The Golden Bears remain consistent, yet haven’t been satisfied. Schwab has a program that continues to grow and reinvest in itself.

“That has a lot to do with my assistants, Joe Bartolo and John Bartolo, at the junior high level,” Schwab said. “These girls start in third grade with parent-led (travel) teams at weekend tournaments. They are practicing five or six days a week.

“That helps us remain a strong program. We’ve been blessed to have good kids who love basketball.”

The Golden Bears tip off at state in a quarterfinal Wednesday inside Wells Fargo Arena against sixth-ranked Montezuma (19-5). Tip is set for 3:15 p.m. between fourth-seeded Bishop Garrigan and the fifth-seeded Braves.

This year’s roster has a lone senior, Zoe Montag, balanced with five juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen.

“The commitment to our program has been year-round,” Schwab said. “Ten of our 14 players play AAU, and that hard work puts us in a good spot. They are in the gym daily.

“The success we have is because our players have bought in.”

Montag has been to state four years now, and was a part of the two championship squads. The juniors have three trips under their belt and one title, while the sophomores got a taste last year as well.

The fourth-ranked Golden Bears (22-3) have just three losses to ranked teams: two to conference foe and fourth-rated (Class 3A) Forest City, and one to perennial powerhouse Newell-Fonda, which is No. 3.

“We make sure we’re challenging ourselves (with the schedule),” Schwab said. “That makes us better — win or lose. When we played Forest City, both games exposed things we needed to work on. You have no way to fix things if you just win all the time.

“We love the challenge.”

The Golden Bears enter this tourney with a well-balanced squad, as five players average over six points per contest.

Sophomore Graclyn Eastman is averaging a double-double at 16.8 points and 10 rebounds a night. She has scored 420 points and pulled down 251 rebounds.

In two seasons with the Golden Bears, Eastman has 851 points and 506 rebounds. She was a third team all-stater a year ago.

“Graclyn has really developed her game,” Schwab said. “She is so much better now, being a year older with more experience. She is a tough inside player.

“She can play with her back to the basket, but also, take you off the dribble.”

Junior Sacha Alesch is scoring at a 13.1-point clip. She has 768 career points.

Garrigan is also led by junior Emmi Bartolo (10.3), freshman Madelyn Tigges (7.5), and Montag (6.0). The Golden Bears have made 180 three pointers on the season, led by Alesch (61), Bartolo (51), Montag (28) and junior Alyssa Haugland (26).

Along with Eastman, Tigges (101) and junior Carley Nielson (99) are Garrigan’s rebounding leaders.

Bartolo (120), Alesch (80) and Eastman (55) are the top assist contributors. Eastman (80), Alesch (79) and Bartolo (69) lead the way in steals. Eastman has 56 blocks.

“We are very well-balanced,” Schwab said. “These girls have been regular contributors on (previous) state teams. Zoe is a great leader, but they all are in their own ways. We rotate with our captains based on how they’re leading in practice.

“If (an opponent takes) Graclyn away, that leaves our guards open. We have seven different girls that have led us in scoring on any given night. We just take what the defense gives us.”

Two of Montezuma’s losses have been against Class 2A state qualifier Eddyville-Blakesburg and North Mahaska. Senior Ellen Cook (14.6), sophomore Vivian Cook (12.9), senior Shiressa Wetering (10.9) and junior Claire Erselius (9.9) power the Braves.

Montezuma, which leads all of 1A in three-pointers, has hit 222 in all, led by Vivan Cook (81), Eillen Cook (70) and Erselius (54). Burgess (175), Eillen Cook (136), Wetering (104) Erselius (92) are the leading rebounders.

“They are second in the entire state for three pointers made,” Schwab said of the Braves. “We’ve made a lot of threes, but they have about 50 more than us. We broke the school record this year.

“They shoot a lot. They have three guards who don’t hesitate.”

The Braves return three starters from last year’s state qualifying team and two that were on the bench.

“They have two solid 5-foot-11 girls inside. The Wetering girl is the younger sister of Shateah Wetering, who plays at Northern Iowa,” Schwab said. “They drew the No. 1 seed last year, and still have a lot of players back with experience.”

Schwab knows it will be a challenging assignment on Wednesday.

“We have to make it a fast-paced game,” Schwab said. “We need to chase them off the three-point arc when they get an open look.

“We have to use our balance and communicate.”