DES MOINES — As a freshman, Zoe Montag was not just on the bench for Bishop Garrigan’s run to the school’s first state championship — she was a key player off of it.

The following year, Montag again contributed as a reserve as the Golden Bears secured a second consecutive state title behind current Iowa State University star Audi Crooks and Truman State University’s Molly Joyce.

Now it’s Montag’s turn to finish the journey as the lone senior on the roster for the Golden Bears.

Montag scored 16 points — including 13 in the opening half — as Bishop Garrigan rolled past Montezuma Wednesday evening in a Class 1A state quarterfinal, 69-31.

The Golden Bears (23-3 overall) will now face No. 1 and top-seed Council Bluffs St. Albert (23-1) on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in a rematch from last year, when they Saintes ended Garrigan’s quest for a three-peat in the quarters, 53-42.

“We’re excited to play them again,” Montag said. “We’re on a revenge tour. This is a business trip, and our goal is to win state.”

Brandon Schwab, the head coach for the Golden Bears, used the loss to St. Albert in 2024 as motivation.

“It left a sour taste that we were one and done,” he said. “There was a video of the tears in our locker room and we showed that.

“I think we have a team (now) that can compete for a state championship.”

It was all Garrigan from the start, as they scored the opening points on a 3-pointer by Emmi Bartolo and never looked back. Montag drained two triples in the opening period, helping the Golden Bears to a quick 13-4 advantage.

The second-highest scoring team in 1A, Bishop Garrigan put up 23 more points in the second, forcing several Montezuma (19-6) turnovers. The lead reached as many as 27 on a layup by freshman Madelyn Tigges.

Bartolo’s bucket to start the fourth kicked the running clock into action after the Golden Bears outscored Montezuma in the third, 20-12.

Sophomore Graclyn Eastman, another returning starter, recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Bartolo finished with 10 points and six assists, while Tigges had 11 and Sacha Alesch nine.

One of the top 3-point shooting squads in the state, the Bravettes failed to make one from outside in the opening 16 minutes and finished just 1-for-15 from the arc. The Golden Bears, meanwhile, knocked down four treys — including three from Montag.

Montag has played in 104 games in a Garrigan uniform, scoring 573 points while helping them reach the state tournament all four years. The Golden Bears are in Des Moines for a sixth consecutive time, and are headed back to the semifinals for the first time since winning it all in 2023.

Juniors Bartolo and Alesch have been key contributors each of the past three seasons, scoring a combined 1,447 points.

Council Bluffs St. Albert, which fell to North Linn in the state semifinals last year, topped Dunkerton in the opening quarterfinal contest, 42-31. The lone loss for the Saintes in 2024-25 came to Class 4A member Carroll in late January, 48-47.

BISHOP GARRIGAN 69, MONTEZUMA 31

Bishop Garrigan – Emmi Bartolo 4-8 0-0 10, Graclyn Eastman 5-10 2-4 12, Madelyn Tigges 3-5 5-5 11, Zoe Montag 5-13 2-4 16, Sacha Alesch 3-9 2-2 9, Alyssa Haugland 0-0 0-0 0, Addyson Farls 0-0 0-0 0, Carley Nielson 3-4 0-0 6, Ava Roethler 1-1 2-2 5, Brooklyn Berte 0-1 0-0 0, Shiloh Trainer 0-0 0-0 0, Lillian Erpelding-Wickman 0-1 0-0 0, Jenna Peterson 0-0 0-0 0, Bree Ludwig 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 24-54 13-17 69.

Montezuma – Ellen Cook 4-16 0-0 9, Vivian Cook 0-1 2-2 2, Sydnee Burgess 1-2 0-0 2, Claire Erselius 1-6 2-2 5, Shiressa Wetering 5-10 1-2 11, Lindsey Henry 0-0 0-0 0, Lauryn Larmore 0-3 0-0 0, Sophia Semprini 0-0 0-0 0, Ryanne Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Mya Smothers 0-0 0-0 0, Letisia Wilson 0-0 0-0 0, Alexa Rose 1-3 1-1 3, Khloe Krouse 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 12-41 6-7 31.

Quarter scores: Bishop Garrigan led 16-8, 39-14, 59-26. Three-point goals: Bishop Garrigan 8-22 (Bartolo 2-4, Montag 4-9, Alesch 1-4, Erpelding-Wickman 0-1, Nielson 0-1, Roethler 1-1, Ludwig 0-2), Montezuma 1-15 (E. Cook 1-6, V. Cook 0-1, Erselius 0-3, Larmore 0-3, Rose 0-2). Total rebounds: Bishop Garrigan 38, Montezuma 22. Steals: Bishop Garrigan 12, Montezuma 6. Blocked shots: Bishop Garrigan 1, Montezuma 2. Turnovers: Bishop Garrigan 12, Montezuma 19. Team fouls: Bishop Garrigan 13, Montezuma 9.