—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Bishop Garrigan’s Audi Crooks (left photo) puts up a shot. For more photos, visit CU at messengernews.net

Brandon Schwab knew what he had coming back this season as head coach of the Bishop Garrigan girls.

He also was aware of the two incoming freshman that would be added to the roster.

Schwab inserted both ninth-graders Audi Crooks and Molly Joyce into the starting lineup long before Monday night’s season opener with St. Edmond, and the talented newcomers proved him right.

Crooks, playing in front of several Fort Dodge family members, recorded a double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds as the eighth-ranked (Class 1A) Golden Bears scored an 85-18 victory.

Joyce added 18 points and seven steals, with Maddie Meister scoring 17.

“Those two started day one of summer,” Schwab said. “We didn’t mess around with it. We knew what they brought to the team.”

Last year, the Golden Bears won 16 games and returned their entire roster back. Two seasons ago, Bishop Garrigan reached the state tournament.

“To the credit of seniors like Emma (Fogarty) and Amanda (Miller), who both started for us last year, they bought in and got it,” Schwab said. “They knew (Crooks and Joyce) needed to be in our lineup and they have embraced their roles coming off the bench. We just have a bunch of kids who just want to win and keep getting better.”

It has been an adjustment for Garrigan (1-0 overall), as Schwab pointed out.

“We’ve always been a five-out guard offense,” he said. “We’ve never had a post player like Audi before and we’re still learning how to throw the ball inside to her. We are getting better at it, but we aren’t there yet.”

For the Gaels (0-1), Leah Neverman scored six points and grabbed five rebounds. St. Edmond attempted just 22 field goals and turned the ball over 38 times.

“There are not a lot of weaknesses with Bishop Garrigan,” SEHS head coach Steve Neuberger said. “They executed really well and put good pressure on the ball, which made it tough for us.

“But we told the girls at halftime that we could either feel sorry for ourselves, or try to get better. I thought we competed better in the second half, took care of the ball better and knocked down a couple shots. We’re still trying to figure things out in terms of rotations and lineups.”

St. Edmond will be without Jocy Timmerman, as the senior suffered a knee injury in the preseason. Aubrey Bemrich is also sidelined for the extended future.

Bishop Garrigan will continue its road start to the year when they head to Belmond-Klemme Tuesday. The Golden Bears also travel to Mason City Newman Saturday and are at Humboldt next Monday before playing host to Lake Mills.

Next action for the Gaels will be Friday when they host Hampton-Dumont.

BISHOP GARRIGAN 85, ST. EDMOND 18

Bishop Garrigan — Katie Noonan 2-5 0-0 5, Maddie Meister 6-9 3-3 17, Molly Joyce 7-17 2-3 18, Kaylyn Meyers 4-7 0-0 9, Audi Crooks 10-15 4-6 24, Emma Fogarty 1-2 0-0 3, Gracie Elsbecker 1-6 0-0 2, Amanda Miller 1-1 0-0 2, Reese Rosenmeyer 0-0 0-2 0, Kelly Baade 1-1 0-0 3, Jenna Heinen 0-1 0-0 0, Merideth Tigges 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Grandgenett 0-0 0-0 0, Ella Muller 1-1 0-0 2, Anna Berke 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 34-66 9-14 85.

St. Edmond — Avery Galles 0-2 0-0 0, Leah Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Neverman 1-2 0-0 3, Leah Neverman 3-6 0-1 6, Gracie Harvey 1-5 0-0 2, Cambrie McBride 1-6 1-3 3, Katie Flaherty 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Alstott 1-1 1-2 3, Kelli Kersten 0-0 1-2 1, Jaedyn Condon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 7-22 3-8 18.

Quarter scores: Bishop Garrigan led 26-6, 52-9, 66-9. Three-point goals: Bishop Garrigan 8-25 (Noonan, Meister 2, Joyce 2, Meyers, Fogarty, Baade), St. Edmond 1-10 (E. Neverman). Total rebounds: Bishop Garrigan 35, St. Edmond 15. Steals: Bishop Garrigan 20, St. Edmond 4. Blocked shots: Bishop Garrigan 3. Turnovers: Bishop Garrigan 10, St. Edmond 38.