—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Humboldt’s Jamison Heinz shoots around St. Edmond’s Jed Tracy (22) and Jackson Bemrich (42) Friday night in the Gael gym. For more photos, visit CU at messengernews.net

Humboldt head boys coach Jason Thurm simply laughed off the idea that a big halftime speech changed the direction of his team here Friday night.

Playing for the first time since before Christmas, the Wildcats put together a strong second half to get by St. Edmond, 62-48.

Sam Fischer was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, scoring a game-high 17 points, while Jamison Heinz added 15 for Humboldt (5-2 overall, 2-2 in North Central Conference).

For the Gaels (1-6, 1-4), Connor Bocken scored 15 and Cael Kolacia added 11.

Thurm, in his first season as head coach to go along with his duties as the Humboldt baseball leader, watched as the Wildcats used a 13-3 run from the end of the third to the start of the fourth to gain a 48-40 advantage.

“We came out a little flat,” Thurm said. “I don’t know how you can do that playing (St. Edmond) in this environment and with the tradition they have. But this is something we can learn from.

“In the second half, I thought we righted the ship. Our defensive intensity was a lot better, and that made their shots much more difficult to come by.”

Using their size and length, Humboldt outscored the Gaels 17-8 in the third quarter. Heinz and Fischer had 12 points during that stretch.

“That is a very big, very athletic team,” SEHS head coach Adolph Kochendorfer said. “To be honest, they are just bigger and stronger than we are. It’s hard to overcome that, but I thought our kids really played hard, especially in the first half.”

St. Edmond led by four early, as Bocken knocked down a pair of long 3-pointers. Kolacia scored eight in the opening 16 minutes, and Drew Schaeffer returned from an injury to score seven before halftime.

“Getting Drew back will be good because it gives us another all-around player,” Kochendorfer said. “Hopefully, we’ll get Jerris Duncan back here soon, too.

“It just felt like (Humboldt) wore us out late.”

Heinz, who has signed as a preferred walk-on to play football at the University of Iowa, missed a handful of games before the break with an ankle injury. He knocked down six of Humboldt’s 24 free throws on Friday.

“He is tough to replace out there,” Thurm said. “Maybe it was good for some other kids to get quality varsity minutes with him out, but I thought he moved really well and is getting back to his explosive self.”

The Wildcats did not have a turnover in the third quarter, finishing by scoring the final nine points to go from down two to leading by seven.

Jacob Thurm added eight points and five rebounds, with Fischer also grabbing five boards. Humboldt held a plus-nine advantage on the glass.

Up next for the Wildcats will be a non-conference game Tuesday at Garner-Hayfield/Ventura. St. Edmond is off until Friday, when it travels to Clarion-Goldfield/Dows.

HUMBOLDT 62, ST. EDMOND 48

Humboldt — Gabe Gidel 1-7 2-4 5, Jamison Heinz 4-11 6-6 15, Jacob Thurm 3-8 1-1 8, Matt Miller 1-1 2-2 5, Sam Fischer 6-6 5-6 17, Caden Matson 0-2 6-6 6, Caiden Baker 0-3 2-2 2, Ben Kuehnast 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 17-40 24-27 62.

St. Edmond — Connor Bocken 5-15 0-0 15, Jed Tracy 2-7 0-0 4, Cael Kolacia 4-11 1-1 11, Hayden Mayer 1-1 3-5 5, Brock Stanek 1-2 0-0 2, Drew Schaeffer 3-6 2-2 9, Anthony Lacina 0-1 0-0 0, Quinten McCarville 0-3 0-1 0, Jackson Bemrich 1-1 0-0 2, Charlie Shelly 0-0 0-0 0, Ethan Lursen 0-0 0-0 0, Grant Heldorfer 0-1 0-0 0, Kase Baker 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 17-48 8-11 48.

Quarter scores: Humboldt led 15-13, St. Edmond led 29-27, Humboldt led 44-37. Three-point goals: Humboldt 4-16 (Gidel, Heinz, Thurm, Miller); St. Edmond 6-19 (Bocken 3, Kolacia 2, Schaeffer). Total rebounds: Humboldt 33, St. Edmond 24. Steals: Humboldt 6, St. Edmond 5. Blocked shots: Humboldt 2. Fouled out: Mayer. Turnovers: Humboldt 13, St. Edmond 13.