Messenger photo by Britt Kudla John Joyce of Bishop Garrigan drives against Springville during a Class 1A boys state basketball quarterfinal inside Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on Monday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Bishop Garrigan boys are on the verge of competing for a state title.

The Golden Bears fought through foul trouble, 21 turnovers and a big third quarter by Springville to rally for a thrilling 55-52 victory here on Monday afternoon inside Wells Fargo Arena.

Bishop Garrigan (23-2 overall) faces fellow Top of the Iowa Conference champion West Fork (23-2) on Wednesday in the Class 1A semifinal at 3:45 p.m. Montezuma (24-2) and Wapsie Valley (18-7) meet in the first semi earlier in the day.

Angelo Winkel preserved the win with the 151st block of his career, swatting away a potential game-tying 3-pointer by Bryce Wilson in the final seconds. The junior, who finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds, also had the last field goal of the game with 2:33 left to put the Golden Bears up 52-50.

“It feels amazing just being able to get that first win,” Winkel said. “Playing as a team down the stretch was key. We didn’t play good or great, but we scrapped out a good win.”

John Joyce sank two clutch free throws with nine seconds left for the final points. Joyce, who battled foul trouble with Winkel, had 13 points, four steals and three assists.

“The second half was huge for me to stay composed and not get in my own head,” said Joyce, a future Coe College player. “I played poorly the first three quarters, but everyone picked me up, getting me more comfortable to control the game.”

Cade Winkel recorded a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with four assists. Cameron Baade sank a pair of key 3-pointers and Kyle Schaaf had a late free throw in the fourth, with Marcus Plathe contributing nine rebounds and Andrew Arndorfer three.

“It feels great to finally win in the Well,” said Cade Winkel, a returning starter from last year when BGHS qualified for state. “Credit to Springville: they played extremely well and we didn’t. But in the end, I think the best team won.

“We are just looking forward to getting back out there and proving that this was just a fluke game and we are way better than that.”

For the Orioles, who were making their first state appearance since 1975, Alex Koppes scored 21 points and Rheden Wagaman added nine. Both Bryce Wilson and Luke Menster finished with eight.

Springville finished the game just 19-for-59 from the field and missed 13 shots from behind the arc.

Bishop Garrigan has won 12 in a row, but this was just the second time during that streak that the game has been decided by single digits with the other coming last month in a 58-51 triumph over Forest City.

“When the game was over, it was one of the best feelings in the world,” Joyce said. “Fighting back to win in the fourth was something special.

“Playing in the Well at state is a dream of every player, and we’re lucky enough to live that dream.”

Despite seeing Angelo Winkel on the bench for the duration of the second quarter, the Golden Bears were able to outscore Springville, 13-7. In the third, though, fouls also forced Joyce to the sidelines and the Orioles went on a run.

Springville claimed the lead thanks to a 19-4 spurt, going up by as many as eight and holding serve at 44-38 heading into the fourth.

“I remember Marcus and I looked at each other and said we had to cut into the lead a little or not let them extend it,” said Cade Winkel, who will attend Briar Cliff University in the fall to continue his career. “We helped break the press along with Andrew and didn’t turn the ball over against it.”

Bishop Garrigan head coach Mark Meister opted to roll the dice and play Angelo Winkel and Joyce with four fouls to start the final eight minutes, and the decision paid off. Neither picked up another foul, combining to score 15 of the 17 points in the quarter with 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and a steal.

“I don’t get stressed out too often, but that was stressful,” Meister said. “We were searching for answers down the stretch. The players are always telling me ‘we’re fine, we’ll get through it.’

“We just had to keep them in the moment, keep playing and stay together.”

The Orioles, the top 3-point shooting team in the 1A field at 39 percent, missed all five of their attempts in the fourth and shot just 2-for-12 overall.

Bishop Garrigan reached the semifinals in 1993, the only other time they earned a win at state. They also qualified in 2010 and last year.

BISHOP GARRIGAN 55, SPRINGVILLE 52

Bishop Garrigan — Cade Winkel 5-14 1-2 11, Andrew Arndorfer 0-4 0-0 0, John Joyce 5-12 2-2 13, Marcus Plathe 1-5 0-0 2, Angelo Winkel 10-14 2-3 22, Cameron Baade 2-6 0-0 6, Kyle Schaaf 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 23-56 6-9 55.

Springville — Alex Koppes 7-12 5-6 21, Rhenden Wagaman 3-8 2-2 9, Bryce Wilson 3-13 1-2 8, Luke Menster 4-14 0-1 8, Kyle Koppes 2-9 0-0 6, Grant Gloeckner 0-2 0-0 0, Tommy Hagensick 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 19-59 8-11 52.

Quarter scores: Springville led 15-12; Bishop Garrigan led 25-22; Springville led 44-38. Three-point goals: Bishop Garrigan 3-13 (Arndorfer 0-4, Joyce 1-4, Baade 2-6); Springville 6-19 (A. Koppes 2-4, Wagaman 1-3, Wilson 1-5, Menster 0-1, K. Koppes 2-6). Total rebounds: Bishop Garrigan 48 (A. Winkel 14), Springville 26 (K. Koppes 7). Assists: Bishop Garrigan 8 (C. Winkel 4), Springville 6 (Menster 5). Blocked shots: Bishop Garrigan 10 (A. Winkel 5), Springville 2 (Wagaman, K. Koppes). Steals: Bishop Garrigan 7 (Joyce 4), Springville 11 (Menster 4). Turnovers: Bishop Garrigan 21, Springville 11. Points in the paint: Bishop Garrigan 38, Springville 26. Points off turnovers: Bishop Garrigan 9, Springville 19. Second chance points: Bishop Garrigan 18, Springville 6.