Submitted photo: Algona boys basketball team members are, front row (left to right): manager Carter Anderson, Carlos Gomez, Tristin Larsen, Caden Weber, Simon Feucht and manager Harrison Waltz. Middle: manager Brantley Leiting, Reid Louwagie, Evan Allie, Brad Mullins, Landon Welp and assistant Noah Arrowood. Back: assistant Blake Elsbecker, head coach Jared Cecil, Ben Helmers, Jack Limbaugh, Alex Manske and assistant Tyler Leiting.

DES MOINES — The 2022-23 season for the Algona boys has basically been a tale of two halves.

Prior to the Christmas break, the Bulldogs were sitting at just 3-3 overall.

Through strong team bonding and a desire to succeed, Algona found its way when it mattered most, punching a ticket to the state tournament for the first time since 1999.

The Bulldogs (17-7 overall) take on Bondurant-Farrar (23-0) here Tuesday in a Class 3A quarterfinal inside Wells Fargo Arena. Tip is set for 2 p.m.

The winner faces either Newton or North Polk on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the semifinals.

“We talked all the way back after game one of the season that there was something special about this group,” Algona head coach Jared Cecil said. “But we struggled out of the gates, going just 3-3. I know there were questions about why we were (at .500 heading into January)…about the system and questions about everything.

“But we had some pretty good conversations right before we played Clear Lake. And even though we lost that game, we showed that we could play with a quality team. I think that game gave them confidence.”

The Bulldogs started January off with five consecutive wins before a two-point loss to Webster City. After beating Pocahontas Area, they dropped back-to-back games to Humboldt and Iowa Falls-Alden by a combined seven points before the Clear Lake setback.

Since that Jan. 30 game, though, they have not lost, reeling off seven consecutive wins including victories over Iowa Falls-Alden, Webster City and Humboldt, knocking the Wildcats out of the postseason. Algona secured its spot in the elite eight with a 61-58 triumph vs. MOC-Floyd Valley, erasing an early deficit.

“We’ve faced plenty of adversity all season long,” Cecil said. “I think that is what really helped us defeat MOC-Floyd Valley. Even when we got down early, we didn’t lose our focus. We regrouped and kept fighting, clawing back in it.

“At the end, we were able to make shots when we needed to make them because we had been in those clutch situations before.”

The Algona roster is comprised of four seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and a freshman. Ben Helmers, a 10th-grader, leads the team at 18 points per game, shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point line.

Caden Weber, a senior, checks in at 12.7 points while sophomore Alex Manske, a two-time all-state football selection, averages 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, shooting 55 percent from the floor.

Senior Simon Feucht and junior Landon Welp round out the starting lineup, as senior Tristin Larsen has played in all 24 games off the bench. Jack Limbaugh — another 10th-grader with all-state football accolades — classmate Devin Larsen and ninth-grader Evan Allie have played in at least 15 games each.

“This group might not be as tight off the court as others, but that kind of makes it a lot more fun when they do come together,” Cecil said. “They are all in on this together. When one struggles, the other guys are there to pick him up. Our motto is ‘rise as one’ and they have been true to that all season long.”

It has been a memorable 2022-23 school year for Bondurant-Farrar to date, as the Bluejays went 8-2 in football and reached the 4A playoffs. They followed that up with a strong showing at state wrestling just a few weeks ago.

Now, they look to make some more noise on the hardwood behind seniors Colby Collison and Jaxson Fried, along with junior Reed Pfaltzgraff. Collison leads the team at almost 20 points per game, shooting 54 percent from the field and 36 percent from the 3-point line.

Fried is at 16.5 points and Pfaltzgraff 12. Everett White, another 12th-grader, averages almost seven rebounds with Collison and Fried at 6.6 and 6.5. Pfaltzgraff dishes out five assists per game.

The Bluejays have played one of the toughest schedules in the state, holding wins over the likes of Marion, Adel-ADM, Ballard, Winterset, North Polk, Des Moines Roosevelt and Harlan.

In other 3A quarterfinal round action, Marion battles Sioux City Heelan, who knocked Webster City out, while Cedar Rapids Xavier gets Des Moines Hoover.

The title game is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m.