-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Hunter Horn of St. Edmond shoots around Pocahontas Area on Thursday

With just three games remaining before postseason play begins, Adolph Kochendorfer wants to see his St. Edmond boys continue to build momentum.

Behind a fast start, the Gaels did just that here Thursday night, running past Pocahontas Area, 75-50.

Hunter Horn and Sam Mericle each scored 19 points, as Jakob Koopman added 13 for St. Edmond (10-8 overall).

Horn had another double-double, grabbing 13 rebounds with four steals and three blocks. Koopman also had a double-double, securing 10 rebounds, while Mericle knocked down four of the nine made 3-pointers by the Gaels.

“It’s good to string some wins together here and try to get better and better as we head to districts,” Kochendorfer said. “We did a better job on defense and moved the ball. Once we were able to do that, things started coming together.”

St. Edmond led by 12 after the first and at the half, doubling that advantage in the second half. Horn scored 13 during the opening 16 minutes and Mericle nine.

For the Indians (2-14), Ethan Behrends had 14 points and eight rebounds.

“He’s averaging about 18 so we did a good enough job on him,” Kochendorfer said. “They made some three-pointers there in the first half but I thought we defended those better in the second.

“The kids are great at listening and working hard. I’ve been really pleased with the improvements they’ve shown over the season.”

Jack McElroy added seven points and JT Laufersweiler five with six rebounds.

St. Edmond has won three straight and four of its last five overall. They conclude a four-game week by hosting Algona here Friday night before closing out the year with Hampton-Dumont/CAL on Monday and Tuesday.

Pocahontas Area heads to West Bend-Mallard Friday night.

ST. EDMOND 75, POCAHONTAS AREA 50

St. Edmond — Sam Mericle 6 3-5 19, Jakob Koopman 6 0-0 13, Jack McElroy 3 0-0 7, JT Laufersweiler 2 0-0 5, Hunter Horn 8 3-4 19, Grant Galles 3 0-0 7, Andrew Clavey 1 0-0 2, Elias Kolacia 0 0-0 0, Thomas Cosgrove 1 0-0 3, Jackson Calvert 0 0-0 0, Drake Vandi 0 0-0 0. Totals: 30 6-8 75.

Pocahontas Area — Cael Hull 0 0-0 0, Blake Roberts 3 0-0 8, Gabe Ehn 2 1-3 5, Lucas Kopriva 3 1-2 9, Ethan Behrends 6 1-2 14, Caleb Roberts 0 0-0 0, Christian Valenzuela 0 1-3 1, Collin Dreith 1 0-0 2, Luke Gerdes 3 0-0 9, Luke Friesner 0 0-0 0, Carson Bunda 0 0-0 0, Caleb Hubbell 0 0-0 0, Logan Shiflett 0 0-0 0, Jack Gerdes 0 0-0 0. Totals: 17 6-14 50.

Quarter scores: St. Edmond led 20-8, 38-26, 61-38. Three-point goals: St. Edmond 9 (Mericle 4, Koopman 1, McElroy 1, Laufersweiler 1, Galles 1, Cosgrove 1), Pocahontas Area 8 (Gerdes 3, B. Roberts 2, Kopriva 2, Behrends 1). Total rebounds: St. Edmond 46, Pocahontas Area 33. Blocked shots: St. Edmond 3, Pocahontas Area 1. Steals: St. Edmond 11, Pocahontas Area 8. Turnovers: St. Edmond 11, Pocahontas Area 18. Team fouls: St. Edmond 10, Pocahontas Area 10.