Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Abbie Capesius hoists a Class 1A state tournament trophy on Wednesday in Des Moines. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

DES MOINES — In the end, the shots simply didn’t fall for Bishop Garrigan.

For the fifth straight season, the Golden Bears were playing in the girls state basketball tournament. It was the first time, though, without two of the school’s all-time best.

Garrigan (23-3 overall), the No. 5 seed, fell to fourth-seeded Council Bluffs St. Albert in a Class 1A quarterfinal on Wednesday, 53-42.

“We just didn’t hit shots,” said Golden Bear head coach Brandon Schwab. “We got it down to five twice and we had some good looks, but we didn’t take advantage.

“It had a lot to do with them playing tremendous defense and limiting our looks.”

The Golden Bears, who were the two-time defending state champions that played in four straight Class 1A championships, had two players reach double figures.

The Saintes caught fire early and built a 28-16 lead at halftime. Garrigan cut into that deficit heading into the fourth period, trailing only 39-35.

The Golden Bears were just 15-for-55 from the field and 5 of 27 from three-point range.

“Without a doubt, we proved a lot of people wrong (by getting back to state),” Schwab said. “We won our conference for the fifth straight year and returned to Wells Fargo Arena for the sixth time in seven seasons.

“These girls worked to get back here…we just came up short. I’m so proud of them for what they accomplished. Once this burn wears off, they’ll look back and realize what a successful season it was to be one of eight teams left (in 1A).”

Junior Zoe Montag led the Golden Bears 12 points. Garrigan freshman Graclyn Eastman, who came into the tournament averaging 16.9 points, had a double-double with 13 rebounds and 10 points. She finished her first varsity season with 431 points and 255 boards.

“Graclyn surprised me a lot with how she developed,” Schwab said. “If you told me she would average 16 points and close to a double-double, I would say maybe down the road.

“She had a tremendous freshman season.”

Senior Abbie Capesius — a four-year starter — had 10 rebounds, nine points, six steals and four assists.

“We’ve had a lot of great leaders here, but Abbie has been one of the very best,” Schwab said. “She learned from Audi (Crooks) and Molly (Joyce) before, then passed that down to the underclassmen.”

Capesius finished her career with 810 points, 818 rebounds, 298 assists and 224 steals.

“She is one of my favorites — not just as a player, but as a person. If you are around her for five minutes, you’d find out,” Schwab said. “Her competitiveness and who she is outside of basketball is tremendous. She leads by example. No kid works harder, and she is a winner. She will be missed.”

Sophomore Sacha Alesch added eight points.

“We’ve got a lot of kids back in our program and they’ll get better this offseason,” Schwab said. “They want to keep getting better and find a way back (to Des Moines) again.”

Sophomore Avah Underwood led the Saintes with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Lily Kroh added 12 points.

Alongside Capesius, Reagan Murphy and Alaina Casey suited up one last time for the Golden Bears.

“Reagan and Alaina didn’t play a lot of minutes, but they never complained,” Schwab said. “They understood their role and came back and played with everyone.”

COUNCIL BLUFFS ST. ALBERT 53, BISHOP GARRIGAN 42

Bishop Garrigan — Emmi Bartolo 1-10 0-0 3, Graclyn Eastman 4-12 2-4 10, Abbie Capesius 3-9 3-4 9, Zoe Montag 5-14 0-0 1, Sacha Alesch 2-9 2-2 3, Alyssa Haugland 0-1 0-0 0, Raegan Murphy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-55 7-10 42.

Council Bluffs St. Albert — Ellie Monahan 3-4 1-2 8, Lily Krohn 5-9 1-2 8, Ella Klusman 2-6 1-2 7, Avah Underwood 4-11 5-7 13, Missy Evezic 3-6 0-0 6, Kiera Hochstein 1-1 1-1 3, Molly Wise 0-3 0-0 0, Maura Ryan 0-2 0-0 0, Katelynn Hendricks 1-1 0-0 2, Payton Johnsen 0-0 0-0 0, Grace Manz 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 20-46 9-14 53.

Quarter scores: CBSA led 14-7, 28-16, 39-34. Three-point goals: Bishop Garrigan 5-27 (Bartolo 1-8, Eastman 0-1, Capesius 0-1, Montag 2-8, Alesch 2-8, Haugland 0-1); CBSA 4-14 (Monahan 1-2, Krohn 1-4, Klusman 1-2, Wise 0-1, Ryan 0-1); Total rebounds: Bishop Garrigan 28, CBSA 38; Assists: Bishop Garrigan 9, CBSA 17; Blocked shots: Bishop Garrigan 1, CBSA 3; Steals: Bishop Garrigan 12, CBSA 5; Turnovers: Bishop Garrigan 6, CBSA 13. Personal fouls: Bishop Garrigan 14, CBSA 10.