Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Junior Hunter Horn and the St. Edmond boys face AGWSR in a Class 1A district quarterfinal on Monday in the Gael gym.

The fifth-ranked (Class 1A) St. Edmond boys enter the postseason with plenty of momentum and confidence.

The Gaels (18-3 overall) host AGWSR (4-18) in the opening round of 1A, District 2 play here Monday night.

Tip is set for 7 p.m.

Hunter Horn ranks among the North Central Conference leads in scoring and rebounding, averaging 24.2 points and 9.2 boards per game. The junior is shooting 61 percent from the field and 75 percent at the free throw line, and is coming off a 38-point performance in the regular season finale vs. Webster City.

Classmate Jakob Koopman adds 11.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and three assists, Carson Bargfrede chips in nine points and Jack McElroy adds almost six assists and 4.4 boards. Both are also juniors for head coach Adolph Kochendorfer.

AGWSR knocked off South Hamilton in the play-in game, 68-31, earning its second straight win. The Cougars are led by junior Bo Starr, who averages 13 points and seven rebounds, as freshman Chayton Smith adds eight points and seven boards.

The winner between St. Edmond and AGWSR advances to Thursday night against either Nashua-Plainfield (12-9) or North Butler (7-14) in the District 4 semifinals.